If only Dad could be here...375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzTnIlOiYr
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzYi1nYe1u
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOf6Excjjd
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CL2eXh3gT
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5qRw3OgA2
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 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxMoGLtCxc
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMhHQmJUDq
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscXs6l3DP5
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!" 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbQSsFqMRt
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. 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9mXhnDkNt
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpyXpNCDgC
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc9oYDd34O
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvndCxjybcZ
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXfuBdJl6L
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqcUvmEepo
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 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRXRwwdkJO
. 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. 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8n60QGU2b
"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. 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjdGJAbue5
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 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ksNc4736d
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 375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhPL6xZre9
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.375Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx21T0aLN91
