Talked the talk,

I wrote this my 20 year old daughter,her mom passed away this summer. I asked her permission to post this.
 There are always questions so let me set the stage. A paupers funeral, decorative card board casket,the woman had no money, my daughter buried mom in her favorite dress and wore her moms to the funeral. The Jewels are nothing more than red rocks, found on the side of the road in Me. Her mom would always stop and pick them up,,,so here it is
 I Watched
I watched as she stood, wearing her mothers dress
Looking like a woman but, still very much a child
I watched and wondered who she was
I watched as her eyes said goodbye, giving a soul permission to move on
Assuring it, all would be fine
I watched and wondered who'd become
I watched as she recited lines of poetry, her voice never wavered
I watched and wondered if I'd ever be that strong
I watched as she passes out jewels to the crowd
Only to ask that they be returned to the earth
I watched as she adorned her mothers grave with flowers picked from a nearby roadside,saving her tears for later.  
                    LB
First ever, online

Very nice Larry.

Death has a way of making a person reflect within, and that can be a good thing.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my sister's death who was killed in a car accident at age 19. Coming off a 9 month stint at Ground Zero, I did not take it so well. My second divorce did not aid in my mental stability that is for sure. But as the most well read author in history alluded too, life is indeed good, and that reflection has aided me quite well these last few years. I still get down in the dumps around September 11th and October 9th, but rebound eventually.

At 43 I just went through my mid-life crisis I guess when they thought I had cancer, but while I have a date with the surgeon on Friday, it is not as bad as it could be. In the end I am ready to go if now is the time. I am 43 years old, retired, and tripped all over the world, all over the country, worked hard and managed to get ahead. Should I go, I have done well.

As for my kids, growing up on a sheep farm they are well acquainted with death. Since lambs are born in the dead of winter, and we only bring the sick ones into the house, the lambs they get to know best have the highest probability of dying, and often do. I actually had to tell my daughter's pre-k teachers this because unlike other kids, they understand the circle of life quite well.

Sounds like poetry helps you grieve and cope and that is a good thing Larry!

Travis, I mentioned I ditched the TV quite a while ago. Writing has helped me with a lot of things. As I dug through my " well organized" pile of pads to locate that one writing, I was amazed at how much writing I've done. I ran across stuff I forgot about.
 I think it's good your children are not in the dark about the nature things. My Daugher is doing well coping. And I than God for two wonderful people in Topsfield ME that love her as thier own.    Larry