Thanks guys.
She is a daddy's girl. My son in law is a fine young man.
He did pay the price though. They moved in together which I didn't much care for. But I was the good father and helped them out when the copper hot water pipe let go under their slab and fixed it myself and other stuff like that.
Son in law is a gear head. He races motocross, four wheelers, and just about anything with a motor. I don't understand why daughter would pick a nut like that/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif.
Son in law lusted to get into and run my tractor. I knew this. I could tell. It might have been the drooling every time she was out and he was around.
But he was the boy living with my daughter. I loved him cause he's a good kid. But it'd be a cold day in hades before I'd let him know it. And when I noticed the drooling if there were children around I'd put them in the tractor and let them drive around the yard and never offer him the same opportunity. He wasn't family.
The day after they'd announced their engagement he came by the shop after work. I got out the tractor. Put the backhoe attachment on her. Showed him how to operate it. And then sent him out to the back to learn how to dig a hole.
He came back two hours later with a grin you couldn't have taken off with a jackhammer.
Many years ago an aunt had pointed out to us that a woman should look at a prospective husband and notice how he treats his mama. If he treats his mama good then chances are he's gonna treat his wife good.
New son does love his mama. I like that. I've got a heckuva lot invested in his wife and feel confident he will treat her right.
Daughter used to get real embarrassed by dad when she'd go out with a new date. At the door as they were leaving I'd always say, "she's my pride and joy. I expect her to be treated accordingly."
At the wedding there were a couple of moments.
One was outside the hall waiting for the music we all know. Daughter was doing some deep breaths. I leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Remember, nice slow steps. We want them to have plenty of time to get their eyes full."
Then when the preacher asked who gave away this woman I piped up with "Her mothers and I do."
I then turned to the groom and looked him in the eye, had to look up, some of us are designed to take the wind, built close to the ground, he isn't, I am. I reached out and grabbed his hand in a man to man handshake and said, "She's my pride and joy. I give her to you without reservation because I love and respect you."
Needless to say the few dry eyes in the place weren't after that.
