If only Dad could be here...367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbFW3jHeFD
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lz5GgeEh8
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9xEn5Uh7H
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLDR1PFQfY
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzScqNNbvA
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 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBuRJLRbk9
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopbggDO4Aa
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6le9J6KZMT
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!" 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwBiVuXwHZ
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. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaKpbras1w
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw5xFTqwpt
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAvd6JQRDq
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRHJ3yM3cq
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQwOU6EqJx
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbdsXUELys
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 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdBTNJ1QS5
. 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. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAarUWsBGpj
"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. 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNJ5BxRLYC
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 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n77GsNMps
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 367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdWBxpoBBG
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.367Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3j8tJxtUM
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