Epitaph For My Father, An Everyman

Epitaph for My Father, an Everyman (Written with John Hughes in mind, as he will understand) One night in particular, I recall, inside a restaurant, (although I hadn’t noticed any problem) my father Shouted, yes, more a shout than a question, “Don’t you know who I am!” This regional, southern PA tennis champion,; This small town WWII war hero ; This high school history teacher beloved By his students, with an intellect respected by peers; This upstanding father, who had run for city council; This father who laughed at My good-nihjt kisses on the crown of his head; This man, oh, my father had felt so disrespected That the manager came puffing with apologies, And a change of tables and waiters, according to Some set routine,as this hadn’t been the first time, I’m sure. Still, my father accepted the deference, While I began a half-century of wondering About those men on that night. Just how Did my father expect to be received by A tired waiter, nearly dead on his feet? I do not believe heaven counts up the numbers Of tears that fall at our funerals, nor Checks the milestones on resumes. Lord, forgive my unknowing As I forgive the unknowing of others, To put mutual respect and your love in that place! For most of life, I think I expected modest Little in meetings, but, I think, Age keeps count, Age heralds a certain pride in its survival Of decades battling the trials of life — As they blanket us in ways unseen By others, unknown to any but God. So, like my father, I might, no, I do want To shout, “Do you know who I am!” Within all the entryways, hoping Disregard will be waylaid, and Eminence will be a suit that fits. If all we ever did was smile on one downcast, Or if we wrote such famed lines As a president quotes, each of us matters. Celebrity is us all In our minds, not only for the few, as here... On this earth, as we stand Each a one among billions, All already having His grace To accept and realize the honor of fully being Blessedly ourselves. (C) sally young esinger 9/18/20 Thanks be to God! And,all, staywell .