THANK YOU

I don’t think I understood the true meaning of Veteran’s Day when I was but a boy

I knew people got together to commemorate…to be thankful…to share joy.

But I thought of it as an old people’s holiday...I was just happy to be out of school.

Now I look back at that naive little boy and consider him a fool.

In high school and college, since I never had to fight…and it was a different time,

I hated everything about war...it’s reason and it’s rhyme.

I did not heed the main lesson of war and the men and women who taught it.

That it is possible to hate a war...but have respect for those who fought it.

But time and experience have slowly left their signature on me

And I’ve come to realize my folly and see today quite differently.

I imagine most people in the world hate war just as much as me

and understand that people fight…so we can all be free.

I know that those who fight in war are black and white and gay, 

I know that they are men and women…I know they have different ways to pray.

I also know that on Veteran’s Day as we honor Veterans far and wide

we come together…united…and put our differences aside.

Today we honor our soldiers…who fight to keep us free

Today when we commemorate…Americans are all we see.

Which makes you wonder, doesn’t it…

if our differences didn’t matter any more

we might not need to fight….

there’d be no need for war.

I know...I know...the world we live in is a lot more complicated than it seems...

and I am not that naive little boy anymore, 

but still...a man can dream.

So on this Veteran’s Day and every day…

my thanks for those who fight shall never be impeded…

nor will my hope their services…

will no longer be needed.

HEAVEN

I was brought up quite religiously…

I was taught heaven was somewhere in the sky.

Where if a person was good down here on Earth, 

there was a place for them on high.

A place where we will walk among the softness of the clouds

in a paradise floating above…

where miracles happen every day

and where we’re always surrounded by love.

When I grew up and began to think for myself

to question…to clarify

I kept returning to the concept of Heaven…and began to wonder why?

Why do we look up to Heaven, for when we look straight ahead, 

side to side…up or down

there are a myriad of miracles to see…right here on the ground.

Look at the diversity of life created right here beneath our feet

from natures beauty that surrounds us to the daily foods we eat.

I have been at the birth of my children and grandchildren 

and don’t think it’s preposterous to say

in the maternity ward of a hospital you walk among angels every day. 

I’ve experienced love

I’ve seen beauty, 

I’ve seen a family grow and blossom and thrive

I’ve seen sunrises and sunsets and rainbows,

all while I’m still quite alive.

I wonder if I’ve had this concept of Heaven all wrong…

if religions aren’t a little remiss

for when I look around at the blessings in my life 

I wonder…can it get any better than this?

Sure there may be a Heaven high in the sky 

which we may experience in our rebirth

but let’s not forget…while we’re alive

the Heaven…

right here 

on Earth.

OLD TOY BIN

The other day while rummaging in a closet I was instantly overcome with joy

when I ran across our storage bins filled with our children’s once used toys.

Toys our children and grandchildren played with when they were young and new…

Toys that don’t grow up…like children and grandchildren do

A set of nesting cups for the bathtub, noise makers and little bouncing balls

plastic telephones where every child made imaginary calls.

Toys that at one time were their favorites…

toys they once adored.

Toys that served their purpose 

but don’t get played with anymore.

A bunch of bendy action figures…which much to our elation 

our children and grandchildren used…

to fuel their imaginations.

Those thick little baby books, a stuffed doggie, soft and brown

wooden blocks with painted letters they'd stack up…

then knock down.

As I picked up a plastic microphone and a bunch of different tiny cars

I thought how every toy inside these bins are part of who they are.

Because each of these toys was special once… 

because each had their own heyday

there’s no way we could ever throw them out…

no way we'll ever give them away. 

So they live in quiet comfort…

who knows…

we may live to see the day

when great great grandchildren come to visit…

who will no doubt want to play.

“Hey I remember playing with this when I was your age!” 

We imagine their parents will say

and we’ll sit back and we'll smile 

as we watch a new generation at play…

I imagine there are toys like these 

in closets all across the USA…

quietly resting in bins of their own…

patiently awaiting  that day.n…

patiently waiting for that day.

ANOTHER GREAT DAY

Camping is always an adventure you don’t know what will happen day to day

but as a microcosm of life we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Yesterday followed that pattern…as once again we felt blessed

To have a day filled with adventures that were different from the rest.

Days gives us a chance to learn if we’re willing to listen to what they teach

We learned the Atlantic ocean’s roar is loud on a morning walk along the beach.

We learned despite the roar there is a beautiful silence far from the usual crowds

We learned a sunrise can be beautiful even when she hides behind the clouds.

We learned pelicans flying overhead put on their own unique air show

We learned walking on a shell filled beach sounds like walking in the snow… 

We learned walking up 219 steps to the top of a lighthouse 

makes you winded…and takes some time

But once you make it to the top…it’s worth every stair you climb.

We learned that time when on vacation happily seems to move slow

We learned eating seafood at a local restaurant is the only way to go.

We learned eating donuts for breakfast is a diet every now and then we’d like to try

And any day that starts with donuts…is great to end with a slice of pie.

We learned how, as we talk to people…once we stop and learn their name

to our astonishment and surprise…most of us are the same.

For after we meet new people and exchange the everyday niceties

The conversation quickly turns to our adventures, our friends and families

And when we bed down for night…we’re blessed with a feeling we can’t ignore

That today was the best day we’ve ever had…

Even a little better than the day before.

Yes, life is an ever-changing adventure…

Is something we always think about when it comes to the end of the day

And as we close our eyes and fall asleep

we wouldn’t want it any other way.

A CONVERSATION WITH A TREE

You may think this is a little crazy but I think of it as more carefree

When the other day I found myself having a conversation…with a tree.

This tree stands next to the ocean…and when I saw him I had to grin

There was an eerie beauty in the way he stood.

The way he was influenced by the wind.

I said, “You look a little old and weathered.”

The tree replied, “That is true….I have a few wrinkles on my bark

but then again…so do you.”

“I’ve lost most of my leaves,” he said, “as year after year has passed me by.”

I smiled as I leaned against his bark…“That’s funny…so have I.”

“But look how strong you still are,” I said,

“Even after all the storms that you’ve been through.”

The tree chuckled and I felt his laughter.

“But then again…so are you”.

“I like to think I’m still beautiful.” the tree said as he let out a deep sigh…

“Oh but you are .”I answered quickly…“and I like to think…so am I”.

“What is your secret to a full and happy life?” I asked the tree

“what do you recommend?”

“The key for me”, the tree replied “lies in my ability to bend”.

We talked a little while longer 

about our branches

About our trunks, our crowns…our roots

About how we love the wind and the rain

and other shared attributes.

As I walked away I stopped, turned around

then waved and smiled at that old tree…

And I can’t be sure but I think I saw him wave and smile back at me…

And I remember thinking as I left him gently bending by the sea….

How lucky and proud I was that day…to have a conversation with a tree.

ANOTHER SUNRISE

We watched the sun rise on the west coast of Florida

over a landscape vast and wide

Then we drove 200 miles across the state

to watch it set on the other side.

This morning we watched it rise again

200 miles away from our home by car

And I thought isn’t it amazing how the sun rises 

on all of us

no matter who we are?

Each morning without a doubt in her mind

she rises and our day begins…

She doesn’t care about our nationality, 

our religion

or the color of our skin.

She doesn’t care about our sexual preferences

if we are athletic, 

coordinated 

or lame.

Every morning without fail…

she rises just the same.

She doesn’t care if we’re fat 

or thin,

if we’re tiny, 

blind, 

deaf 

or tall

When she rises she doesn’t seem to care

what any of us look like at all

Perhaps the sun is sending us a message…

as sunrise after sunrise we see…

If she can rise above all our differences

Perhaps she’s saying…

so can’ we.

MISTAKES I'VE MADE A FEW

I’ve made a few mistakes in my life. I can say that with aplomb

I wore a blue brocade tux with a top hat and cane to my junior/senior prom.

I once let a beautician curl my hair...now that was really astute!

I thought a curly head of hair would do wonders for my new blue leisure suit.

She said a perm would make my baldness seem fuller and my love life it would prolong.

When it was over it took but one look in the mirror to know that she was wrong.

My hair looked like a rebellious Brillo pad and I’m not being indiscreet

when I say the only female attracted to me was a French Poodle down the street!

In college while out drinking with friends I pretty much sealed my fate

when I cozied up to a pretty cheerleader and asked her for a date.

Was it the alcohol or was it love that made me forget I’d have to contend

With her boyfriend…sitting next to her…

was he the quarterback or a tight end?

I don’t remember, but I know my distilled confidence made me feel bold and brave and brash.

What happened next is a bit of a blur...

I woke up face down in the trash.

The point here is we all make mistakes

 they await us around every turn.

We shouldn’t be afraid to make them 

because from them we’ve so much to learn.

Without mistakes we wouldn’t have the chocolate chip cookies so many of us crave.

The slinky would have never been invented...

no post it notes or microwaves.

There would be no penicillin, 

no fireworks would ever be seen.

Without mistakes we’d see a straight tower in Pisa 

and miss that beautiful lean.

We will try and fail many times in our life, 

sometimes we’ll crash...

sometimes we’ll fly

but the biggest mistake we will ever make...

is when we fail to even try.

True I didn’t get a date with the cheerleader 

but I still remember to this day

Her smile and that wink she gave me 

as her huge boyfriend dragged me away.

I remember that moment with fondness...

I know as a couple we would have been cute.

She, the beautiful cheerleader, 

and me in my blue leisure suit.