A Bachelor Father

Michael Jr., after graduating from college with a degree in civil engineering, met one of the junior attorneys in Rebecca's office at the Christmas party. They married one year later.

When the CEO retired, I became the majority shareholder and the new president and CEO. I changed the name to RYAN ACCOUNTING.

Remember my security guard, Robert? I hired him, and he went on to get a law degree along with his accounting degree, and was one of Rebecca's senior attorneys, his wife went to school and got a degree in childcare management, along with her RN. And yes, she had become our certified childcare director and pediatric nurse, who doubled as our health insurance officer, thanks to creative bookkeeping.

Remember Barbara? She retired; well, she got married and with four kids became a stay-at-home mom.

As soon as Elizabeth and Ann could understand, we told them of their parentage. On Mother's Day, Father's Day, and birthdays, we place flowers on the departed parents' graves. The girls understand that they have parents in heaven, and Rebecca and I are THE PARENTS who love them and care for them here on Earth.

We got notice that Paul had died in prison, where he was cremated. I never told Elizabeth anything about Paul's death until she was eighteen. I gave her the option of claiming his ashes, but she never gave it a second thought; his ashes sat for years unclaimed, until they were put in a grave at the prison.

Golden years.

We have both retired; I am now the President Emeritus at Ryan Accounting.

Our girls and Michael Jr. have given us grandchildren. Elizabeth named her daughters, Ellen and Rebecca; Ann named her sons, Michael and John; Michael Jr. has one girl (so far), Ellie.

Becca is a wonderful grandmother; she bakes cookies and always fixes the kids' favorite meals. I have taught the grandchildren to fish. We camp every summer. Within the next few years, we will be going to our grandchildren's graduations.

We tease our kids by saying, "If we knew grandkids were so much fun, we would have had them first."

Yes.. The greatest pleasure of life is love. —Euripides.