Friday, February 16, 2007

Ring, Ring

For twenty or more years, I have known this phone call was coming. Yet, last Sunday I didn’t know how to handle it. Our conversation went something like this:

Ralph: Hi, Jason what’s up?
Jason: Well. . . the Lakers are playing.
Ralph: What are the Lakers?

Long pause.

Ralph: Jason, I know who the Laker’s are. They didn’t make it to the Super Bowl.

Another long pause.

Ralph: Okay. I know who the Lakers are. What’s up?
Jason: Not much.
Ralph: Okay.
Jason: Well, I guess I would like to uh. . . to uh. . . . to uh. . . to give Tiff a ring.
Ralph: A friendship ring, right?
Jason: A friendship for life ring.


Okay – this guy is good. He reminds me of someone else a few years back.

Here is where my breathing became shallow and rapid. My heart rate increased to that a marathon runner. Like I said, for over twenty years I’ve known this conversation was coming, I had thought about it from time to time, and I still didn’t know how to handle it.

I told Jason I married Char because I really, really loved her and was certain she was the only one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Jason said those were the same reason he wanted to marry my daughter – my ONLY daughter.

I welcomed him to the family.

But there is a problem. Char and I have spent time with Jason and he is a nice guy – for someone who wants to marry my daughter. The problem is this - I have written about Jason before and referred to him a FOR (Friend of Ralph). I will have to change his name. He will now be known as SILOR (pronounced sigh-lor). SILOR (Son in Law of Ralph) has a nice ring to it. . . for a guy who wants to marry to my daughter.

20 Comments:

Blogger Cliff said...

BIG NEWS BIG NEWS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL.
This is sooo exciting. I'm anxiously awaiting the date.
I have a pic or two of Tiff at a young age that I may have to post. Jason: you're marrying into a really good, and uh... interesting family. But you know that. You should also know that your future Mother in-law was a Drill Instructor in the Air Force. (go easy)

3:47 PM  
Blogger Rachel said...

Did they say when the wedding would be?? I hope he makes you a fine SIL Ralph! I'm sure you know since you have known him so long. If they lived near you then he could help you shovel the snow!! Now that would be nice!!

Congratulations to DOR and Future SILOR!!!!

3:50 PM  
Blogger Miki said...

Hey! Congrats to all! WOW! A wedding! How nice is that???? Tell TIffany that heartfelt congrats are sent out from as far away as Long Island, and let Jason know that those congrats go out to him too! Maybe you will get lucky and they will move closer, so that they both can help with the snow removal, because that may take until the year 2009, with all of the snow you have been getting! But wait, didn't Chi town get a lot too??? You might have to dig a tunnel to get back and forth to see the happy couple! Seriously, DOR and future SILOR, you guys have a happy, happy life together.

4:35 PM  
Blogger Aravis said...

CONGRATULATIONS!

That's huge news. This post made me do an internal "Awww..." Your love for your daughter has always come through so clearly every time you've written about her. What a moment that must have been for you when Jason called! I'm so happy for you all.

And I like the new name, SILOR. It has a cool sci-fi sound to it. *G*

5:41 PM  
Blogger PinkCat said...

Ralph that is totally brilliant news. It gave me goose bumps. How sweet is that a friendship ring for life. That is so very, very sweet.

Its so wonderful that he is your friend to.

Congratulations to you all.

Take care

5:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks to all for the congratulations! SILOR, huh? Its got a nice ring to it! OK, call me SILOR from here on out. Oh, gotta go, DOR is calling me.

6:11 PM  
Blogger Cathy said...

Great news for you! SILOR and DOR sound good together. And, on a side note: Take your snow back. I requested some from you a while ago. BUT NOT 2 FEET! And that was 2 FEET in one day! I'm done with it!

9:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congratulations to DOR and SILOR.

10:38 PM  
Blogger nora leona said...

Woo Hoo!
What happy news!
And I'm sure the wedding preparations will make some good blogging.
Oh, and my Dad is still waiting for that call….

8:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

SOR says....

I am getting more and more excited about the news. After reading this blog I know SILOR will fit right in with our family. I'm glad that SON (better known as DOR) found a great person to share the "interesting" moments our family offers.

SOR (Nathan)

9:59 AM  
Blogger Christa said...

YAY!!!!

The very fact that SILOR made a guest appearance on the comments of this blog bodes well for you and yours! A sure-fire winner!

Congratulations to the whole (now larger) Ralph family!!!!

(And Ralph, way to not go postal and do some of those Mr. Dodo things from your previous post when you recieved the news. Hang in there - it's only money now! :)

10:41 AM  
Blogger Mountain Mama said...

Congratulations to you and the happy couple too. (I like how you wrote this up).
I hope they will be very happy.
SO now you have a now fishing partner...

6:09 PM  
Blogger Jim said...

Hi Ralph -- Welcome to the club of fathers-in-laws. A lot of us could give you some pointers, just ask!
They really are good helpers. Get started out right, never refuse help. Mine have helped push [sweep and squeegie] water out of our flooded house--sort of like shovelling snow, kept our computers going in a straight line, fixed many a car breakdowns [or had his mechanic do it], helped Mrs. Jim tremendously in her golf game, and, well it would go to the bottom of the page.
All three of the ex's were very helpful while they were married to our kids, some still would do a lot for us.

Remember, it's not what you can do for them but what they can do for you.

6:57 PM  
Blogger Rachel said...

HAHAHA!! I had to laugh at Jim's last sentence!! Too funny!!

7:20 AM  
Blogger 1 plus twins said...

wiw ralph a that is so nice!! congrats to all! he seems like a wonderful addition to your family!!

11:38 AM  
Blogger EV said...

Congratulations all!!! And best wishes for many, many years to come.

12:01 PM  
Blogger Raggedy said...

Woooooohooooooo!
Congratulations to DOR and STBSILOR!
He has to be the STBSILOR until it is official.
I hope they will have a long and happy life together.
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from
the Cool Raggedy one

3:55 PM  
Blogger Rhodent said...

Congrats to ALL!!!!!

By the way, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

5:41 PM  
Blogger Paul Nichols said...

Congratulations to all! I hope you new expanded family explodes with little ones all over the place. Best wishes and many successes to the happy couple.

By the way, I didn't know how to handle that phone call when it came to my house, either. I forgot what I said, or didn't say, but it's been worth it a thousand time over.

Not to toot my own horn, but you all might enjoy this story I recently posted.

http://writingfromthehip.blogspot.com/2007/02/joy-of-black-history-month.html

12:32 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

That's awesome. Don't forget our invitation.
From : SOFORWIN

6:08 AM  

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