If only Dad could be here...432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO2mEXfSye
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZcmAreRDo
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIosM0jLNlS
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19JaCJA6KN
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFgB9AjhoM
boyfriends would pass the paternity test. No one did. Dad was always right - they didn't pass my test either. When Father died, I wondered how to figure it out myself. Then Jack arrived. He was different than any other man I had met. He could sit at the piano bench with my mother for , hours and discuss , obscure composers. My brother Rick loudly announced to that Jack was no turkey like the other boys I brought home. My sister Denise used to laugh with her about the old 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRRsKGslfw
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4DUJKqnbJ
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNazI1mAnda
Jack's shoulders, kissed his cheek with ketchup-coated lips, and called him by the wrong name, exclaiming, "Ah, Jeff, I love ya. !" Jack didn't miss it. you, George!" 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL6RnYPLS6
Jack passed my family test. What about Dad? Then came the weekend of my mother's birthday. Jack came from his home in Milwaukee to Chicago. On the day he had to drive, I got a call: "Don't worry," he said, "but I was in an accident." His car had suspended; when he stopped, another car hit. "I'm fine, but you have to come to me." Thank God she's fine, I thought as I drove to Milwaukee. When we got there, we rushed to flower shop to get something for mom. "What about gardenias?" Jack said showing a beautiful white bodice. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10hl16uaTx
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpwtUms055
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy5laZcK7j
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEcTLsQPPa
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJxdVOygcH
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2lyemfXTr
Then he added: "Moreover, to you." I almost put the car on the pavement. "What?" I asked. "I think we should get married," he said. He told me that he was planning a great restaurant, but after 's accident, he decided to do it now. "Yes," I whispered 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXfAAskXGs
. We both sat speechless, tears streaming down our cheeks, unable to speak. I have never felt such a tender moment. If only Dad was here to give the final approval. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJn1Dbazdr
"Oh, let's just go in," Jack said with a laugh. We got out of the car and he walked down the driveway carrying the Corsa. My mother opened the door. "Happy birthday!" we shouted. Jack pushed the box towards him. He opened it. 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrl4mYWkdj
Suddenly his eyes filled with tears. Jack and I looked at each other . "Mom, what's wrong?" I asked. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping her eyes. "This is only the 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvgJPdyuSV
th gardenia corsilla I have ever received. I received years ago, long before I had children." "By whom?" I asked. "Your father," said mother. "He gave me one right before # when we got engaged." My eyes locked on Jack as I blinked back 432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORJuOBgcNp
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.432Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEheGc8s5w
