The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

 

I cannot hear this amazing music without remembering a cool night in the back seat of our dad’s 1959 Chevy Impala Convertible.  My brother and I in our PJs, eating burnt popcorn from a paper Safeway grocery bag.  Drinking warm Coke from a cooler with no ice. And fighting to stay awake as Eli Wallach runs frantically through a very large cemetery looking for Arch Stanton’s grave in hopes of finding the gold. Best movie of 1967.  

Today there would be a sequel.

https://youtu.be/XOl73VQOS9M?si=QS_dpm4qt4wP7lG2

For Cadance Rene'

How I love those sparkles in your eyes

When you think of something clever to do.

Like dancing to Disney

or teaching me to tie my shoe.

Your thoughtful way when you've been

told you did something wrong.

One thing is for sure

Nana can't stay mad at you for very long.

Watching your dance team on stage

and seeing only you.

I love your confidence, your smile,

and the cute ways you move.  

I can't remember when I started this poem.

But my how you have really grown.

You’re so kind and wise beyond your years.

Sometimes Nana can’t hide her tears.

It’s in my heart, you will always be.

Even if you live to be one hundred and three.

  

 

Carrie Fisher The Princess Diarist

Don't offer me love

I seek disinterest and denial

Tenderness makes my skin crawl

Understanding is vile

When you offer me happiness

You offer too much

My ideal is a long-lasting longing

For someone whom I cannot quite touch


                                  Carrie Fisher

                                  The Princess Diarist

Not a Day Goes By

The smell of those awful orange peanut candies we were offered because they were the only candy the adults liked or simply just had in the house.

The alternative, Almond Joy. Still searching
for the "joy" in that candy.


Snow. 


A shared popsicle. 

 

A song from the mid-seventies. Brings it every time.

 

Red and orange suckers.

 

When I see kids playing war. Star or otherwise.

 

Turntables and 45 Rpm records.

 

A drive through the desert.

 

A sound, a smell or an emotion.

 

Old photos on Pinterest of Disneyland.

 

A Lionel Train.

 

Chicken from a bucket and giant dipped cones.

 

Willow Trees.

 

Watching fireworks on a rooftop.

 

Church potluck dinners in the park.

 

Rowboats. 

 
Water skis, life jackets and sunburns. 

 

Waiting on the sidewalk for the minister to come and take us to God.

Cousins.

Campers on driveways.

Rolled Tacos and Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies.

The smell of rain. Drops on a window. 


Country Cousins Dance Group

An inside joke. 

Good and Plenty. 

A sidewalk fried egg.

Giant chocolate bunnies.

Operation Game. 

Electronic Football to the Nutcracker Suite. 


Ford Mustangs

 

Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of you.

  

 

 
   

Feeling Blue

Feeling blue
with thoughts of you.
To be young and innocent again.
To feel the rocks at Senator Wash
getting caught under our toes.
The love between us, no one knows.

Disneyland.  Wasn't that grand?
Autopia, I wanted to be like ya.
Confident and sure.
Safe and protected
you made me feel.
Now everything seems so unreal.

Thank you for your understanding,
your kindness and apology accepted
when my crazy moments
would come unexpected.

This shouldn't have happened.
You are way too young.
This was never to be.
What the hell happened to we? 

"Boat number 5, your time is up."
As we row in this life so quickly passing.
I pray we are given more time.
That they're wrong in their guessing
in a way that is so harassing. 

Prayers for you we all keep saying.
But when will an answer come? 
And the boat keeps swaying.
If this is to come to pass,
please wait for me. 
On the docks of He. 

I love you, M. 

You passed away today
at 3:30 am Pacific time.
November 17, 2015.
B said you went to sleep
as she sang to you.
God Bless you, my "twin" brother.
Until we are together again.
My brother, my best friend. 
  

For Boggs

The day we got you
you sat in my lap so well.
The drive was long and on
the radio was a song
I can't remember now.

I will treasure memories so true
of daddy, me and you.
How you danced in front of your reflection
in the patio door. 
Wondering why that puppy on the other side
to you would ignore. 

Your cute, funny little cries
when that first night, you couldn't sleep in your box at all.
Then finally claimed your side of the bed,
in the middle, as I recall. 

My favorite memory of you will always be
the day you chased the horses out in the north field.
The pasture grass was so high,
I'd see your little brown body jump up to the sky.
And off you'd go toward the ponies in a blur.
Then stopped in your tracks
when you saw just how big they really were.
You high tailed it home as fast as you could.
I laugh still and know I always would.

I'll miss your clowning around.
Your love that held no bounds.
Your hugs under my arm.
But now it's time,
for you no longer
are the little boy who loved to run
and try to catch those rabbits. 

Your little body was in so much pain.
Up the steps it hurt to see you try and gain.
Your eyes no longer gave you sight.
It seemed this was to be your plight.
And through it all you remained
a good little fellow with such refrain. 

Thank you for these happy years
of your love and protection you
gave so well. 

I pray the Lord will keep you safe
where ever you may go. 
And shine his love upon you. 
May he bless you and may you know
you are loved very much so. 

Goodbye, our little friend.
Whose big heart had no end.
Until we see each other again.

With Love,
Mom and Dad

Sleep

Oh why can't I sleep

Can someone tell me?

Was it something I said?

Why can't I just go to bed.

The mind is a terrible thing

When the alarm clock begins to ring.

"Perchance to dream???"

You have to sleep first........don't you?