1．BEING THERE 2
Amanda 2
Love in a Box 6
Just Between Us 9
I Love You,Pilgrim 12
On the Nose 15
We Are Dragon-Slayers 19
Understanding Dad 23
The Camping Trip 27
Outstretched Arms 30
Sour Pickle 33
Run for Gold 37
Love's Lance 40
2．A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE 45
Safe Harbors and Sailing Ships 45
Daddy's Dance 47
The Adventure 51
Fired from the Peanut Patch 55
Man of Few Words 58
Retirement Plan 61
Father Meets Cat 65
The Artist 69
Finding Lost Love 73
A Father's Gift from a Danghter 77
Dirt Cheap 81
My Father's Hands 83
The Obituary 87
3．LIFE LESSONS 93
The Great Candy Bar Debate 93
"Yes,Daddy,I Promise" 97
The Lesson 101
How to Trust,Dad-Style 104
Of Wings and Strings 107
Just a Walk in the Park 111
The Fifty-Cent Sewing Machine 117
Lessons from a Teenager 119
Hidden Wings 124
Questions 127
Bullfrogs,Butterflies and Dads 131
What I Learned at the Outhouse Races 135
4．SPECIAL MOMENNTS 141
The Dad He Planned to Be 141
Dad's Right Hand 145
Trust Me 148
Papa's Gift to Kelsey 151
Humor Me 153
Baseball Game Plan 157
Who Giveth? 159
Long-Distance Vitamins 161
The Best"Father-Daughter Date"Ever! 163
I'm Confessin'That I Love You 167
Father of Fortune 170
Daddy's Little Tomboy 173
Father's Secret 176
Two Fathers and a Bride 179
Roadside Rescue 182
5．ON GRATITUDE 186
Father Christmas 186
Solemn Images 190
Spelling L-O-V-E 193
The Painted Tractor 197
Ethyl 201
Memorial Day Flags 206
Struggle and Celebration 209
A Decent Thing to Do 212
6．FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES 218
She Calls Me Daddy 218
Anna's First Cubs Game 220
Owed to Joy 222
Be Slow to Anchor 224
Moonshine 226
A Forkful of Humor 230
The Price of a Child 234
Black and White 237
Dear Daddy 238
7．ON HEALING 242
Tearing Down the Wall 242
Advice from a Tree 245
Taken for Granted 249
Letter to a Stranger 251
The Haircut 256
Peela 260
Father Knows Best 262
A Piece of Chalk 265
Unpaved Roads 268
Apology to a Child 272
I Want My Daddy Back 274
Daddy's Story 276
Time to Forgive 280
Closer and Closure 283
Secret Tears 287
8．TRADITIONS 291
Smeared Ink 291
Across the Pond 294
Christmas in a Nutshell 298
Slow-Dance 300
Eat Dessert First 305
My Father's Chair 309
Donuts 312
Wedding Day 315
9．ACROSS GENERATIONS 318
Apa's Motto in Life 318
Punch Lines 322
Like Riding a Bike 326
Reel Event 328
Connected by Love 331
Cash Rewards 334
That Dang Horse 338
In My Dad's Boots 341
Daddy's Gift 344
Acknowledgments 349