A True Father's Day Story | Families

We, here at work are asked to contribute a couple stories to MY TOWN columns on the web as often as possible, and me not being a reporter, most times I have trouble coming up with something. I guess too that I like to write human interest stories more than anything else. Today I have such a story, sent to me by Sally Howard. I thought this story even more appropriate with Father’s Day just around the corner. I hope you enjoy it.

Attached to this story are two photos of Cliff & Marie McMann of Grand Rapids, one taken of the couple in front of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World on one of their visits, the second is one taken recently with Cliff and some of his family at the same site. Marie (a wonderful wife & Mom, and an all too familiar face at Plainfield Dept Store for years) passed away in 2011 but Cliff always wanted to return to this special place, one of their favorite vacation spots.

This year Cliff got his wish. One of his granddaughters in Florida was named as one of the top 100 Senior Students in the country, so this started the plans to go to Florida for graduation but Cliff’s daughter Sally also had something else in mind.

Sally contacted Disney World and told her story about her parents’ great love for this special vacation place and Disney responded with a 2 hour pass for each of the nine family members attending on May 30th and a wheel chair for Cliff.

Before leaving the park after their special visit and many, many photos, Cliff pulled one of his wife’s scarves out from under his wool sweater, in that 90 degree weather, and gave the family a whiff of Marie’s “Beautiful Perfume” that she wore all the time. Sally said, “It truly was a Beautiful moment and we all believed Mom was there with us in spirit.”

Before leaving the grounds, Sally asked a Disney representative what their family could do for them in return for their kindness. He told them to “Pay it Forward” and Sally said, “that is just what we will do.” Our Dad is such a great example to our families of the true meaning of love, resilience and priorities in life.