It was just one of those arbitrary feeds I got on Facebook. But this one stopped me cold. It was an advert for a gift that would be a grandparent type of gift. A simple key chain, with a “dog tag” message attached, “I can’t promise I’ll be here for the rest of your life. But I can promise that I’ll love you for the rest of mine.” There were more words. But it’s the concluding sentence… “Always remember whose grandson you are.” For you who know Disney, it’s very “Lion-Kingesque”. Or, even without the Lion King reference, maybe you are just blessed to be descended from Sophie Fleischner.
I am drawn to other images, far apart from Mommie Soph making potato latkes and lighting Sabbath candles with my Mother on Friday nights.
It’s from the film “Saving Private Ryan.” The aged Ryan with his family returns to the resting place near the battle grounds in France, to the graveside of the Captain who saved his life…
“My family is with me today. They wanted to come with me. To be honest with you, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel coming back here. Every day I think about what you said to me that day on the bridge [earn this]. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I’ve earned what all of you have done for me… Tell me I have led a good life… Tell me I’m a good man.”