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father of his future grandchild. I can’t tell what he despises more—the fact that I want to be a professional golfer (he says golf is a hobby, not a career, and that if I am to be a respectable father I need to get a “real” job), or that my marriage to his daughter has hindered her educational pursuits. Regardless of which, emotions are running high here in the Call residence. Jessalynn and I are sharing her old bedroom, which only has a twin bed, so I get the floor at night in order to give her the space she needs to sleep comfortably. The morning sickness seems to last all day and all night, which is taking a definite toll on her (and everyone else in the house). She still seems to have some lingering doubts about her readiness to be a mom, but I suppose that’s probably natural. Perhaps she’ll be more enthusiastic about the whole thing once she’s feeling better. For now, though, it is enough that she simply tries to put on a smile between her vomiting episodes.
    I have been looking for jobs in the area, but the golf season is still just ramping up here in Vermont. I’d like to get on at one of the local courses, but none of them are hiring until demand picks up a little more. I can’t wait to dust the cobwebs off of my swing… I haven’t played nearly enough golf since leaving sunny Southern California. But my heart is here with my beautiful wife, without regret.

    June 13, 1973—Employment! The Burlington Country Club decided this morning that my background, skills, and “charming foreign accent” are exactly what they need to head up their private skills classes (which target those patrons who have little skill, but big bucks). I will be providing one-on-one tutorials to help teach these wealthy duffers the fundamentals of golf. I can’t wait! It doesn’t pay much in terms of salary, but I’m told the tips can be very healthy. If nothing else, I should be able to earn enough money to help put food on the table and to pay for Jessalynn’s doctor visits, which are adding up quickly. Of course, the biggest perk of my job is that it comes with unlimited rounds of golf during my off hours!

    June 25, 1973—Fate, karma, or divine intervention—whichever one happened to be working for me today—is deserving of my greatest thanks. A family showed up at the country club this morning; they are neither club members nor local residents of Burlington, but are vacationers passing through New England on their way to Montreal, Quebec. The father asked that I work on fundamentals with his two sons while he and his wife played eighteen holes. The boys are young, but are already very skilled with golf clubs (as I’m sure my own children will be someday!). After lunch I was showing the boys how to properly rotate their hips during the downswing, and unbeknownst to me their father had just finished his round and was watching us from nearby.
    After seeing me hit a few balls, he came and introduced himself as Vincent Montgomery. I immediately recognized the name. He is probably unknown to most people, but in the upper echelon of golf he is considered one of the top professional swing coaches in the WORLD!! He has trained some of the highest-paid golfers on the PGA tour. He asked me to hit a few more balls, after which he invited me to play nine holes with him early tomorrow morning before work. Tomorrow morning I’m playing golf with bloody Vincent Montgomery!!!

    June 26, 1973—I played a beautiful round this morning. Vincent seemed genuinely impressed. He took down my phone number and address and said he would like to contact me in the future about various professional development opportunities that he is aware of for high-caliber golfers. I can hardly believe that Mr. Montgomery has taken an interest in me! His insights will definitely be an asset in my quest for PGA membership.

    August 21, 1973—This afternoon I was contacted at work by my mother-in-law, informing me that she’d rushed Jessalynn to the