I didn’t know that so many dramatic changes could occur after an innocent day on campus.

The sky, blue as a sad story.  The sunlight, filtering through the oak trees.  The grass, green and prickling my back.  A book shading my face. 

Yep.  That’s when she came by.  Or, well, dropped by.  Her nose also in a book, she didn’t notice me there on the ground.

So, well, promptly, she tripped.

It was love at first sight.  In my eyes, at least.  Maybe it was because of the cliché accident, or stereotypical introduction, I don’t know, but when my eyes met hers, I knew I was the one that had fallen.

She was more than anything I could have ever asked for.

We didn’t start dating from that day forth.  I was too nervous to ask, to tell you the truth.  But I finally got up the nerve.   I asked her out. 

But first I had to meet her parents.  More importantly, her father.

I remember sitting down, enjoying the meal, then getting up and going out to the patio.  I stood there with her.  It was a perfect moment.  Then her father came out and told her to “give us a moment”.  That’s what I had wanted.

The man placed a rather intimidating hand on my shoulder.  He said, “Just remember, as you date my daughter, know what kind of father she has, and what I’ll do should you do anything wrong.”

I kid you not – I almost saluted.  No doubt, many would have run away with their tails between their legs because of such a warning, but I felt determined.  I wanted to do well by his daughter.  I already loved her too much to chicken out.

Dating went on rather smoothly.  We had occasional fights, disagreements, and the like.  But we always worked through it one way or another.  And so, I decided to go to the next “level”.  I wanted to make our relationship permanent.

So, I asked her to marry me.  I did my best to be surprising and romantic.  We took a leisurely walk on campus, and I led her to the spot where we had first met.  I knew the proposal had been perfect.

But – of course there’s a “but”.  She asked me if I’d mind personally asking her parents.  More importantly, her father.

Of course I didn’t mind.  By now, I was essentially used to his firm hand, but it still gave me that shaky feeling.

Even so, I asked for his permission to marry his daughter.  And he said, “Just remember, as you marry my daughter, imagine a Father-in-law like me before you do anything that’s gonna break her heart.”

I didn’t have to ask him to say it a second time.

So we got married.  It was one of the most memorable and life-changing things that had happened to me.  All I saw was her beautiful face as she walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her father.

A few years went by.  We were happy, and now we wanted to start a family.  Of course, she didn’t insist upon getting her father’s permission for that, but when the time rolled around, and we made the announcement, I was invited out to that familiar patio.

Her father looked me in the eye and said, “Just remember me, son, as you become a parent, and the father of my daughter’s children.”

And I did.  Together, we raised three children.  Two boys and a girl.  All were healthy, rambunctious, and intelligent.  I was, and am, immensely proud of my kids, but there were times – believe me – when I wasn’t sure we had gotten the luck of the draw.

Many more years passed.  Our kids were going on to college.  I was working, and my wife was a busy “stay at home” mom.  During that time, her father was well into his eighties.  He knew he would pass on soon, so he invited us over.  She was weeping by his bed.  I tried to comfort her.  She kissed my hand, then turned to her father.  She told him she loved him.

Then, her father asked for a moment alone with me.

He smiled at me, and said, “You’re good at remembering, son.  You loved my daughter.  You became a responsible husband.  You fathered her children nearly as good as I did her.  You’ve done a good job.  I almost like you now.”

At that, I smiled.  I was used to it.

He blinked at escaping tears, and his smile wavered.  “No.  Like isn’t the word.”  He gripped my hand.  “I love you, Son.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

. . .There are many things I wish I had thanked him for. He probably never realized how much he’d given me, aside from giving me my wife. I grow misty eyed when I think of him now.  I can only hope to grow to be just like him; a man to be respected, loved, and missed.  I thank God for giving me her father.