From Chapter 1
First Date
All around us, windows steamed while ours remained clear. From the standpoint of teens in the heat of passion, I suppose our car was one of the boring ones that cool November evening. We were having fun anyway!
The movie was Judith. The year was 1966.
Like most of the kids there, I can’t remember details of the film we’d come to see, but not because we were steaming up the windows. Because we were hot and heavy into a deep discussion of religion. I had just discovered Cal Gormick, whom I’d recently met at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) teen program, was actually Jewish. I had always been drawn to Jewish boys—something my parents frowned upon.
After a pretty intense discussion about the Jewish faith, he turned to me as the movie was ending and asked if I would do him a favor.
“Of course,” was my immediate response.
Then very seriously, very eloquently, he inquired, “Will you kiss me?”
How could I resist? This boy had such a special quality about him—a special gentleness—and, yet, so much life and energy. He certainly hadn’t acted the way most guys act at a drive-in. He hadn’t rushed at my body and pawed at me all night. He’d been my brother, my friend … such a refreshing change…”
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From Chapter 24
Going in Different Directions: Cal’s Last Few Months
“…You gave me a wonderful life and family. We have three loving children and we are very proud of all five of our grandchildren who are becoming productive contributors to society. In this world of absent fathers and the residual aftermath, you were a stellar, godly example of a good father.
You stuck by me through all those years of struggle with our opposite personalities.
And, Lord God, you blessed us through it all—especially when we were being selfish, sinful humans!
Life is a special event and without you, I’m missing the music you brought into my life.”
