I like to believe that everyone on this earth grew up knowing an adult other than a family member whom they loved and admired — a friendly, hospitable neighbor whose congeniality rivals that of Ned Flanders, a close family friend that you always assumed was a relative until you mistakenly asked him why he was never at the family Christmas party; a caring teacher who always knew how to make you feel appreciated; or maybe a coach or instructor that went out of his or her way to provide for you.
Most people did have or can at least imagine the relationship that I am describing, and as for me, I admired one of my dad’s church league soft-ball teammates.