Cathie Ryan

One of my favorite Celtic singers has a new album out. She is one of the best — if not the best — Celtic singers I have ever heard. I saw her live in Pittsburgh, PA last year (I think) and it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The recent thoughts about my father and some recent discussions reminded me of the poem I wrote about my father some time ago… some time after his death.

I LOST THE WATCH TODAY

The pocket watch you gave to me not long before you died,
I kept it nice and cherished it, but… today I cried.

I meant the best for this jewel, it’s old fob showed some wear,
So, I put it on a chain, and today it wasn’t there.

I’ve searched the day, looked all around, I know it’s just too late.
I’ve looked and listened for its ticking. It’s more than been mislaid.

I’ve pondered now, and now I know its meaning to my soul.
I see it’s been a comfort and helped to fill the hole.

It’s been a symbol of your memory, since your days were done.
I see it stood for you and me, my father and his son.

I’d see its face and think of yours, I thought it was so fine.
I kept it long, so proudly kept, as it was yours and mine.

I’d read it’s hands and feel your touch, the feelings that it gave.
I’d hold it tighter in my hand, I meant to keep it safe.

The watch is gone but not it’s value, by that, I don’t mean cost.
I have your memory, I’ll keep it safe, for it’s something can’t be lost.

I’ll live my life a tribute to your caring and your love.
I’ll successfully tend your memory ’til I leave for up above.

And at that time, you’ll be there, when my “Life’s Hand” comes around.
You’ll meet me at that shore, I know, to show my soul around.

I lost the watch, but not your memory.
But still I cried, I carried it with care.

Reproduction without permission strictly prohibited.

Training Bike

This brought back some memories of my father teaching me to ride when I was about 6 years old. I remember my dad behind me holding onto the seat… and I thought he was still there holding me up. I had gone about a block before I looked back… and saw him walking into the yard. I made a turn in the road to head back to where he was… and I had to stop at the curb… started to tumble over and caught myself on the curb/grass. One of my earliest clear memories is fishing with him. We were at the river near the dam. The shore there is very large rocks. The water right at the edge flows back under the rocks. It started to rain — a light rain — and he set me back under a rock so I wouldn’t get wet. I can still remember looking down under me and seeing the water rolling back under me… and watching a bluegill swimming around under the rocks. I still can picture him standing in the misty rain, on a rock at the water’s edge enjoying the fishing. I couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5. He’s been gone 24 years now. He was a good man. It just occurred to me as I was writing this…. today (29th) was his birthday.

Well…. was just finally getting around to making the necessary changes to the settings for my blog.  Now I’m sitting here waiting to go to my next appointment.  I introduced AlaskaMoe — http://alaskamoe.blogspot.com — to the blogging here and she has started her "Life In Alaska" blog this morning.

After several years of having a fake tree, I decided again this year that I wanted a real tree. So, I took one of my nephews and went to a local “cut your own” tree farm. Of course, it was one of the coldest days of the year so far. The people running the tree farm were discouraging people from going out to the field to cut because of the freezing temps and extreme wind chills. They were giving $10 off the price of the already cut trees. But, I couldn’t find one I liked, so I went to the field anyway. Didn’t take long to find and cut and we were back on our way home.

My initial blog post. I spent the day returning to a video store about 50 miles away to make an exchange on a purchase of a pre-played video game from a couple of days ago. When I opened the box, it was empty. Someone had removed the theft deterrent sticker and stolen the game. There is always something in the world to remind us of the wrong in the world. I decided to take the motorcycle because it seemed to be a nice day. After actually getting out on the road, I discovered that it was more chilly than I expected.

On the way home, I stopped to check on a client that recently lost her 31-year-old daughter who was found dead in her bed about three weeks ago. It’s a sad thing. I stopped in unexpected, and she was surprised to see me…. but said she had been thinking about calling me to see if I could recover some photos of the daughter from the daughter’s computer. I agreed to do so. Appreciate what you have. Protect what you have. It could be gone tomorrow.