Teaching us to tell
time by the ring of the church bells
Milk shakes at
Minnie’s and ice cream cups at the VFW
Road Runner, Wild
Kingdom, Wheel of Fortune and peanuts in the glass dish
The smell of K-1 in
the shed and tires in the warehouse
Rainy afternoons on
the porch and the Red Sox on the radio
Weekends at Camp and
red hot dogs over wood fires
Hours and hours
teaching me to tie my own shoes
Telling me swimming
lessons would help later in life
Teaching us to row
the tin boat and paddle a canoe
Those rocket sleds
you gave Georgia and I at Christmas and the rides we had
Showing me where the
perch were and how to handle a pickerel
Sharing Dairy-Joy
with Pepper in the backseat of that old green car
Discussing who was
most underrated; Remy or Burleson
Being there for
concerts, races and collecting coins
Paddling the canoe
beside me on training swims and saying
“Aren’t you glad you
took those swimming lessons now?”
High school and
college graduations saying you knew I could do it
Asking to see my
badge and gun and putting on my shoulder rig
All quickly done when
my mother left the room
Listening to your
stories of service at sea and what war really means
Your silent worrying
while I was on the street and in the shadows
Late night calls to
Mom to make sure I got off the mountain or the water
Explaining to you why
baitfish flies don’t look like “flies”
Your words after my
first article was published
Watching you hold my
daughter for the very first time
Seeing you with her
when we visit
Listening to you tell
her things you told me
And this past
Christmas with the whole family there
Making jokes like
you always have and the joy in your eyes
Of having your life
in one room, all together…one last time
Much of my life has
been spent far away
And though I’ve been
gone in my own way I’m still there
For what you gave made me strong and guides me well
Your words and wisdom from where I began
Shall not be
forgotten as I continue on toward the sun
Rest now Grampa and
watch from above until that day
I’ll see you on the
other side
13 April 2015
North River, MA
13 April 2015
North River, MA
