If only Dad could be here...361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PjQ1bCRPi
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH3DKsx84P
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw6QxxgS2r
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCfROkkiNe
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VTBX3TI96
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 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyPe9Mi56x
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgtGFrz2Eq
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYxvM7JKSR
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!" 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1dDMBOFVg
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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxu4bjQNOF
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDIXruNOHx
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWq51as8sl
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwkADs9sDw
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE274Jd7LHQ
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh7FPlvouY
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 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fQScAb5hV
. 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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnm4z4dmcfO
"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. 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt41Tv6a6qX
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 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pia9mxsYC
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 361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LIaAvLEyA
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma60mpuA8K
