CHAPTER 1
Family
To Gloria with Love
On a quiet autumn morning
I saw a white turtledove,
Whose mate, hovering not far away,
Was cooing with tender love.
And as I watched that peaceful scene,
Loving thoughts came to me,
And I felt your gentle presence near,
As you returned to my memory.
You come to me in curious ways,
Like the essence of exotic perfumes,
Extracts from nature's loveliness,
From a garden in full bloom.
Tufts of white cotton in powder blue skies,
Billions of stars twinkling at night,
The call of a whippoorwill to his love,
A hummingbird poised in flight.
A garden of potpourri in springtime,
A mixture of fragrant flowers,
The sweet, spiced aroma of cinnamon,
The clean, fresh air after showers.
Lush green carpet on the forest floor,
A purple-blue ceiling in a storm,
Red velvet drapes of roses grown,
The golden chandelier lighting each morn.
Now and then something special occurs,
And it serves to let me know,
That after each storm comes serenity,
From the reposing colors of a rainbow.
You're always here within my heart,
In the things I see and hear,
I need only to wish it so,
And like magic you appear.
Sometimes you're in the things I feel,
The warmth of sun-bleached sand,
The refreshing coolness of summer rain,
The silky touch of a newborn's hand.
Thoughts of you bring me happiness,
They fill my heart with melodies,
Though each bird's song is unique only to him,
Together they make a harmonious symphony.
I feel your presence every day,
In things that bring me pleasure,
And I carefully wrap each precious thought,
To place in my own life's treasures.
Your love and wisdom guide me still,
For the things I say and do,
Are never mere words or idle deeds,
But touched and inspired by you.
And so I thought you'd like to hear,
That I'll forever keep you close to me.
Dear sister, you are My Lovely Golden Rose
In my book of precious memories.
Who Would Have Thought?
Who would have thought that my tiny girl with brilliant black eyes,
Who demanded much attention with her persistent cries,
Who walked and talked well before it was time,
Would be an enigma personified, this daughter of mine.
Who would have believed that you stuck like "Elmer's" glue,
Shy, apprehensive, often concealing the real you,
Big hearted, playful, mischievous and funny too,
Trying hard to please me in everything you do.
How could I have suspected that in your teenage years,
You'd be living with a phone growing out of your ears.
That you'd lay siege to the bathroom, your favorite place,
Where you'd spend countless hours making up your face,
Where the mirror has become your very best friend,
And dressing up lasts for hours on end.
It never occurred to me how fast you'd grown,
'Til my clothes and perfumes you claimed as your own.
You often fall asleep with one ear to the phone,
And the caretaker of your room must be a cyclone.
Clothes thrown haphazardly in unimaginable places.
Wild clothes, crazy hairstyles, not to mention those braces!
I never could have dreamed that the same little girl
Would be so beautiful today -- a rare cultured pearl.
But if I could choose a precious gem from long ago,
It would have to be the loveliest black cameo.
I sincerely hope that your future will be bright,
That you'll keep moving forward, always doing what's right.
And that you continue to be loving, caring and unselfish too.
And remember my daughter, I'll be there for you.
Listen, My Son
Sit down, I want to have a word with you, my son.
About some of the wild, foolish things you've done.
Listen to your mother's sincere plea.
And strive to be what you were meant to be.
You've made some mistakes, all humans do.
But the time has come to put the past behind you.
You're still young and strong and you have a good heart.
My son, it's time for you to make a fresh start.
Yes, I know this is your life, you can selfishly say,
But there are many people who don't see it that way.
Your wife and children, to mention a few,
And there are others who love you, who care about you.
You don't want your own son to grow up alone,
Without the presence of his daddy at home.
As he grows up in this hard world year after year,
He'll need both his mother and father near.
Growing up without parents is cruel and sad.
Be there for him, make him proud of his dad.
When you hold him, touch him, when you kiss his face.
Give him your love wrapped in your tender embrace.
Later on when your so-called "friends" cross your path,
Look them in the eyes, take a deep breath and have a good laugh!
Tell them you're not into wrongdoing, whatever it may be,
That you've taken charge of your own destiny.
They'll be back, believe me, to lead you astray.
Tell them to keep walking and stay out of your way.
You want no part of it, believe it! Son, I know you can.
For your beautiful family, you must be a man.
To err is human, to forgive divine, as it's often said.
God has forgiven, forgive yourself, and hold high your head.
Make each decision with your loved ones in mind.
And remember, son, it's their future that's on the line.
Memories of My Dad
When I was just a baby girl
And my father held my hand,
I felt a warmth I've never found
With any other man.
To see that smile upon his face,
To look into his eyes,
Would make storm clouds disappear,
Roll back the ocean tides.
The wrinkles that graced his forehead,
From a lifetime of frowns and smiles
Resembled a bird of paradise
Flying him over life's miles.
His gentle ways filled my life
With a love meant just for me
But each one of us felt that way
There were four of us kids, you see.
The many times he held me close,
So handsome, dark and tall,
And helped me through life's little woes,
Never letting me stumble and fall.
My memories over the years reveal
What a wonderful father he was,
The moments we spent together then
Mean even more to me now because,
Of all the loves I'll ever have
He is surely the only man
Who helped fulfill my childhood dreams
And made me who I am.
Remembering with the fondest thoughts
The wonderful times we had
I still find happiness and joy
In the memories of my Dad.
My Mother Is a Gem
Some folks look for treasures,
In rivers, mines and mountain caves,
Others seek out life's pleasures,
Far beneath the ocean waves.
I've found a world of riches,
Without hard work or traveling far,
My mom is a gem, a jewel,
My mother is a star.
She's a jewel of rare beauty,
A diamond in the rough,
Refined, elegant, polished,
Hand faceted, carefully buffed.
She's the light that always guides me,
When at times I go astray,
Leading me gently back to the fold,
Each time I lose my way.
Welcoming me like a prodigal daughter,
Healing hurts, wiping away my tears,
Comforting me when I'm in pain,
Encouraging, nurturing through the years.
A woman first, but always a mother,
Lovely and poised, with such a loving soul,
Making sacrifices for others,
Motivated by a heart of gold.
Working hard to raise four children,
Praising little accomplishments and deeds,
Intelligent, artistic and dignified,
Selflessly tending to our needs.
She's gentle, so very gentle,
When mending broken hearts,
But solid like the rock of ancient temples,
In the discipline she imparts.
Age has now bent her shoulders,
Soft, cotton-white hair crowns her head,
The years have carved wrinkles in her brow,
And a slight stoop marks her tread.
Of course there are "lapses" in memory,
And the aches and pains often appear,
So we look for reasons to tell her,
That she's loved more every year.
Don't spend your precious hours,
Looking for riches in silver and gold,
While you're seeking worldly treasures,
Your loved ones are getting old.
Be attentive to those who are near you,
And I know that you'll come to see,
You can find many precious treasures,
Right there in your own family.
If you wait until it's too late,
You'll the regret things you haven't told,
Say them now, and you'll add a blessing,
And help ease the pain of growing old.
My mother is a gem,
Sparkling, fine and rare,
She's loving, lovely, loved,
And we let her know we care.
Sisters
Is it strange to tell you I love you,
And to let you know that I care,
Or to tell you I think I'm lucky,
And glad we have so much to share?
Remember when we were just children?
We were inseparable right from the start,
Born under the same zodiac sign,
Only one year and four days apart.
We always stayed close to each other,
The reason is not hard to explain,
Our personalities are almost molded into one,
Like two candles lit with one flame.
You thought I was your own little baby,
And I always felt that I was,
So I never wanted to change things,
It was fun being "yours" because,
With you I was never afraid or lonely,
You were always by my side,
For me you fought many a battle,
And wiped big, wet tears from my eyes.
In spite of our wild childhood scuffles,
We knew it was meant to be that way,
But if anyone else tried to divide us,
They soon came to rue that day.
How can I call you Big sister,
When you're shorter in stature, it's true,
You make up the difference on the inside,
In strength, wisdom and courage too.
Is it weird what we have together,
A relationship as deep as can be,
I've looked up to you all my life,
And all your life you've been there for me.
So I'll always admire you dear sister,
You're funny, witty and smart,
More than just a friend and confidante,
And I love you with all my heart.
Is it odd that I've confessed my secret,
Or unusual that I want you to know,
That I cherish each moment we're together,
Is that strange? No, I don't think so.
My How You've Grown
My, how you've grown my son
You've become so handsome and tall
Seems like only a year ago
You were asking for your first football.
You made it through the terrible two's
And survived the dangerous teens
You reached the threshold of manhood
Much faster than I ever dreamed.
Many of your friends didn't make it
Some serving time, others are dead
You passed through the maze of peer pressure
And made us proud just like you said.
We've had good times and bad times together
Been over ups and downs, thick and thin
We tackled and healed your growing pains
A new life for you was about to begin.
Don't think it's all over between us
There'll be other times to rally together
But now you'll be able to ride the tides
Return safely to port after stormy weather.
There'll be many issues to confront in life
That will put your courage to the test
Tough decisions to make, many crossroads to take
Somehow, I know you'll do your best.
Obstacles will be put in your pathway
There'll be moments of hardship and pain
But you will make it to the top
Even if you must start all over again.
The time has come to let you go
Dear son, I must set you free
I'll watch you test your wings with pride
But it won't be easy for me.
Hopefully there will come a day
Perhaps when you have a wife and child
You'll look back on the things we shared
And think of them as being worthwhile.
Go, my son and conquer the world
Have a life full of excitement and fun
I'll be sitting back just shaking my head
Saying, "My, how you've grown my son."
Have You Met My Aunt Edna?
Have you met my remarkable Aunt Edna?
Well, here's one thing that you should know,
Make no mistake, she has that unique "Auntie" glow,
She's that very special Aunt, you know the one,
Her smile warms your heart like the morning sun,
One well-chosen word can make tears disappear,
Her comfort blanket of love chases away your fears,
A special hug tells you that you're the most precious of all,
She'll pick you up and brush you off, but she'll never let you fall.
Have you met my amazing Aunt Edna?
She's cute and delicate -- actually she's quite small,
Tipping the scales at 95 pounds, standing a mere 5 feet tall,
But she's endowed with such an enormous heart,
There's a powerhouse of life's lessons in the advice she imparts,
She has weeded her own garden so only the loveliest flowers bloom,
Her humble presence spreads fragrance to every corner of the room,
But don't take her too seriously; she's the ultimate barrel of fun,
A living testament to life's battles she's fought and won.
Have you met my "cool" Aunt Edna?
She's a treasure trove of the quaintest expressions,
Each colorful proverb teaching life's valuable lessons,
And she strategically uses them to let you know,
There are things you shouldn't do, places you dare not go,
She can see through your little lies, hear false notes in your song,
She'll tell you in no uncertain terms if what you're doing's wrong,
Gentle yet persuasive, sensitivity and kindness come first,
Her winning smile and sparkling eyes are both a blessing and a curse.
Have you met my awesome Aunt Edna?
At eighty-nine years old she's still going strong,
With mind and body in perpetual motion all day long,
Still fearlessly driving, line-dancing, enjoying hours of shopping,
With few signs of slowing down and no intention of stopping,
Her plans for the future stretch well beyond ninety-nine,
Sitting around idle would be just wasting her time,
We have to work hard to keep up with her pace,
She's still a bundle of energy, thanks to God's grace.
Have you met my gracious Aunt Edna?
With deep compassion she spreads joy around,
Good will and generosity of spirit make up her crown,
Her wisdom and mediation skills alleviate stress and strife,
She's a big piece of heaven, a slice of the good life,
Going out of her way to help or to give you a hand,
To overcome barriers, convincing you that you can,
Building your confidence, showing that others care.
In times of need she's the very first one there,
Have you met my special Aunt Edna?
She's special in so many ways,
Doing immeasurable deeds that deserve our praise,
She rules with a heart that's patient and kind,
With selflessness and humility foremost in her mind,
She's a rare gift sent to us from heaven above,
Who gives of herself with a heart full of love,
Going through her life with her eyes on the prize,
Beneath her dignified elegance, she's an angel in disguise.
Have you met my fantastic Aunt Edna?
If you've missed her there's something you must do,
Look around for the treasure most valuable to you,
One of life's precious gems--a ruby, or perhaps a pearl,
Seek out the most beautiful person ever to grace your world,
Someone who believes that you're the most precious too,
Giving an abundance of love, she's like a second mother to you,
She's been with you through thick and thin, in good and bad weather,
Then that person you've found is surely YOUR Aunt Edna.
Have you met my precious Aunt Edna?
She's like the most inspiring words or thoughts in your mind,
Like the softest velvet, the smoothest silk, the gentlest breeze of all time,
She's the melodious tunes of songbirds each time they take flight,
And every reflection or silhouette that silently floats into sight,
She's the taste of sweet nectar as a single red rose bursts into bloom,
She's every positive emotion we experience when she walks into a room,
As sure as pastel rainbows transform the heavens after stormy weather,
Proud generations will cherish our Aunt Edna forever.
My Other Lovely Family
You may already know how wonderful it is to have a loving family,
To enjoy love, comfort, pleasure and fun together constantly,
There's support and encouragement for everything you say and do,
I'm twice as lucky when it comes to loving families--I've got more than two.
Let's get on with my amazing story, one that I really love to tell,
My new family appeared from out of the blue, like a magician's spell,
In another country, an unknown village that I visited so many years ago,
I met some of the most wonderful people that in my lifetime I'll ever know.
How it happened is a bit unusual, it's really quite extraordinary,
Perhaps a magic wand, mysterious cloud or pixie dust launched my story,
As the invited guest of a Frenchman on my first trip to a foreign land,
The good folks in that far away place eagerly took me by the hand.
We met on a snowy slope for a day of sleigh riding and fun,
This group of complete strangers made my first visit a happy one,
That was right down my alley, sleighing down on that hill,
They invited me to join them with sincere warmth and good will.
To make a long story short, my life changed that same day,
Later I had to choose to return home or to marry and stay,
I made the right choice, no doubt in my mind, I say this true,
My decision changed the course of my life; it made me a winner too.
There's no better love than those gentle hearts I hold dear,
Than the loving folk who accepted me into their lives that first year,
Now there are nieces and nephews; little ones all around,
And to think that it all started in the new world that I found.
Such genuine, kind souls who took to me that special day,
Welcoming a total stranger and encouraging her to stay,
Over the years many joys among us we've shared, so you see,
I'm grateful for their love; it was certainly meant to be.
You've heard me brag and boast about how good life can be,
That's because I have a beautiful extended French family,
I believe it's more than mere luck; it's most definitely destiny,
That God gave me another lovely family living across the sea.
My heart swells with love when I write since we're often far apart,
I'm still a big part of their lives because I never leave their hearts,
I'll forever cherish this family, and know they feel the same about me,
When my thoughts turn to them, I think with a smile, C'est la vie.
