My father’s home again. He’s been out to sea for four months now. Tonite, Kitty and I met him at the gate in Newark International Airport. He arrived on a direct flight from Milan, and hasn’t slept for days. Now he sleeps soundly on the futon he bought for us when he was here last. It is great to see him, and also a funny feeling to feel that I have the opportunity to father my father. He came off the plane weary with travel and nearly starved from the poor rations during the flight. We took him home to hot and hearty beef stew, followed by two kinds of ice cream for dessert. He was fast asleep minutes after hitting the pillow. Looking in on him sleeping diagonally, I am glad that I could provide for him. It is a funny feeling to have the chance to help him in his travels. I know he has seen more than I will ever see of the world. Just the conversation we had between spoonfuls of stew reveals a current, open, and wide world view. He’s had a view of the whole wide world. He’s seen the poverty, the racism, and other ways of life totally different than ours. By modern miracles I was able to stay in touch with him during the trip. We sent emails back and forth for the entire course of the four month journey. Now that he’s back I think he should write a book. I’ve seen him write a poem, and I know he’s seen enough to put down something substantial, maybe even profound. It would be a wonder if our nation’s population had the worldliness of a sailor.