My dad supports the Kennedy Center

Lisa and I have been members of the Kennedy Center off and on since we moved to D.C. One of the whimsical things about our membership is that it is actually in the name of my father, Wayne.

My dad passed away years ago and never once went to the Kennedy Center, and to my knowledge never in his life attended a play, an orchestra recital, opera, ballet performance or any of the other performing arts that one might find in a place like the Kennedy Center. Never. Not anywhere. Not anytime. He was a man more given to pool halls and beer joints than opera houses.

Nevertheless, by some strange twist of fate, about a year after I moved to D.C., I began to get solicitations to become a supporting member of the Kennedy Center yet they were all addressed to ‘Wayne Watson’ with my address. I have no idea how this happened. I can only assume that one of the lists that nonprofits buy of potential donors got bought somewhere somehow and in some weird miscommunication, my Dad’s name ended up on it.

Initially it caused me to laugh out loud and then to cry because I miss my old man. So, in tribute to my dad, a man who dropped out of high school and spent his working years on construction sites I became a member…or should I say, Wayne Watson, became a member and financial supporter of one of the premier arts centers in America.

Every show I go and see, every ‘early bird for members only’ ticket I purchase, every V.I.P. event I attend, when I arrive, I am greeted at the Kennedy Cente by an usher who says, “Wayne Watson, welcome” I smile and wink and think that somewhere in the cosmos, my dad is looking down laughing his ass off.

If only they knew.

And dear Kennedy Center, Wayne’s membership renewal is in the mail. He’s a proud supporter.