Some friends asked me to post some of Charmaine's poetry and I just came upon this poem she wrote for me: I wish I'd seen it before so I could have told her how much I like it and how right-on it is and how sorry I am for my part in it and glad to see her reaction in this writing. TABLE MANNERS My daughter disapproves of the way I hold my fork and it is true her grace far exceeds mine. She lived in Europe for awhile and knows propriety. Completion means the silverware is diagonal on the plate. The waiter bows to her mannered movements and her ways.. He knows when to take away the food. Our water glasses full, the extra niceties come to us at our table properly. She knows how to bring approval our way as she sits in her handmade hat and fashionable clothes like a model. She's developed this personna for a long time, this role reversal which she sees in me I should be the model; I should be her teacher as we sit at the table. But I choose to be myself, whatever that is, even if I don't hold my fork like a movie star, my daughter's way and I sit however I sit. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++