If only Dad could be here...365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWmVoQbPe1
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJTVcvJtFu
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r32SB3CyH
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g5xoZxCpq
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEodNZojtw
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 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv6b8oPfnz
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHok25rl7Gf
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvyyJZRNiz
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!" 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EirZDoeRs
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. 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4IWHTUZTc
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdTPYnXuTv
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5N4Q4XZUH
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK9ZqFN6bS
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChynfIdY3G
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIc3cibqoR
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 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4ZlEfXGN3
. 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. 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZSdQb4J7y
"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. 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgua4Q2qYL
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 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L9XUCebPx
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 365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGw9KGxU2x
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.365Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kExpg8BWB
