justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

Daddy, Are You Famous?

It’s been said that out of the mouths of babes oft times come gems, so when my youngest daughter was three years old she asked if I was famous as we were walking to the donut shop near our home. The question gave me pause as I wondered how I should respond.

So, am I famous? Are you famous? And what makes one famous in the eyes of a child, or to anyone else for that matter?

I asked her if she knew of someone who was famous so I could respond to her most appropriately. She mentioned several “famous” singers, actors and the President of the United States.

Having gained a better perspective of what type of response she might expect, I replied as follows: “While I’m not famous in the same way that your examples indicate, I am very famous as I have the world’s most special three year old standing by my side.”

That response, while perhaps a little more broad than she had expected, seemed to satisfy her as her interest soon was directed at the caterpillar that was crawling on a leaf near her feet.

To paraphrase a well worn phrase, “famous is as famous does,” at least for that moment in time!