If only Dad could be here...109Please respect copyright.PENANA91ixT9KD7c
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois109Please respect copyright.PENANAXNu0YiLjae
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 109Please respect copyright.PENANAmW7M2pw6Bn
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 109Please respect copyright.PENANA7mCXpIgMPr
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,109Please respect copyright.PENANA6iSdRcES35
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 109Please respect copyright.PENANAKsfxCLES4M
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 109Please respect copyright.PENANAMeLmNdhNB3
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 109Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7So0TPCUc
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!" 109Please respect copyright.PENANAgaeSJqDxuG
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. 109Please respect copyright.PENANAmo7srdBtLq
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.109Please respect copyright.PENANALvod2ZKGhn
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 109Please respect copyright.PENANA5zMPRD77Eb
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 109Please respect copyright.PENANAq0q1ATNySK
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 109Please respect copyright.PENANAucH66Rrlux
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 109Please respect copyright.PENANAXpZIweQRga
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 109Please respect copyright.PENANAtUuzavh9jv
. 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. 109Please respect copyright.PENANAp6iIidCQxl
"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. 109Please respect copyright.PENANAvGaOz7ECaC
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 109Please respect copyright.PENANAT1iJKjyCJ9
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 109Please respect copyright.PENANAfwkYfrMalo
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.109Please respect copyright.PENANA8JVajyx4cC