AGoodHearttoLeanon
WhenIwasgrowingup,Iwasembarrassedtobeseenwithmyfather.Hewasseverelycrippledandveryshort,andwhenwewouldwalktogether,hishandonmyarmforbalance,peoplewouldstare.Iwouldinwardlysquirmattheun-wantedattention.Ifheevernoticedorwasbothered,heneverleton.
Itwasdifficulttocoordinateoursteps——hishalting,mineimpatient——andbecauseofthat,wedidn'tsaymuchaswewentalong.Butaswestartedout,healwayssaid,"Yousetthepace.Iwilltrytoadjusttoyou."
Ourusualwalkwastoorfromthesubway,whichwashowhegottowork.Hewenttoworksick,anddespitenastyweather.Healmostnevermissedaday,andwouldmakeittotheofficeevenifotherscouldnot.Amatterofpride.
Whensnoworicewasontheground,itwasimpossibleforhimtowalk,evenwithhelp.AtsuchtimesmysistersorIwould