Not for any particular act or contribution — not for what I wrought with my hands, but for who I was.

Who was the 14th president of the United States? What did he do for our country? Don’t you know? Important things, surely!

Better to ask, whose kindness impressed you? Who was the first friend you made when you went to a new school? Whose joy shone so bright that in its light you recognized your troubles for the insignificant motes of dust that they were?

Though I’ve memorized it by now, I hope you won’t remember my sales pitch. I hope you’ll remember a glowing soul with the weight of glory a mantle about her shoulders — a hope I sometimes forget.

Note: This blog post is part of the Post A Day 2011 Challenge, so forgive its meandering ways. I’m quite tired. But it’s good to write often. So I’m writing.