Whether I liked it or not, I was going to have to attend another wedding because it was to be my daughter’s. She seemed to be happy with it and that was all I cared about because she had always been the delight of my life. Not that I didn’t love the other two boys, but girls are just special to a Daddy. I was standing there when she came into the world and when I saw it wasn’t a boy, my whole persona changed. It had to because it’s hard to be a rough, tough, country boy while carrying a diaper bag in one hand and an infant baby girl in the other. I had to tone it down a few notches and learn to sing the elephant march as we watched Jungle Book for the millionth time. Looking back, it was the best of times.
I was at home raking straw in the front yard when her intended drove up. I instantly went on alert because I knew he wasn’t supposed to be at my home at that time of day. I smelled a rat, and sure enough, he followed me into the back yard where he began to beat around the subject and he beat it pretty good until he finally mustered his courage and asked me if he could marry my baby girl.
I wanted to play with him by acting mad and yell at him saying, “No, bless God, you can’t marry her!” and I wish I had just to see what he would have done. On the other hand, it might be a good thing I didn’t. He’s a Deen, and I have heard that some of the Deen’s are just like some of the Evans clan I know in that it just doesn’t do to get them fired up. (One of the Pete Evans clan told me “if an Evans ever makes it to 5 foot 9 inches, you ain’t got to worry too much about him. But if he don’t, you better watch him. He ain’t got no pressure release valve.”) Anyway, I gave him my blessing because he seemed like a fine boy and I know she is solid and I hope it works out for both of them.
Well, this wedding announcement set my wife’s wheels to turning, not to mention the intended bride. My buddy, Kingpin, told me it would cost a fortune and I told him I wouldn’t put up with that. He just grinned at me and said, “You’ll do whatever Mama and the baby girl say do, Big Boy!”, and he was right!
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