Tribute To A Fine Wife

Barb says it's the screams that wake her up. For some reason, around midnight, the ordeal is set worse. Perhaps my body relaxes, and a tumour is freed to do its evil will, blocking breath and squeezing out life (poetic description, eh?).

I say that screaming in pain is un-manly. I am more giving vocal outlet to a stern displeasure.

"Yeah. Whatever."

And she sits up with me, until the tide washes out once again.

And thus, for this and for so much more, she deserves a tribute.

I need a nickname for my wife,

one to truly fit her,

so at risk to limb and life

I’m going to call her ‘Critter’.

She wanders where the wild things be,

not shy, not in the least;

saints and demons turn and flee

because she is a beast.

The ground, it shakes beneath her feet,

the very mountains give applause;

when she’s at God’s judgement seat,

her presence will give pause.

He’ll pass a hand across His brow;

“I guess you’re taking over now?”

I was going to use Chris deBrugh's Lady in Red as the musical theme, but went with Manic, instead, fom the movie Flashdance (click here if your device doesn't show it). Barb looks a lot like Jennifer Beals, and there's a Pit Bull in the video that looks like our Roscoe.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.

Fragility of Time

 I knew things would get fragile. I just didn't want to admit it, but those days are here.

Sleep is rare, and breathing is hard, with an uncommaned 'follow-up' to every cough that tastes just rancid.

And the coughs center from a tumour that is poking through the ribcage. That may not be a good sign.

Sometimes I have one of the dogs out or a walk, look back to the house...every direction seems uphill...and wonder how I can ever get back.

I wish there were someone here, some beast of a dude around whose shoulder I could put my arm, and accept some help. (Yes, Barb's a beast...one of her nicknames is Critter, but in a good way, and if she's reading this, I'm probably dead.)

And these days are so precious, so full of colour and life and meaning and value.

I don't want to go home to Jesus, not just yet. I want to stay for as long a I can, and live, now that I've truly learned how.

This bright and fragile run of days

cannot last; I ken that now,

but this is not news that dismays,

for in the gloaming I’ve learned how

to cherish what I love the best,

pay meet obeisance to the friends

who’ve walked beside me through this test,

and hold my heart, that at the end

I can still gaze Heavenward,

salute a God I cannot see,

but beyond death’s river-ford

I know He stands and waits for me,

one hand set to dry last tear,

and in the other, ice-cold beer.

Music from the Electric Light Orchestra, with Livin' Thing, performed live at Wembley Stadium on June 24, 2017 (which happens to be Barbara's birthday, and the anniversary of our second marriage. (Click here if the video doesn't come up.)

In watching the video, please do pay attention to the shots of the audience, how the song's appeal really covers all ages. It's enchanting.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.

The Year Of Missed Opportunity

 So many people are saying Good Riddance to 2020.

But it was just a year; a year that taught us something about ourselves.

Something we maybe didn't want to know.

It slinks away, rejected,

the ugly year that was,

but I think we have neglected

the blessings brought, because

we had thought that we deserved

a blissful upward rise,

Elysium gaily preserved,

and then came the surprise

that nature’s not ours to command,

and nor are human hearts;

these things we did not understand

when all things fell apart

could have kept us safe from harms

had we but leaned into His arms.

Music from Poison, with Something To Believe In.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.

Merry Christmas!

 Who says beloved Christmas carol can't be updated?

In the bleak midwinter

(well, 'bleak' may be a reach),

I did find faith's center

while drinking on a beach.

 

In far-off Jamaica

I beheld the Face

of my Lord and Saviour,

and I felt the Grace

 

of the love I knew did come

from His sweet sad eyes;

no, dude, it was not the rum,

nor the tropic skies.

 

True, it was, as true can be,

the love that flowed on down

from most Holy God to me

outside Kingston Town.

 

Lime Cay's where I found the strength

to put off bad old ways

and learned to measure my life-length

in hope, and not in days.

 

Thus, what off'ring can I bring,

how can I play my part?

Hey, now, I know just the thing,

my mended rum-soaked heart.

Music from Christafari, with Angels, We Have Heard On High.

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.

To Joe, With Love

I know it's a modern world, but I'm obsolete and proud to be...and it's hard, being a bloke, to say, "I love you" to another bloke.

Nonetheless...I love you, Joe, even though we only met through the blogosphere.

Cheers, mate. Sorry you got the chop. See you in the smoke.

RIP Joe Siccardi, December 14, 2020

And now you are but memory,

receding to the past,

proof again of certainty

that beauty cannot last

upon the hard and bitter shore,

the emblem of our fallen place,

so far from the Golden Door,

so far from shining grace.

I do not want to see your smile

fade in mists of yesterday

as every passing hour and mile

forbid my breaking heart to stay

to bask in your warm company

on this side of Eternity.

Music from the Goo Goo Dolls, with Better Days, my favourite Christmas song. (If your device doesn't load the video, please click here.)

hanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.