Decision_NN1 Points_VVZ It_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 simple_JJ question_NN1 ._. 
"_" Can_VM you_PPY remember_VVI the_AT last_MD day_NNT1 you_PPY did_VDD n't_XX have_VHI a_AT1 d_ZZ1 rink_NN1 ?_? "_" 
Laura_NP1 asked_VVD in_II her_APPGE calm_NN1 ,_, soothing_JJ voice_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ n't_XX threatening_VVG or_CC nagging_JJ ._. 
She_PPHS1 did_VDD expect_VVI an_AT1 answer_NN1 ._. 
My_APPGE wife_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT kind_NN1 of_IO person_NN1 who_PNQS picks_VVZ her_APPGE moments_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 was_VBDZ one_MC1 of_IO them_PPHO2 ._. 
"_" Of_RR21 course_RR22 I_PPIS1 can_VM ,_, "_" came_VVD my_APPGE indignant_JJ response_NN1 ._. 
Then_RT I_PPIS1 thought_VVD back_RP over_II the_AT previous_JJ week_NNT1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 'd_VHD had_VHN a_AT1 few_DA2 beers_NN2 with_IW the_AT guys_NN2 on_II Monday_NPD1 night_NNT1 ._. 
On_II Tuesday_NPD1 I_PPIS1 'd_VHD fixed_VVN myself_PPX1 my_APPGE favorite_JJ after-dinner_JJ drink_NN1 :_: B_ZZ1 &B,;_NULL Benedictine_JJ and_CC brandy_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 'd_VHD had_VHN a_AT1 couple_NN1 of_IO bourbon_NN1 and_CC Sevens_MC2 after_CS I_PPIS1 put_VVD Barbara_NP1 and_CC Jenna_NP1 to_II bed_NN1 on_II Wednesday_NPD1 ._. 
Thursday_NPD1 and_CC Friday_NPD1 were_VBDR beer-drinking_JJ nights_NNT2 ._. 
On_II Saturday_NPD1 ,_, Laura_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 had_VHD gone_VVN out_RP with_IW friends_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 'd_VHD had_VHN martinis_NN2 before_CS d_ZZ1 inner_JJ ,_, beers_NN2 with_IW d_ZZ1 inner_JJ ,_, and_CC B_ZZ1 &;_NULL Bs_NP1 after_II dinner_NN1 ._. 
Uh-oh_UH ,_, I_PPIS1 had_VHD failed_VVN week_NNT1 one_PN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 went_VVD on_II racking_VVG my_APPGE memory_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 single_JJ dry_JJ day_NNT1 over_II the_AT past_JJ few_DA2 weeks_NNT2 ;_; t_ZZ1 hen_NN1 the_AT past_JJ month_NNT1 ;_; then_RT longer_RRR ._. 
I_PPIS1 could_VM not_XX remember_VVI one_PN1 ._. 
Drinking_NN1 had_VHD become_VVN a_AT1 habit_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 have_VH0 a_AT1 habitual_JJ personality_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 smoked_VVD cigarettes_NN2 for_IF about_RG nine_MC years_NNT2 ,_, starting_VVG in_II college_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 quit_VV0 smoking_VVG by_II dipping_JJ snuff_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 quit_VV0 that_CST by_II chewing_VVG long-leaf_JJ tobacco_NN1 ._. 
Eventually_RR I_PPIS1 got_VVD down_RP to_II cigars_NN2 ._. 
For_IF a_AT1 while_NNT1 I_PPIS1 tried_VVD to_TO rationalize_VVI my_APPGE drinking_NN1 habit_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ nowhere_RL near_II as_RG bad_JJ as_CSA some_DD of_IO the_AT drunks_NN2 I_PPIS1 knew_VVD in_II our_APPGE hometown_NN1 of_IO Midland_NP1 ,_, Texas_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 did_VDD n't_XX drink_VVI during_II the_AT day_NNT1 or_CC at_II work_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ in_II good_JJ shape_NN1 and_CC jogged_VVD almost_RR every_AT1 afternoon_NNT1 ,_, another_DD1 habit_NN1 ._. 
My_APPGE parents_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX know_VVI how_RRQ to_TO tell_VVI me_PPIO1 my_APPGE sister_NN1 was_VBDZ dying_VVG ._. 
They_PPHS2 just_RR said_VVD she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ sick_JJ back_NN1 east_ND1 ._. 
One_MC1 day_NNT1 my_APPGE teacher_NN1 at_II Sam_NP1 Houston_NP1 Elementary_JJ School_NN1 in_II Midland_NP1 asked_VVD me_PPIO1 and_CC a_AT1 classmate_NN1 to_TO carry_VVI a_AT1 record_NN1 player_NN1 to_II another_DD1 wing_NN1 of_IO the_AT school_NN1 ._. 
While_CS we_PPIS2 were_VBDR hauling_VVG the_AT bulky_JJ machine_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ shocked_VVN to_TO see_VVI Mother_NN1 and_CC Dad_NN1 pull_VV0 up_RP in_II our_APPGE family_NN1 's_GE pea-green_JJ Oldsmobile_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 could_VM have_VHI sworn_VVN that_CST I_PPIS1 saw_VVD Robin_NP1 's_GE blond_JJ curls_NN2 in_II the_AT window_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 charged_VVD over_RP to_II the_AT car_NN1 ._. 
Mother_NN1 hugged_VVD me_PPIO1 tight_RR ._. 
I_PPIS1 looked_VVD in_II the_AT backseat_NN1 ._. 
Robin_NP1 was_VBDZ not_XX there_RL ._. 
Mother_NN1 whispered_VVD ,_, "_" She_PPHS1 died_VVD ._. "_" 
On_II the_AT short_JJ ride_NN1 home_RL ,_, I_PPIS1 saw_VVD my_APPGE parents_NN2 cry_VV0 for_IF the_AT first_MD time_NNT1 in_II my_APPGE life_NN1 ._. 
Robin_NP1 's_GE death_NN1 made_VVD me_PPIO1 sad_JJ ,_, too_RR ,_, in_II a_AT1 seven-year-old_JJ way_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ sad_JJ to_TO lose_VVI my_APPGE sister_NN1 and_CC future_JJ playmate_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ sad_JJ because_CS I_PPIS1 saw_VVD my_APPGE parents_NN2 hurting_VVG so_RG much_DA1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM be_VBI many_DA2 years_NNT2 before_CS I_PPIS1 could_VM understand_VVI the_AT difference_NN1 between_II my_APPGE sorrow_NN1 and_CC the_AT wrenching_JJ pain_NN1 my_APPGE parents_NN2 felt_VVD from_II losing_VVG their_APPGE daughter_NN1 ._. 
Over_II time_NNT1 I_PPIS1 realized_VVD I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ running_VVG not_XX only_RR to_II stay_NN1 fit_VV0 ,_, but_CCB also_RR to_TO purge_VVI my_APPGE system_NN1 of_IO the_AT poisons_NN2 ._. 
Laura_NP1 's_GE little_JJ question_NN1 provoked_VVD some_DD big_JJ ones_NN2 of_IO my_APPGE own_DA ._. 
Did_VDD I_PPIS1 want_VVI to_TO spend_VVI time_NNT1 at_II home_NN1 with_IW our_APPGE girls_NN2 or_CC stay_VV0 out_RP drinking_VVG ?_? 
Would_VM I_PPIS1 rather_RR read_VVI in_II bed_NN1 with_IW Laura_NP1 or_CC drink_VV0 bourbon_NN1 by_II myself_PPX1 after_II the_AT family_NN1 had_VHD gone_VVN to_TO sleep_VVI ?_? 
Could_VM I_PPIS1 continue_VVI to_TO grow_VVI closer_RRR to_II the_AT Almighty_JJ ?_? or_CC was_VBDZ alcohol_NN1 becoming_VVG my_APPGE god_NN1 ?_? 
I_PPIS1 knew_VVD the_AT answers_NN2 ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 was_VBDZ hard_JJ to_TO summon_VVI the_AT will_NN1 to_TO make_VVI a_AT1 change_NN1 ._. 
In_II 1986_MC ,_, Laura_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 both_RR turned_VVD forty_MC ._. 
So_RR did_VDD our_APPGE close_JJ friends_NN2 Don_NN1 and_CC Susie_NP1 Evans_NP1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 decided_VVD to_TO hold_VVI a_AT1 joint_JJ celebration_NN1 at_II The_AT Broadmoor_NN1 resort_NN1 in_II Colorado_NP1 Springs_NP ._. 
We_PPIS2 invited_VVD our_APPGE childhood_NN1 friends_NN2 Joe_NP1 and_CC Jan_NP1 O'Neill_NP1 ,_, my_APPGE brother_NN1 Neil_NP1 ,_, and_CC another_DD1 Midland_NP1 friend_NN1 ,_, Penny_NP1 Sawyer_NP1 ._. 
The_AT official_JJ birthday_NN1 dinner_NN1 was_VBDZ Saturday_NPD1 night_NNT1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 had_VHD a_AT1 big_JJ meal_NN1 ,_, accompanied_VVN by_II numerous_JJ sixty-dollar_JJ bottles_NN2 of_IO Silver_NP1 Oak_NN1 wine_NN1 ._. 
There_EX were_VBDR lots_PN of_IO toasts_NN2 --_NN1 to_II our_APPGE health_NN1 ,_, to_II our_APPGE kids_NN2 ,_, to_II the_AT babysitters_NN2 who_PNQS were_VBDR watching_VVG the_AT kids_NN2 back_RP home_RL ._. 
We_PPIS2 got_VVD louder_JJR and_CC louder_JJR ,_, telling_VVG the_AT same_DA stories_NN2 over_RP and_CC over_RP ._. 
At_II one_MC1 point_NN1 Don_NN1 and_CC I_PPIS1 decided_VVD we_PPIS2 were_VBDR so_RG cute_JJ we_PPIS2 should_VM take_VVI our_APPGE routine_NN1 from_II table_NN1 to_II table_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 shut_VV0 the_AT place_NN1 down_RP ,_, paid_VVD a_AT1 colossal_JJ bar_NN1 tab_NN1 ,_, and_CC went_VVD to_II bed_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 awoke_VVD the_AT next_MD morning_NNT1 with_IW a_AT1 mean_JJ hangover_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA I_ZZ1 1eft_FO for_IF my_APPGE daily_JJ jog_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 could_VM n't_XX remember_VVI much_DA1 of_IO the_AT night_NNT1 before_RT ._. 
About_II halfway_JJ through_II the_AT run_NN1 ,_, my_APPGE head_NN1 started_VVD to_TO clear_VVI ._. 
The_AT crosscurrents_NN2 in_II my_APPGE life_NN1 came_VVD into_II focus_NN1 ._. 
For_IF months_NNT2 I_PPIS1 had_VHD been_VBN praying_VVG that_CST God_NP1 would_VM show_VVI me_PPIO1 how_RRQ to_TO better_RRR reflect_VVI His_APPGE will_NN1 ._. 
My_APPGE Scripture_NN1 readings_NN2 had_VHD clarified_VVN the_AT nature_NN1 of_IO temptation_NN1 a_AT1 nd_NNU the_AT reality_NN1 that_CST the_AT love_NN1 of_IO earthly_JJ pleasures_NN2 could_VM replace_VVI the_AT 1ove_FO of_IO God_NP1 ._. 
My_APPGE problem_NN1 was_VBDZ not_XX only_RR drinking_VVG ;_; i_ZZ1 t_ZZ1 was_VBDZ selfishness_NN1 ._. 
The_AT booze_NN1 was_VBDZ leading_VVG me_PPIO1 to_TO put_VVI myself_PPX1 ahead_II21 of_II22 others_NN2 ,_, especially_RR my_APPGE family_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 loved_VVD Laura_NP1 and_CC the_AT girls_NN2 too_RG much_DA1 to_TO let_VVI that_CST happen_VVI ._. 
Faith_NN1 showed_VVD me_PPIO1 a_AT1 way_NN1 out_RP ._. 
I_PPIS1 knew_VVD I_PPIS1 could_VM count_VVI on_II the_AT grace_NN1 of_IO God_NP1 to_TO help_VVI me_PPIO1 change_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM not_XX be_VBI easy_JJ ,_, but_CCB by_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO the_AT run_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 had_VHD made_VVN up_RP my_APPGE mind_NN1 :_: I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ done_VDN drinking_NN1 ._. 
When_CS I_PPIS1 got_VVD back_RP to_II the_AT hotel_NN1 room_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 told_VVD Laura_NP1 I_PPIS1 would_VM never_RR have_VHI another_DD1 drink_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 looked_VVD at_II me_PPIO1 like_CS I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ still_RR running_VVG on_II alcohol_NN1 fumes_NN2 ._. 
Then_RT she_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, "_" That_DD1 's_VBZ good_JJ ,_, George_NP1 ._. "_" 
I_PPIS1 knew_VVD what_DDQ she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ thinking_VVG ._. 
I_PPIS1 had_VHD talked_VVN about_II quitting_VVG before_RT ,_, and_CC nothing_PN1 had_VHD co_NN1 me_PPIO1 of_IO it_PPH1 ._. 
What_DDQ she_PPHS1 did_VDD n't_XX know_VVI was_VBDZ that_CST this_DD1 time_NNT1 I_PPIS1 had_VHD changed_VVN on_II the_AT inside_JJ --_NN1 and_CC that_DD1 would_VM enable_VVI me_PPIO1 to_TO change_VVI my_APPGE behavior_NN1 forever_RT ._. 
One_MC1 morning_NNT1 in_II September_NPM1 1944_MC ,_, Dad_NN1 was_VBDZ flying_VVG a_AT1 mission_NN1 over_II Chichi-_JJ Jima_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 island_NN1 occupied_VVN by_II the_AT Japanese_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE TBM_NN1 Avenger_NN1 was_VBDZ struck_VVN by_II enemy_NN1 fire_NN1 ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 kept_VVD going_VVG --_JJ diving_NN1 at_II two_MC hundred_NNO miles_NNU2 per_II hour_NNT1 --_NN1 until_CS he_PPHS1 had_VHD dropped_VVN his_APPGE bombs_NN2 and_CC hit_VVN the_AT target_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 shouted_VVD for_IF his_APPGE flight_NN1 mates_NN2 to_TO bail_VVI out_RP and_CC then_RT did_VDD so_RR himself_PPX1 ._. 
Alone_RR in_II the_AT South_ND1 Pacific_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 swam_VVD to_II the_AT tiny_JJ rubber_JJ raft_NN1 that_CST had_VHD been_VBN his_APPGE seat_NN1 cushion_NN1 ._. 
When_CS Dad_NN1 was_VBDZ rescued_VVN by_II a_AT1 submarine_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ told_VVN he_PPHS1 could_VM go_VVI home_RL ._. 
He_PPHS1 rejoined_VVD his_APPGE squadron_NN1 instead_RR ._. 
His_APPGE tour_NN1 ended_VVD just_RR before_II Christmas_NNT1 ,_, and_CC on_II January_NPM1 6_MC ,_, 1945_MC he_PPHS1 married_VVD Mother_NN1 at_II her_APPGE family_NN1 church_NN1 in_II Rye_NP1 ,_, New_NP1 York_NP1 ._. 
After_CS the_AT war_NN1 ,_, Mother_NN1 and_CC Dad_NN1 moved_VVN to_II New_NP1 Haven_NP1 so_CS he_PPHS1 could_VM attend_VVI Yale_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 fine_JJ athlete_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 first_MD baseman_NN1 and_CC captain_NN1 of_IO the_AT baseball_NN1 team_NN1 ._. 
Mother_NN1 came_VVD to_II almost_RR every_AT1 game_NN1 ,_, even_RR during_II the_AT spring_NN1 of_IO 1946_MC ,_, when_CS she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ pregnant_JJ with_IW me_PPIO1 ._. 
Fortunately_RR for_IF her_PPHO1 ,_, the_AT stadium_NN1 included_VVD a_AT1 double-wide_JJ seat_NN1 behind_II home_NN1 plate_NN1 designed_VVN for_IF former_DA law_NN1 professor_NN1 William_NP1 Howard_NP1 Taft_NP1 ._. 
Dad_NN1 excelled_VVN in_II the_AT classroom_NN1 ,_, graduating_VVG Phi_NN1 Beta_NN1 Kappa_NN1 in_II just_RR two_MC and_CC a_AT1 half_DB years_NNT2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 attended_VVD his_APPGE commencement_NN1 in_II Mother_NN1 's_GE arms_NN2 ,_, dozing_VVG through_II much_DA1 of_IO the_AT ceremony_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM n't_XX be_VBI the_AT last_MD time_NNT1 I_PPIS1 slept_VVD through_II a_AT1 Yale_NP1 lecture_NN1 ._. 
Years_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, millions_NNO2 of_IO Americans_NN2 would_VM learn_VVI Dad_NN1 's_GE story_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB from_II the_AT beginning_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 knew_VVD it_PPH1 by_II heart_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 of_IO my_APPGE first_MD memories_NN2 is_VBZ of_IO sitting_VVG on_II the_AT floor_NN1 with_IW Mother_NN1 looking_VVG through_II scrapbooks_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 showed_VVD me_PPIO1 photos_NN2 from_II Dad_NN1 's_GE pilot_NN1 training_NN1 in_II Corpus_NP1 Christi_NP1 ,_, box_NN1 scores_NN2 from_II his_APPGE games_NN2 i_ZZ1 n_ZZ1 the_AT College_NN1 World_NN1 Series_NN ,_, a_AT1 nd_NNU a_AT1 famous_JJ picture_NN1 of_IO him_PPHO1 with_IW Babe_NN1 Ruth_NP1 on_II the_AT pitcher_NN1 's_GE mound_NN1 at_II Yale_NP1 Field_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 pored_VVD over_RP photos_NN2 from_II their_APPGE wedding_NN1 :_: the_AT Navy_NN1 officer_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE smiling_JJ young_JJ bride_NN1 ._. 
My_APPGE favorite_JJ part_NN1 of_IO the_AT scrapbook_NN1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 piece_NN1 of_IO rubber_NN1 from_II the_AT raft_NN1 that_CST saved_VVD Dad_NN1 's_GE life_NN1 in_II the_AT Pacific_NP1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 would_VM bug_VVI him_PPHO1 to_TO tell_VVI stories_NN2 from_II the_AT war_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 refused_VVD to_TO brag_VVI ._. 
But_CCB Mother_NN1 would_VM ._. 
She_PPHS1 adored_VVD him_PPHO1 ,_, and_CC so_RR did_VDD I._NP1 As_CSA I_PPIS1 got_VVD older_JJR ,_, there_EX would_VM be_VBI others_NN2 I_PPIS1 looked_VVD up_II21 to_II22 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT truth_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST I_PPIS1 never_RR had_VHD to_TO search_VVI for_IF a_AT1 role_NN1 model_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ the_AT son_NN1 of_IO George_NP1 Bush_NP1 ._. 
