The Luncheon

My father with his great niece, Michaela Gagne, Miss
Massachusetts for 2006.

Some years ago I sent my father a Father's Day
card. The cover had an illustration of a person
standing on one foot. Beneath, it said, "Life is a
balancing act."

Inside was a Gertrude Stein quote that captured
my father's fancy. Somewhat inexplicably, he
held onto the card and for years repeated that
quote to anyone who would listen.

As I try to reconcile the irreconcilable,
Gertrude seems more apt than ever.

There ain't no answer.
There ain't gonna be any answer.
There never has been an answer.
That's the answer.

-gertrude stein