I AM ME

 

“Who are you?” A young girl asked me in the bookstore after giving me a quizzical look.

I smiled and told her, “I am the man who’ll help you find a book”.

“And who are you?” I asked…she looked at me and smiled innocently…then pointing out the obvious she answered, “I am me!”.

As she walked away I had to wonder how many different ways I could reply to her simple, honest and straightforward query…to her question…”Who am I?”.

I am a child whenever I eat ice cream or dance out in the rain…

I am a friend when I share another friend’s happiness…or help to ease their pain.

I am a poet (or at least I try to be) with words like these I write…

I am a husband when I hold hands with Deborah…or give her a kiss goodnight.

I am a dad to our three children…even when they’re far away.

I am a brother, a cousin, an uncle…depending on the day.

I am a PopPop who has been a horse, a magician…with his own magic show…

I am a person who’s been blessed to watch his children and grandchildren grow.

Sometimes I’ve been all these people in a single afternoon!

It’s as if they’re always with me…like the stars that surround the moon.

For who I am is not an easy concept to truly comprehend…and after giving it some thought the best answer is most likely…”It depends”. 

It depends on what circumstances I am in…on what I’m asked to do…

It depends on where I am…and who I’m talking to

And when you stop to think about it…It’s fun to look at life this way…

never knowing, when the day begins, how many ‘mes' I’ll be today.

And as for that young girl who waved to me as she left the store sucking on her thumb…I had to smile as I waved back thinking of all the ‘mes’ she will become.