[00:06.82]My father was an ill-humored man. I knew he loved me and his love was deep.
[00:12.49]He just didn’t know how to express it.
[00:15.75]One evening we went out for a night on the town.
[00:19.35]We were sitting in an elegant restaurant that had a small but lively band.
[00:24.03]When it struck up a familiar waltz tune I decided to invite him for a dance.
[00:29.69]“Dad, you know I’ve never ever danced with you.
[00:34.26]I begged you but you never wanted to. How about right now?”
[00:39.49]I waited for the usual refusal.
[00:43.19]But instead he considered me thoughtfully and then a surprising twinkle appeared in his eye,
[00:49.19]“Let’s hit the floor and I’ll show you just what kind of moves an old guy like me can still make.”
[00:56.16]My father took me in his arms and I felt overcome by emotion.
[01:01.16]As we danced I looked up at my father intently but he avoided my gaze.
[01:06.72]“Dad,” I finally whispered, tears in my eyes, “Why is it so hard for you to look at me?”
[01:14.88]At last his eyes dropped to my face and he studied me intently.
[01:21.63]“Because I love you so much,” he whispered back.
[01:26.64]I was struck dumb by his response.
[01:30.34]It wasn’t what I had anticipated.
[01:33.39]But it was of course exactly what I needed to hear.
[01:37.20]His own eyes were misty and he was blinking.
[01:41.34]I had always known that he loved me.
[01:44.94]I just hadn’t understood that his vast emotion had frightened him and made him mute.
[01:51.47]“I love you too, Dad!” I whispered back softly.
[01:56.38]He stumbled over the next few words: “I’m sorry that I’m not demonstrative.
[02:03.89]It’s hard for me, but just remember how much I love you.”
[02:08.34]When the dance ended I excused myself to the ladies’ room and during my absence everything changed.
[02:17.93]When I came back, Dad was slumped in his chair ashen gray.
[02:22.28]Everything was really all too late. He was gone.
[02:26.75]That night all I saw was his slumped body and ashen face.
[02:32.09]But it’s a totally different scene that I remember now.
[02:35.68]I remember our waltz on the dance floor and his sudden confession to me.
[02:41.46]I remember him saying “I love you” and my saying it back.
[02:46.71]It was indeed the first-last and only dance that I ever had with my father.
[02:52.73]What a blessing that we had the chance to say before it was too late.
[02:57.33]The three words live on forever long after we are gone, stretching into eternity.
