My son has a strange fascination with Wheel of Fortune. Every time he hears the music, he races into the family room to watch. And every time, all I can think of is how my father would frown, when I was young, and point out that you could win tens of thousands of dollars, a car and a vacation, with sheer luck, while most Jeopardy contestants, no matter how knowledgeable, walked away with nothing.
Then I think about the collective influence and weight of all the little comments, the passing wisdom, the sharp wit that was my father, and I worry that I won't add up to as much for my son.
