Every father of a daughter sooner or later wonders how he had a hand in creating this exotic creature, a female being, a daughter. He’s flummoxed. But of course, he’s delighted because she’s beautiful.

When she’s a kid, the mystery is there, but not preeminent. It’s when she turns into a teenager that things get mysterious. Boys come around, which is not mysterious or surprising, just irritating. Under cross-examination, they profess good intentions, but you know. You were once a boy. Still are, just showing some wear. No, the mystery part is that they show up without you knowing anything about it ahead of time. Your wife seems to, and she and your daughter share these mysterious smiles. That’s when you realize you are clueless.

The day comes when a new male comes into the picture. You’ve never met him, nice guy and all, but he behaves around your now-adult daughter as if he is quite familiar with her. You would like to demand to know exactly how familiar, but you don’t, because she and her mother are sharing one of those conspiratorial mysterious smiles.

Then comes the wedding announcement, which catches you completely flat-footed. You thought she would be your little girl forever. You realize there is a gulf between fathers and daughters that perhaps can’t be bridged. Except by affection.

You put on your tuxedo and do your part with smiles, hugs, and without comment.

Then you have a granddaughter, and the cycle begins again.