Day Eleven: All Apologies

I'm not a bad man.

At least I'd like to think not (granted, usually if you have to begin sentence with a character defense you're fighting a losing battle). Often, I can even fool myself into believing that I'm actually a really good person. But, like most, I've certainly caused my fair share of harm and I've got some apologizing to do. To that end, I offer my sincerest apologies, without reservation, to the following people who, to one degree or another, I've offended during my slow lurch toward maturity.

• My mother - For being reckless, ill-mannered and slow to learn
• My father - For legacy, and for perpetuating some of your more regrettable habits
• My sister - For failing to jettison the sibling rivalry mentality in a more timely fashion
• My spouse - For the last nine years (including Sunday)
• My older son - For not being more involved in your life
• My younger son - For not being as good a parent as your mother
• Mrs. Rivers - For not becoming a physician
• Mrs. Mask - For not becoming a writer
• That sister who I turned down at the Summer Camp dance - For projecting my insecurities onto you
• My older son's mom - For not walking away sooner
• My high school sweetheart - For mistaking 19 years old for 17 years old
• My college sweetheart - For them all
• My students - For failing to prepare you properly
• 1914 - For not speeding our cause on it's way
• The Cat Lady - For seeing you through the eyes of others
• Claude - For taking the coward's bait
• Nat - For overlooking you
• Denise - For getting your car towed, and for the airport
• Bruce - For making your problems my problems
• Troy - For not being your brother
  
• Floyd - For taking the easiest route
  
• The Kid I Pushed Away - For pushing you away

If I've allowed any misdeeds to go unmentioned it is only because I can't remember them at this time. If aging has one saving grace, it is forgetfulness.