I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE

SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME. Rockwell, I believe, was the artist of that song from the mid-eighties. I know our son liked it, played it, and got it stuck in my head from time to time. A poster I had in my room at school for twenty years or so, stated "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you." But I feel as if I've shared that before with my readers. See how paranoid I am?

But what came to mind today was the blame I used to, and somewhat still, receive when I'm totally innocent. A stunt, a shenanigan, a prank could be played by some of my friends, and it seemed I was blamed for it.

I never knew whether to take it as a compliment (for the wisdom and bravery it took to pull it off) or a criticism ("that boy's always in trouble. If you want to find the culprit, that's where to look.")

I must have gotten away with some stuff in my young life, but I can't recall too much. Seriously. I recall more often being at the other end of that pointed finger. When I had had no part in the deed.

Well, there was that time we smeared squashed up plums on a neighbors house writing the name of another neighbor who got blamed for it, but that was the only time. Except when...