THE SABBATH WEDDING

THE SABBATH WEDDING


He picked up the mail & laid it on the shelf
"Just more bills and junk flyers", he said to himself;
But before he went to bed that night he saw the envelope
And his eyes grew misty as he read the printed note:

"We'd love for you to come and help us celebrate
Our wedding day; the first Sabbath, December is the date;
No gifts will be accepted, just your blessings will do
RSVP soon and please, bring a date with you."

He sat still on his bed and held the fancy page
He felt as if someone had locked him in a cage;
She had not told him she was seeing another man
And he believed he had her, right in the palm of his hand.

December came too quickly and it was finally Sunday
He'd missed work and been sick in bed since Monday;
Gift in hand he drove to their church in the big city
But couldn't go in the door when he suddenly got too dizzy.

He heard the bells, he saw the bride in her formal gown
If he could see beneath the veil, he'd see red eyes instead of brown;
A short time later he watched as their limo drove away
And his heart broke into pieces on her Sabbath wedding day.

She saw him sitting by the curb in his brand new cadilac
And as they drove right past, she never once looked back;
She knew he couldn't marry her since he already had a wife
So she settled for second choice, as she went about her life........

TOMORROW & YESTERDAY

TOMORROW & YESTERDAY

The wind whipped around her soft grey skirt as she peeked in the windows of the old house. The years had been kind to her and her wrinkled face wore a smile on this day. She hiked up her hemline to get on tip-toe to look at what once was her kitchen.

She shivered as the breath of fresh salt air traveled down her neck; she thought she heard a seagull off in the distance. She adjusted the veil of her black hat so she could see better.

Thirty-five years had passed since she had been inside and yet she could still smell the seaweed and the old wharf. Some things never change.

Gazing at the old windows, she remembered her dog's face peeking out at her, waiting patiently, tail wagging. He'd been gone almost thirty years now and yet she still missed him.

The car was waiting for her so she rushed from window to window, peeking in. Although she was ninety-five years old, she could still move very quickly and only relied on a cane now & then.

As she gazed into the living room, she could see that some-one had a piano at one time. Perhaps it was that small French boy who moved there in the years after she moved away. She saw their clothes on the line once when she drove around before leaving the area.

And she was jealous......

She wondered if he had ever played an old favourite of hers called "The Frenchsong."

The old house had been hers and she missed it but she had relocated to escape the monotony and routine of a dull existence. She had no regrets.

Almost everyone she had ever cared for in this area was now dead and buried. She looked far out to sea and watched the many birds circling overhead. The foghorn blasted her back to reality and she headed for the car.

As she stood outside of the vehicle, she looked at the old home one last time. She saw beauty, she saw age, she saw forever.

She saw herself; and she cried.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A LADY

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A LADY


Night-time comes too early
And dreams can last so long
The hours seem forever
Like a tired, old love song;
The darkness closes in
And the rhythm of the rain
Rocks me back & forth to sleep
Reminding me again:

You don't have to be a lady
To sigh
You don't have to be a baby
To cry......
But you better stay strong
Or he'll take you along
To a time you'll believe
All his lies.

The moonlight awakens us
He dresses to go home
She'll be wondering & worrying
Listening for the phone;
I know just how she feels
He treats us both the same
But she's the lucky lady
Who has his ring & name.

You don't have to be a lady
To sigh
You don't have to be a baby
To cry;
But you should always be aware
He doesn't really care
And one day soon you'll hear:
"Good-bye."

You don't have to be a lady..........to die......

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

The years have all flown by so fast
My, where have they all gone?
It feels like it was just yesterday
I took your hand in mine;
We looked each other in the eye
Said "I do" until our death
And even after these fifty years
You still take away my breath.

Before our children had been born
And while you served Uncle Sam
I longed for you to hold me
But you were away in Vietnam;
What times we had when you returned
Our first son was then conceived
And life began again for us, dear
We trusted, shared and we believed.

Now I look in the mirror every day
And wonder what you still see
A grey haired, wrinkled woman
Is that old lady really me?
But you still make me feel special
When we dance in our bare feet
In the kitchen, in the dark
And then I hear you speak:

"My lady, my lover, my baby
I love you with all of my heart
And though soon I must be leaving
We'll never be too far apart;
Doctors don't know everything
And maybe they are all wrong
So tonight let me hold you, darling
'Cuz tomorrow I may be gone."

Well, the doctors did know everything
For tonight I'm toasting myself
And I sob as I raise my empty glass
To you in a box on the shelf;
"Happy anniversary" to the man
Who always gave me everything
When he chose me for his only wife
And I slipped on his ring.

"Happy Anniversary"........

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Every day you were my dad
Was "fathers day" to me
I used to love to spend my time
Just sitting on your knee;
Listening to your stories
And laughing at your jokes
Eating Scotties potato chips
And drinking bottled coke.

You rode me on our bicycle
To watch the beavers work
They built their little dam
In our quiet, local brook;
You built for me a snowman
You held me when I was sick
And taught me how to whittle
From an old wooden stick.

I loved you & never thought
Our times would ever end
You weren't just my daddy
You were my best friend;
Life's so hard without you
I look forward to the day
I can sit upon your knee
And this is what I'll say:

"Happy Fathers Day" dad
Now every day we'll be
Close together always
Mum and you and me;"
Until then I'll miss you
And pray you are ok
Fathers Day in Heaven
Is every single day!

ONE LAST DRINK

ONE LAST DRINK

I know you're not happy
When I spend time alone
Missing our four children
Who have all left home;
You know my heart aches
Every time they call
And I feel my self break
As I walk down the hall.....

"One last drink" I say aloud
As I pop the cork and pour
A little bit of happiness
Isn't that what this is for?
You look at me in disgust
As you watch your game
I drink alone at the table
'Til I don't know my name.

Our home is just a house now
Since the kids all moved away
And all I do is drink now
Nearly every single day;
You work the extra hours
To stay away from me
But I always have my bottle
To keep me company.

You ask me if I'm ready now
To come on up to bed
I answer "one last drink
Yes; just one, I said!"
You slam the door behind you
Your face turned to the wall
And I can hear you snoring
From way out in the hall.

Our life is dull and routine
Our family's far apart
Can't you see I'm dying
Of a fragile, broken heart?
Give me some time to heal
Give me more time to think
And in the meantime, baby
Just give me one last drink.......

MEMORIES

MEMORIES

Sometimes when the moon is full
And I can't get to sleep
I lay awake just counting
Memories instead of sheep;
I remember how you laughed
And how you liked to tease
God help me but I remember
How you loved to please.

I sit there by the window
And wonder how you are
And if perhaps you're looking
At the same falling star;
And I wonder if you're happy
If she's everything I'm not
And then I count the memories
The ones that you've forgot.

Like when we got lost in Texas
And the time we saw that bear
You almost drove off the road
I died laughing, dear;
Remember we slept in the car
When our waterbed froze?
And then there were the times
We ate without our clothes!

Memories are all that's left
Now she has you in bed
And I go to sleep praying
That I'll just wake up dead;
I remember you always said
I was your 'special girl'
Well, I guess you've forgotton
That you were my whole world.

HOME

(This is in memory of Minnie's daughter who died of crib death at aged 6 months):


HOME

God has been good to me
He's provided everything
A mommie could ask for
It's made my heart sing;
But now I'm more excited
Because today I'll set sail
Soaring up to Heaven
To see my Bonnie Dale.

For six months I held her
Loving her every day
She'd smile back up at me
Until she passed away;
I never understood just why
God took her as a child
At first it made me angry
And often drove me wild.

But now I see the reason
He does things His own way
She must have been my Angel
On some of my worst days;
Today I'll hold her once again
She won't ever be alone
Bonnie Dale, my baby girl
Your Mommie's coming home.

In Loving Tribute:

In loving tribute to my sister-in-law and dearest friend, Minnie Mundell who died June 9th, 2008:


She must have been a special woman
In our Heavenly Father's eyes
For Him to offer many long days
For us to tell Minnie goodbye;
With much dignity and grace
She embraced His welcoming arms
And left us for Eternity
Where she's now safe from harm.

How she loved to spend her time
With her large family near
How she loved to talk & laugh
And sometimes shed a tear;
Playing cards or bowling
Were big parts of her life
But none was so important
As being Rodney's wife.

A friend to many through the years
Patriotic, loyal and true
Minnie's holding Rod's hand now
Like the day she said "I do";
Her travels may have ended
But her journey's just begun
Together, forever in Heaven
With God and His only Son.

SHE LEFT THE BEANS IN THE OVEN

SHE LEFT THE BEANS IN THE OVEN....


My big sister was a looker
And Ma and Pa were scared
She refused to listen
And sometimes even dared
To talk back to them
And when they were asleep
She sneaked out late at night
And never made a peep.

But then she turned eighteen
And thought she was in love
Ma said it was just a crush
Pa said he'd heard enough;
He gave her an early curfew
And when he left for work
She began her chores as usual
And then she wrote inside a book:

"I left before the beans were done
So add some water, please
And bring the clothes inside
It may rain on your blue jeans;
Tell Mama that I'm sorry
Tell Daddy I love him
But me and Willie Baxter
Are gonna live in SIN."

Well, I played outside all Saturday
I watered our yellow-eyed beans
And waited for the blizzard
In my favourite, damp bluejeans
Ma only sat three places
After she read the note
And daddy fell to pieces
Slept still in his coat.

I think I made him very mad
When I asked of him that night:
"Have we ever lived in SIN?
Is it near Belmont Height?"
When they just ignored me
I ate some more baked beans
And took a map to my room
Looked for SIN in my dreams.

Days turned into winter months
And when she returned one day
She had a baby in her arms
I heard my daddy say:
"My, he's a looker just like you
Can you stay for dinner?"
And now that I'm ten years old
I know just what's a sinner.

She left the beans in the oven..........

GONE

GONE

Seventy months have come & gone since
You were called home by God
Seventy months without your music
Is a very long time, Rod;
We haven't even played cards much
No-one's played your old guitar
It sits alone inside your room
A room that's fit for a star.

Minnie made that room a shrine
She said she felt you close
The grave was cold & lonely
Like a silent, frozen ghost;
But in the room she made for you
She'd sit and feel you near
She said "It's like he's saying:
Stay awhile with me, dear."

But the room will not be used
As she will soon join you
And then you'll be together
No longer feeling blue;
Flowers I'll put on your grave
For both of you asleep
Seventy months or seventy years
You'll still see & hear me weep.

THE LAST LETTER

June 3rd, 2008



Dear Minnie:

I hate to admit it but I didn't really like you when we first met. After being told that you were going to be my oldest brother's wife, I went off to sulk. He was my Hero and I was very jealous. Not so much because he was marrying you but because he'd be leaving our family home and spending all of his time with your son and daughter who weren't too much younger than I.

When you became very ill after having Rodney's second child and had to have major surgery in Halifax, I felt very guilty for having resented you earlier. And I've loved you ever since.

Still, I now feel as if I didn't REALLY know you until after my brother died in 2003. Suddenly, you talked more, you shared more and I grew to know and love you as my sister in law and as my running buddy. We attended the same church, liked the same music, went to the Senior Games, played 45's at our Seniors Club, cribbage at the Firehall, attended Variety shows and church suppers; talking about baseball; we always went up to Yarmouth together to the monthly Sentimental Journey dances. The time we spent with one another was fun; good quality time filled with lots of tears and laughter.

I'll miss our late night talks when neither of us was sleepy and one would call the other to chat or gossip or plan the week's events. Or commisserate about the weather, the high cost of gas, the world's crisis, etc.

If I wanted to know anything about the Island, all I had to do was ask you. I can hear you now: "So & so's great grandmother was a Ross or a Brannon or a Smith"....whatever......and 15 minutes later you'd still be going back in time. Ironically, you grew up on Cape Island yet lived in Barrington; I grew up in Barrington and lived on Cape Island.

I know how much you missed Rodney and how you longed to be with him again. The sun went out of your world when the breath went out of his. I'm sorry I was jealous of his love and adoration for you when as a child I missed him after he married you. Your love for one another was true, inspirational and all encompassing.

Barrington will miss you; your cat will miss you; our Church will too. You'll be sorely missed by your family and especially your children but I for one will always wish you were with us just hanging out together, talking about our favourite topic......Coronation Street! Who can I complain to now about 'Cilla or Norris or David, the evil one?

You lost a baby and got through it; you struggled with a brain tumour and fought it; you buried your husband and survived it; but this last unexpected, sudden illness was insurmountable and you faced death with courage and dignity.

I admire your strength and pray that you can step into Heaven to find my brother grinning and saying "What took you so long, Mum?"

I CAN'T LEAVE THAT BEHIND

I CAN'T LEAVE THAT BEHIND

I was going through my attic
On a dreary, rainy day
Wondering what I should keep
Deciding what should stay;
When I saw the old trunk
With my childhood inside
And there was dad's R/R cap
He wore before he died.

"I can't leave that behind"
I heard a soft voice say
Then I saw the pitch fork
I used when we made hay;
I saw my Heidi books
As the rain beat on the house
I saw my CGIT uniform
I couldn't leave my blouse.

I walked all inside my home
Trying to make a list
What to take, what to leave
"I love this candy dish;"
My friend Lynda made me
Some things I must take
But what about my bed
On which I love to wake?

The list grew much longer
When I sorted through my life
I used to love that cookbook
When I first was a wife;
I cannot part with pictures
They are all of my past
The scrapbooks may be yellowed
But I will pack them last.

"I can't leave this behind"
It was my daughters toy
And those old baby clothes
Used to fit my boy;
There's nothing in the suitcase
As I sort through my mind
There must be things I can toss
But nothing can I find.

The old house is staying put
And I hurt to say goodbye
All my life is in it
It just makes me cry;
I see my "wedding dress"
And think of ties that bind
I never got to wear it yet
I can't leave THAT behind.......

WHEN YOU LOVE ME

WHEN YOU LOVE ME

The years have flown quickly, dear
There's so many ways you show
Your love for me every day
I want to let you know
That I feel special and so lucky
I wish that you could see
The joy deep inside my heart
When you love me.

When you hold me in your arms, babe
Our two hearts beat as one
When you kiss my hungry mouth
And I taste your tongue
I fall in love once again
Like the very night we met
How I loved the first time
I never will forget.

When you love me all the way, dear
It's heavenly and complete
You start at my eyes and ears
And end up at my feet
My body lies in wait for you
I know that you must see
A woman who's all yours
When you love me.

So as the years go by, sweetheart
And we walk hand in hand
I'll always be your woman
If you'll be my only man
When we're laying side by side
Or I sit upon your knee
I'll always aim to please you
When you love me.