January 10, 1995

Like a Rock

Stood there boldly. Sweatin' in the sun
Felt like a million. Felt like number one
The height of summer. I'd never felt that strong
Like a rock

Dad passed away 13 years ago today. For whatever reason, this year the memories of that morning and the subsequent days are much more vivid than they ever have been. It might be the warm weather - it was an unheard of 60 degrees in upstate New York when we had his funeral mass. The weather this year has been similarly warm. I particularly remember the outpouring of affection from the neighbors - Dad was loved. We waked him for two days and there was a constant stream of people non-stop all those hours.

Old men with tears streaming down their faces, women with stories, friends who just came to let us know how sorry they were, my priest came. My old stoner boyfriend paid his respects. He loved my Dad. And I think Dad really liked him a lot too. My boss Jim drove all the way from Troy, following my messed up grief stricken directions - because he cared enough to show me it mattered. The church, which is a large one, was standing room only.

I'm convinced that people keep spiral sliced hams in their freezer for just such occasions. Mom called me at 6am, I was at the house by 9am, and by 10am, there was a ham on our doorstep - just out of the oven. People hear that someone has died, and they jump up and cook ham.

Almost 1000 people signed the guest book to pay their respect to an unsuccessful farmer in Frankfort, NY. A testament to his goodness and how one person can make a difference.

Stood there boldly. Sweatin' in the sun
Felt like a million. Felt like number one
The height of summer. I'd never felt that strong
Like a rock

I was eighteen. Didn't have a care
Working for peanuts, Not a dime to spare
But I was lean and Solid everywhere
Like a rock

My hands were steady. My eyes were clear and bright
My walk had purpose. My steps were quick and light
And I held firmly, to what I felt was right
Like a rock

Like a rock, I was strong as I could be
Like a rock, nothin' ever got to me
Like a rock, I was something to see
Like a rock

And I stood arrow straight Unencumbered by the weight
Of all these hustlers and their schemes
I stood proud, I stood tall High above it all
I still believed in my dreams

Twenty years now, where'd they go?
Twenty years, I don't know
I sit and I wonder sometimes
Where they've gone

And sometimes late at night, when I'm bathed in the firelight
The moon comes callin' a ghostly white, and I recall
I recall

Like a rock. standin' arrow straight
Like a rock, chargin' from the gate
Like a rock, carryin' the weight
Like a rock

Like a rock, the sun upon my skin
Like a rock, hard against the wind
Like a rock, I see myself again
Like a rock