Here's another from the NYC Angst Collection, circa late 80s.
I've felt, at times in my life, as though my ol' daddio (whom I long ago
dubbed "Jer") had an, shall we say "unfulfilling" line of work. I've had
all the usual battles with myself over how daddio has influenced my
life, and at one point, I think I actually subscribed to the basic gist
of this. It is absolutely critical to note that ol' Jer has mellowed in
his old age, and I now have a significantly broader view of the old fart, bathed
as it is in his big, gooey heart (the one that
resides under his curmudgeonly crust) so filled with love and affection
for his children and grandchildren. So, this is a kindofa snapshot
window into a frame of mind I once had, but have long since positively
re-evaluated.
Jer's Story
Four score and seven years ago, Jer was working in a coalmine,
bringing home the bacon. Once, he was trapped under a trestle for six
years before God decided to intervene. And lo, He looked down upon Jer's
dilemma, and said, "Yeah, tho thou hast been trapped these many years,
yet have I decided to free thee from thy bondage. Go forth, young Jer,
and marryest thou to fair Roberta of Brooklyn. Bearest thou a boy-child
and nameth him 'Glen'. Watcheth him grow into dubious adulthood, a
confused and neurotic manchild. Seeth thou him strive to undertake many
undertakings, all with minimal degrees of success. Watcheth him struggle
with even the most basic questions, and offer him naught but financial
advice."
"Sheildeth thyself from any show of emotion, that thee may maintain an
artificial aire of strength, that he and his siblings may grow confused
regarding their attempts to break through thy barrier. Goeth forth and
work unsatisfyedly at a great many jobs, wherein thee might stare
incessantly at pages and pages of numbers, cross referenced and
cross-cross referenced, that thee might eventually go crazy from
lack-of-meaning-of-it-all. Asketh not why I have chosen this path for
thee, but rather, reject me entirely. Sayeth thou things like unto, 'no
god would allow for a world such as this,' and, 'how could a god exist
who acts so irresponsibly?' Now goeth forth and do thee as I bid." And
so, Jer was freed of his long captivity, the trestle suddenly rotting
away from over him. And off he went, into the world in search of fair
Roberta of Brooklyn, whom he eventually married. And the rest is
history.
THE END