MY FATHER, THE DRUMMER

The last time I saw my father, Louis Grosenbaugh, before his death in the summer of 1989, was at a performance of the Wooster, Ohio, Senior Center Band. It was the first time I had seen the group - of which both my parents were members - perform. I found that Dad had kept an old drum that the two of them had bought me when I was a youngster and was playing it in the band. The day I was there he played a solo on the favorite "Sweet Georgia Brown" and stood to acknowledge the applause. Although I had been in awe for many years of the way Dad had used his time, especially that in retirement from the Postal Service, I had not realized he had musical talent. I came to appreciate him even more as a dad and a friend. He was behind me all my growing years as a Boy Scout leader, a cheering supporter of my football team, and as a role model for me to follow. It's been 24 years since his heart

gave out but I still remember him well especially on this Father's Day.