My name is Bob
And this is my story
I was born in the deep dark South
Where they waved the Confederate flag in glory
I grew up with a silver spoon
I had my first yacht by seven
Shortly after I met the neighbor girl
And learned that playing doctor was heaven
But truth be told
The thrills of youth came almost seven years later
When my best friend’s sister
Took my innocence but how could I ever hate her
Although I had it all
I received my fair share of spankings
But with my mother’s looks and my daddy’s brains
My misbehaving was for being me and not my academic rankings
For eleven of my first great years
My entire world evolved around private
A shattered marriage and worse divorce
Taught me the truth of life and how good I really had it
A stepfather then came along
I remember his potbelly and shirt collars of blue
He chugged his liquor from a bottle
But as a surrogate Dad I even loved him too
There were no more debutantes
Dinner jackets became old and worn
Until as a teenager I actually went to work
My clothes, although clean, were always thread bare and torn
I lettered in all the water sports
My jackets was adorned with ribbons and medals
At sixteen I bought my first car
A 72’ Vega with hatchback and clutch pedals
My high school years zipped right by
I even earned an appointment to West Point
But with the Vietnam War killing my friends
There was no way I was going to that joint
I worked my way to UCSB
To surf, to meet the girls, and to gain some learning
Four years later I had a degree
Despite my youthful yearning
I married at just twenty-one
A failed pregnancy was to blame
Despite the problems I got it right
And three children bore my name
The years have flown by in a virtual blur
Careers, jobs, and an MBA thrown in for good measure
I’ve captained men and reported to women
Traveled the world and enjoyed many a pleasure
Although a divorce nearly crushed my soul
And my company was taken before I was ready to retire
I’ve finally learned the joys of love
And my spirit couldn’t get much higher
For all I have to do is look at you
And see what God has placed before me
The greatest lesson that I’ve learned
How great it is just to be
