Dear Beverly

Just stopped by

to say that your loving memory

remains here,

within my heart;

a part of me.

         Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

Your tune on

this day of remembrance.

Link:  Led Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

       You remembered me.

Always.

Yes, always.

No words.

Just sorrow.

Have a tune for you today …

“Think of me … and I’ll be there.”

Enjoy.

Link: Terry Jacks: Seasons in the Sun

Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC's
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

Goodbye my friend it's hard to die
When all the bird's are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time

Goodbye Papa, please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along

Goodbye Papa, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them I'll be there

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

Goodbye Beverly, my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time when I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground

Goodbye Beverly, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

All our lives we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

        You remembered me.

Always.

Waiting for the

clouds to burn off.

A nice day promised.

Need the sun to

drive away the gloom.

The sadness.

I need to celebrate

your life and

not mourn it.

It is the anger,

I know, it is

the anger 

that is with me now.

This is what I have

to get past in

the next few days.

The rage; the hurt; the anger.

No one had the

right to treat

you the way

you were treated.

Have a tune for you today

“Forever, you're a part of me
Forever, in the heart of me”

… enjoy.

Link:  Diamond Rio: I Believe

Every now and then
Soft as breath upon my skin
I feel you, come back again
And it's like, you haven't been

Gone a moment from my side
Like the tears were never cried
Like the hands of time
Were pulling you, and me

And with all my heart, I'm sure
We're closer than we ever were
I don't have to hear or see
I've got all the proof I need

There are more than angels watching
Over me.. I believe.. ohh, I believe.

Now when you die, your life goes on
It doesn't end here, when you're gone
Every soul is filled with light
It never ends, if I'm right

Our love can even reach, across-
Eternity.. I believe.. ohh, I believe.

Forever, you're a part of me
Forever, in the heart of me
I will hold you even longer
If I can..

Oh, the people who don't see the most
See that I, believe in ghosts
If that makes me crazy, then I am
Cuz I believe.. ohh, I believe..

There are more than angels watching
Over me.. I believe.. ohh, I believe.

Every now and then
Soft as breath upon my skin
I feel you, come back again..
And I believe..

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

        You remembered me.

Always.

The first phone call.

The end for the little guy 

was at hand.

The long battle was over …

the cancer had won.

The second phone call.

It came a few days later.

Funeral arrangements

had been made,

it would be on Sunday, June 3.

You were upset.

The final phone calls,

on the afternoon of June 4.

The money was gone.

You were told that with 

the battle being over,

there was no reason to stay

in Irvine any longer.

You were frantic,

only $812 per month

in SDI to live on.

You were not invited

to make the move

to San Francisco.

$150,000 gone

in just two years.

You didn’t want

to be homeless.

There was panic

in your voice.  

I said calm down,

let me think.

The money

can’t be gone,

it’s there,

let’s think about it.

You couldn’t remember.

The drugs made

everything a fog.

If … if … if …

If I knew then,

what I know now,

I would have asked

to pick you up

for lunch the next day.

That would have 

stopped everything. 

But I didn't.

If … if … if …

If I knew then,

what I know now,

I would have picked

you up and taken

you straight to the

emergency room

at the nearest hospital.

You were dying of

congestive heart failure.

The lack of oxygen 

to your brain, 

coupled with the unrelenting 

regiment of drugs 

created such confusion for you.

You didn’t know it.

No one knew it.

It was just 

sundown dementia.

It was just the booze.

 

I didn't pick you up.

If … if … if …

If I knew then,

what I know now,

I would have asked

you for your bank records. 

I would have done an audit. 

I would have sent a copy

to your brother in Las Vegas

so that he could

have done one as well.

He tried to help 

after Fran left us.

But he was blocked. 

But I didn't

I didn’t do any

of those things.  

Instead, I told you that

you were not alone

and that I loved you.  

You said you loved me too.

Let’s talk; let me think.

We said goodbye.

A minute later

the phone rang,

I answered it and you said

that you just wanted

to hear my voice

one more time.

I didn’t think anything of it.

You had done that before.

You were funny that way.

The phone rang again.

Hang up.

The phone rang again.

Hang up.

The phone rang again.

Hang up.

The phone did 

not ring again.

You then proceeded

to take control of your life.

The Seroquel.

The Keppra.

The Prozac.

The Seproxetine.

All you could find.

It haunts me still.

It hurts so much.

So much I could

have done ... 

but I didn’t.

If … if … if …

If I knew then,

what I know now,

I would be

so much smarter.

But that’s not

the way life works.

That’s my guilt.

My pain.

Others have their own.

On some days it is

so hard to celebrate a life

when the sadness overwhelms.

This is one

of those mornings.

This is one

of those days.

Have a tune for you today

“Don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them”

… enjoy.

Link:  Jackson Browne: These Days

Well I've been out walking
I don't do that much talking these days
These days-
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
For you
And all the times I had the chance to

And I had a lover
It's so hard to risk another these days
These days-
Now if I seem to be afraid
To live the life I have made in song
Well it's just that I've been losing so long

I'll keep on moving
Things are bound to be improving these days
These days-
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten, my friend
Don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

        You remembered me.

Always.

Up early, beat the sun.

Much to do.

Long day.

But there is always

time to remember.

To celebrate a life.

You were never alone.

Oh sweet angel,

you were never alone.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:  Juice Newton: Angel of the Morning

There'll be no strings to bind your hands
Not if my love can find your heart
And there's no need to take a stand
For it was I who choose to start
I see no need to take me home
I'm old enough to face the dawn

Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me
Oh my baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Then slowly turn away from me

Maybe the sunlight will be dim
But it won't matter anyhow
If morning's echoes say we've sinned
Then it was what I wanted now
And if we're victims of the night
I won't be blinded by the light

Oh my baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning
Then slowly turn away from me

Baby baby baby

Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me
Oh my baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me, baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel
Just touch my cheek before you leave me
Oh my baby
Just call me angel of the morning, angel

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say

that your loving memory 

remains within my heart.

         Oh Doll, you remembered me.

Always.

These are days

of incredible sadness

That day; that sad day

… draws near.

Have a tune for you today …

“It's better to feel pain,

than nothing at all”

So true … enjoy.

Link:  The Lumineers: Stubborn Love

She'll lie and steal, and cheat, and beg you from her knees
Make you think she means it this time
She'll tear a hole in you, the one you can't repair
But I still love her, I don't really care

When we were young, oh, oh, we did enough
When it got cold, ooh, ooh, we bundled up
I can't be told, ah, ah, it can't be done

It's better to feel pain, than nothing at all
The opposite of love's indifference
So pay attention now, I'm standing on your porch screaming out
And I won't leave until you come downstairs

So keep your head up, keep your love
Keep your head up, my love

Keep your head up, my love

Keep your head up, keep your love

And I don't blame you dear for running like you did all these years
I would do the same, you'd best believe
And the highway signs say we're close but I don't read those things anymore
I never trusted my own eyes

When we were young oh, oh, we did enough
When it got cold, ooh, ooh we bundled up
I can't be told, ah, ah, it can't be done

So keep your head up, keep your love
Keep your head up, my love

Keep your head up, my love

Keep your head up, keep your love
Head up, love
Head up, love
Head up, love
Head up, love

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

           You remembered me.

Always.

Busy day.

Running late.

Lots to do.

But always time

to remember.

Have a tune for you today …

Pure country.

… enjoy.

Link:  Thomas Rhett: It Goes Like This

Hey girl, you make me wanna write a song,
Sit you down, I'll sing it to you all night long,
I've had a melody in my head since she walked in here and knocked me dead.
Yea girl, you make me wanna write a song

And it goes like ooh, what I wouldn't do
To write my name on your heart, get you wrapped in my arms baby all around you.
And it goes like hey, girl I'm blown away,
Yea it starts with a smile and it ends with an all night long slow kiss,
Yea it goes like this.

Hey girl, you make me wanna drive you home,
Get you outta here and get you all alone.
I don't know what it is about you, baby,
But I'm all messed up and it might sound crazy,
But you make me wanna write a song.

And it goes like ooh, what I wouldn't do,
To write my name on your heart, get you wrapped in my arms baby all around you.
And it goes like hey, girl I'm blown away,
Yea it starts with a smile and it ends with an all night long slow kiss,
Yea it goes like this.

Lookin' at you lookin' at me that way,
Makes me wanna grab my old guitar and play

Something like ooh, what I wouldn't do,
To write my name on my heart, get you wrapped in my arms baby all around you.
And it goes like hey, girl I'm blown away,
Yea it starts with a smile and it ends with an all night long slow kiss,
Yea it goes like this

And it goes like ooh, and it goes like hey,
And it ends with a kiss,
Yea it goes like this.

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

         You remembered me.

Always.

Long day, much to do.

I pray.

I thank God for all the gifts.

If you doubt that

there is a God,

then get on your back

in the desert sand

and look up at a

cloudless night sky

without the lights of the city

to obscure the view.

Hold your newborn child

in your arms and deny God.

Do it, go ahead, do it.

You’ll find that you can’t.

God’s gift to us is

the ability to love

one another.

Without conditions.

That’s the long

and the short of it.

The angels know this is true.

You know this is true.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:  Tim McGraw & Faith Hill: It's Your Love

Dancin' in the dark
Middle of the night
Takin' your heart
And holdin' it tight

Emotional touch
Touchin' my skin
And askin' you to do
What you've been doin' all over again

Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go

It's your love
It just does somethin' to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
It's your love

Better than I was
More than I am
And all of this happened
By takin' your hand

And who I am now
Is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together
I'm stronger than ever
I'm happy and free

Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in, no
And if you asked me why I changed
All I gotta do is say your sweet name

It's your love
It just does somethin' to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
It's your love
Oh, baby

Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go

It's your love
It just does somethin' to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
It's your love
It's your love
It's your love

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say that your memory remains within my heart.

          Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

Lovely morning.

Cats out frolicking.

Long day, must get to it.

But just wanted to take

a moment or two to reflect.

Each blessing is to be celebrated.

Time is so short.

Slow down, reflect.

Have a tune for you today

“Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away”

So true, so true.

… enjoy.

Link:  Garth Brooks: The River

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores...

And, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
'Til the river runs dry

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

        You remembered me.

Always.

You walked along 2-4-7

on your way home from school.

Singing your tunes,

A transistor radio

pressed to your ear.

Somewhere along

the way you fell

in love with music.

Was it on a cloudy day?

A sunny day?

Was it all at once?

Or over time?

Doesn’t matter …

You called them tunes.

Years later you would drive, 

radio on, singing along. 

You loved your tunes.

No one had the

right to hurt you.

I have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:  Janis Joplin: Me And Bobby McGee

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train
And I's feeling nearly as faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
It rode us all the way to New Orleans.

I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna,
I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
Windshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby's hand in mine,
We sang every song that driver knew.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free, now now.
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
You know feeling good was good enough for me,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

From the Kentucky coal mines to the California sun,
Hey, Bobby shared the secrets of my soul.
Through all kinds of weather, through everything that we done,
Hey Bobby baby kept me from the cold.

One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away,
He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it,
But I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday
To be holding Bobby's body next to mine.

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose,
Nothing, that's all that Bobby left me, yeah,
But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues,
Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm,
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

La la la, la la la la, la la la, la la la la
La la la la la Bobby McGee.
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, Bobby McGee, la.

La La la, la la la la la la,
La La la la la la la la la, hey now Bobby now Bobby McGee yeah.
Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na na na na
Hey now Bobby now, Bobby McGee, yeah.

Lord, I'm calling my lover, calling my man,
I said I'm calling my lover just the best I can,
C'mon, where is Bobby now, where is Bobby McGee, yeah,
Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee, Lord!

Yeah! Whew!

Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lordy Lord
Hey, hey, hey, Bobby McGee.

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

        You remembered me.

Always.

Sorry about your boys.

The cellar is getting deeper.

       Pffffffffttttttt.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:  Kellie Pickler: Turn On The Radio And Dance

Baby drive down by the lake
You know that old back road
The one that leads right straight
To our old hideout cove
I need to drown out this old world yeah
Turn on the radio and dance

We'll wade up to our ankles
In that old muddy water
I'll let you twirl me around
To some old late night rocker
All the crickets will be singing
Turn on the radio and dance

Turn on the radio and dance
Turn on the radio and dance
Baby all I wanna do is
Take off these old shoes
Turn on the radio and dance

Maybe we'll call up that DJ
See if he'll play our song
We'll wait until he does it
We'll stay there all night long
Long as I'm there with you
I can hardly wait to

Turn on the radio and dance
Turn on the radio and dance
Baby all I wanna do is
Take off these old shoes
Turn on the radio and dance

 
Baby drive down by the lake
You know that old back road
The one that leads right straight
To our old hideout cove
I need to drown out this old world yeah
Turn on the radio and dance
I wanna dance with you
Turn on the radio and dance

Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

         You remembered me.

Always.

Overcast, cooler … should burn off.

Lots to do.

But, in the end, does it matter?

Time flies ... so fast; so incredibly fast.

Savor the moments; the special ones.

Have a tune for you today ... enjoy.

Link: Gary Allan: Pieces

I've been broken, torn and scattered
I've loved holy, I've loved sin
I was rolling on the wind
It didn't matter

I was so sure of who I didn't want to be
Every smile and every fear
Every laugh and every tear
It was all mine, it was all me

Pieces of my heart
Pieces of my soul
Pieces that I'm gonna be
I don't even know
I gave a lot to lovers
Gave a lot to friends
Everything I took from them
Made me who I am
Pieces

We've all been lied to
We've all been liars
Nothing's perfect in this world
Everybody's been burned by the fire
Guess I'm learning
That what breaks you, makes you grow
But I'm not hiding where I've been
Gonna let the light shine in
What I don't need
Gonna let that, let that, let that go

Pieces of my heart
Pieces of my soul
Pieces that I'm gonna be
I don't even know
I gave a lot to lovers
Gave a lot to friends
Everything I took from them
Made me who I am
Pieces

Pieces, the good and the bad
Pieces, the happy and sad
Pieces, the wrong and the right
Pieces, that's my, that's my, that's my life

Pieces of my heart
Pieces of my soul
Pieces that I'm gonna be
I don't even know
I gave a lot to lovers
Gave a lot to friends
Everything I took from them
Made me who I am
Pieces

Pieces, pieces