This Light Was On….

Greetings all!!

Thanks, Dad for making sure that this sconce that shone just inside the front door of the home I grew up in was delivered to me before you passed to the other side.  Neither one of us knew it at the time, but this sconce was going to be the only “thing” as close to “personal effects” that I would have to remember you after you passed away.

I cherish it greatly.

It took us both some begging and pleading to get the sconce to me. Once it arrived from Detroit to Salt Lake City, I was sad to see it was delivered broken. A clean crack down it’s side. Without hesitation, I pulled out the phone book and called a glass restoration business that was not too far away from where I live. I had an hour before the business closed to deliver the sconce there and to plead with them and hold out hope it could be fixed. “No problem!” the owner said. “We can use a UV activated glue to mend this, though you might still see where the break existed.” I was ecstatic and gave the go ahead to have the repair completed. A couple of days later, it was ready. The picture was taken as I laid it on my bed. I’ll be hanging it up this next week on the wall.

This sconce means a lot to me, Dad, as I told you. I appreciated you and Mom leaving it on for me when I’d be out late at night. Though sometimes I’d be a bit drunk, I never took any drugs. I know you’d be proud to hear that. And that light helped my drunk ass find the stairs that led to my room upstairs. That sconce that shone in the living room meant that somebody cared enough to remember me. Someone remembered I was out being an honorable young man. I never got into trouble with the law. I really never did anything WRONG, save for let a girl drive Mom’s car without a license. But, hey Dad…she was pretty! How could I say no?  We got pulled over as a brake light was burned out. I had to go to court. This sconce was on when I got home late that night and feeling scared about the punishment I was going to get. Not from court, but from YOU!!

Me and Mom kept that a secret. The judge gave me a small fine and an admonishment. It worked. I never let anyone drive my car, or Mom’s car again. License or not. I don’t think you ever knew that happened. But that sconce saw me walk into the house with my head down.

I am so glad to have it here, Dad. I will pass it on to your grandkids when I am gone. Right now it is a solemn touchstone to the house you bought and where I had so many memories. Most good, Some bad, but they are my memories that you helped to form.

I’ll keep that sconce and your name shining brightly in my home.