If only Dad could be here...424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4YV8EfjOi
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZVlV0fV9S
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU847g6QRpI
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9q8MpOfak
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlaKscyuey
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 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNoSEaTVxX
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6KZGxc7Bp
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHya66TLwa
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!" 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgZSSGlqzu
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. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jxiFuUIwv
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqtmBRefkT
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZJKpSMMac
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1ow5kAskK
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOIl0s58cR
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUKklVenFJ
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 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrdAt8ROu1
. 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. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlt6lKv9tu
"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. 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSvlb4sVUN
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 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYPdhRNPM4
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 424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVFjQaeDgh
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjFIRYQcDQ
