Anticipating this, Dad said, "Once that bus drove off, I knew I had made a mistake, I ran after it even though it was a city block away. I saw the brake lights come on and the door open up and your mom came flying off that bus crying, she dropped the duffel bag, running to me and we hugged and kissed as passersby cheered."

"What about your girlfriend, Mary, the nurse!" I demanded to know. The volume and agitation of my voice caused everyone in the bar to look at me. I noticed my Uncle Jack just smirking at me.

"Mary Katherine Ellington. Also known as Aunt Kate. Once...