If only Dad could be here...439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu7ai7JHoI
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL2wrK6RWB
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnNk2IT8e4
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzzjAlrCm7
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObUOESU30F
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 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHb50ppgG2
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3P5ai2wXD
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTVc2Ts7IP
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!" 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplNQ4y3l46
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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnskt7ryrxD
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqjI6JK6qC
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vjO2Y9nuH
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABi6dxPdPv
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IFCGqPXH6
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST82bGNe1H
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 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf4rAKn0IT
. 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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeRzuyuwE5
"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. 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM94Ysa2cU
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 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikM5o4nnjJ
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 439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrU0nObzn4
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.439Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkFpHicoUe
