LEGACY

I like the old George Carlin story where he tells what he does with the little sewing kits that they sometimes include in hotel rooms. He says he sews the towels together. One time, he adds, he sewed a button on a lampshade. Why? He likes to leave his mark.

Animals, too, like, in fact it's almost required of them to mark their territory. They smell, they hike a leg, and Zorro-like they have established neighborhood.

Our marks, our legacies are established by plaques, statues, street names, scholarships and awards. Perhaps our most lasting are our offspring. And their offspring. The avalanche continues, but often fades with the passing of time.

Just recently, a former pastor of ours called (we weren't home) and said he was traveling through MTV and decided to drive through and look around at our hometown. He wound up at Ryan's Steakhouse and asked if any of the workers knew us. Zero. Nine years is a long time to be gone from a community.

So we left no identifying marks when we moved. Well, one son and 4 grandchildren. They'll have to do. But, you know what? That's the way I like it. In fact, that's the way I love it.