Jack Miller met Patricia in a nightclub in Ishpeming, Michigan. For him it was love at first sight, but as attractive as she was, he knew he had his work cut out for him! They danced a few times but he left not knowing much about her. He called his cousin who knew one of the other guys at the club that night to ask about this cute girl he’d danced with – he says “cute girl” because, even though he was smitten, he couldn’t remember her name! Sheesh!!
Luckily, his cousin’s friend knew Patricia and said she was attending beauty school and lived in the nearby town of Marquette. Determined, Jack tracked down her phone number, called and asked Pat out on a date. And so it began….
They were married on June 15, 1967. Like all couples, they had their ups and downs, but their loved endured 57 fabulous years until Patricia went home to the Lord on September 2, 2014.
I tell you this story because Jack wasn’t just the first one to accept my invitation to Write For Me! in my last blog post, he was the only man.
I’m thrilled that he reads my blog. And I love that he didn’t think twice about accepting the invitation to share his story.
More importantly, I love that Jack has something to share with all of us that is meaningful, insightful and important. Here’s his advice…
“Ladies, train your husbands. Teach them to survive should you die first. They will need to know how to cook, how to sew on a button, and set up menus. They need to know how to do the laundry. They can get a maid service to clean the house if they need to. They know how to do many things but, should you pass on first, they have to know how to survive.
All I have to offer is advice from an experienced man. Fortunately my wife taught me more than I gave her credit for while she was alive. I really loved her and she taught me well.”
When I read Jack’s advice for all of us, I immediately thought about the The Proverbs 31 Woman. She was a wife of noble character, and like Patricia, verse 26 says “she speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue”.
Among the many things she taught Jack was how make a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner! She even taught him to make the dressing just the way he liked it. Though the holiday meal would’ve been better had Pat shared in the celebration, Jack felt a deep sense of accomplishment for the bountiful spread he’d prepared for the family.
My Mom passed away five years before my Father. Dad knew how to vacuum. Period. Mom pampered Dad for the 62 years they were married. In the end, her selfless expression of love was both a blessing and a curse.
Maybe Patricia learned a few things by watching my Dad struggle through his grief while trying to establish his “new normal”. Pat had a front row seat during his difficult adjustment. Jack is my Uncle and Mom was Pat’s sister-in-law.
We never know what tomorrow brings. Let’s spoil our loved ones rotten, but for their sake, let’s take Patricia’s lead and make sure we teach them a few things along the way.
We all have a story. What’s yours?
Jack Miller lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Retired Special Agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigation and the Nevada State Gaming Control Board. He’s an award wining author, an active member of Public Safety Writer’s Association and several service organizations. Jack’s books include: “Cold War Warrior”, “Cold War Defector”, “The Master Cheat” and a handful of others. Next to be released, “Cheating Devices of the American Gambler”.