Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

            You remembered me.

Always.

Back in the safety of your mother's home in January of 2009.
That sly look ... come on, smile.
Each day you got stronger.

Have a tune for you today ... enjoy.

Ben E. King: Stand by Me

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid
Oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand, stand by me
Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
All the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me
Stand by me

So darling, darling
Stand by me, oh stand by me
Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh stand by me, oh won't you stand now, stand
Stand by me

Dear Beverly

I was thinking about you this morning ... stopped by to say just that.

             Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

Found this old photograph of the two of us at Binion's Horseshoe.
Clearly drapes were sacrificed for that outfit.
Although I think Fran would have been glad to see them go!!!

Were we ever that young?
Compare it to this one over 37 years later.
Still the same beautiful smile.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for that Bon Jovi "tune" that you loved so much.

"I dug up this old photograph ... Look at all that hair we had"  So true.

Enjoy.

http://youtu.be/nWuZMBtrc1E

Hello again, it’s you and me
Kinda always like it used to be
Sippin' wine, killing time
Trying to solve life’s mysteries.
How’s your life, it’s been a while
God it’s good to see you smile
I see you reaching for your keys
Looking for a reason not to leave.

If you don’t know if you should stay
If you don’t say what’s on your mind
Baby just, breathe there’s no where else tonight we should be-
You wanna make a memory.

I dug up this old photograph
Look at all that hair we had
It’s bittersweet to hear you laugh
Your phone is ringing, I don’t wanna ask.

If you go now, I’ll understand
If you stay, hey, I got a plan
You wanna make a memory
You wanna steal a piece of time
You could sing a melody to me
And I could write a couple lines
You wanna make a memory.

If you don’t know if you should stay
And you don’t say what’s on your mind
Baby just, breathe there’s no where else tonight we should be-
You wanna make a memory
You wanna steal a piece of time
You could sing a melody to me
And I could write a couple lines
You wanna make a memory
You wanna make a memory

Dear Beverly

Stopped in to say that you are in my heart.

        You remembered me.

Always.

In the summer of 2010, when you weren’t looking, all of your stuff was rummaged through and he used what he found to fire off yet another package of hate. 

The summer of 2010 saw the vice of control begin to tighten.

Once you lost the protection of your mother in December of 2009, it became so easy to inflict pain.

It must have been the magical concoction known as Pinkberry that set him off, or as you would call them Pink(sssss)berry! 

“Pink(sssss)berry, yummy,” you’d say.  

Could it have been the threat of these magical little tubs of yogurt and fruit that triggered such fear? 

If you ate enough of them, then perhaps the stalker’s spell would be broken? 

Was that it?

How is it even possible that that a simple thing like a holiday greeting card and an enclosed Pinkberry (oops, Pink(sssss)berry) gift card could be so twisted into an instrument to inflict pain?  

How evil is that? 

How is the thoughtfulness of a gift card such a threat? 

It was a reminder that you were not alone.

Was that the threat? 

Was it this simple reminder that you were not alone that triggered such venom?

What is it with people like that? 

I can’t even get my head around it.

Maybe all of us — each of us as individuals — should just reach out to our friends and family from time to time, quite randomly, and send little reminders that they too are not alone. 

Flowers unexpectedly; without an occasion … “was thinking of you.”  

A card to people we care about out of the blue, “just wanted to say hello.”

Does it always have to be a birthday or some Hallmark holiday to express these little acts of kindness and caring?

A stranger passing by, “good morning.”  Nothing more than a smile and a greeting.

What does it cost you?

The cashier at the supermarket, “How are you today?” 

The lady with packages at the post office, “Let me get that door for you.”

What does it cost you?

A simple thing like a Pink(sssss)berry gift card brought a smile to your face.

There are not enough Pink(sssss)berry gift cards in the world to bring one more of your lovely smiles to this world … not enough to bring yet another twinkle to your eye.

Not enough to hear you say one more time, “Pink(sssss)berry, yummy.”

And I am not supposed to be angry?

How can I set aside the hatred of a stalker; a bully; a control freak?

In the end you took control … you had the last word on the subject.

So sad … it is so incredibly sad.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

http://youtu.be/f2H-GiiDfnE

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and stay you're going the wrong way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

             Hi Doll, you remembered me.

Always.

Rainy, gloomy and colder (well, cooler anyway).
A melancholy day full of gray skies.
Cats won't be happy.  

Tune today ... enjoy

Everclear: Sunflowers

I know where you go when you want to fall
Why do you want to be broken?
I know where you go when you want to fall
Yes your friends they tell me everything

Yes I know where you go
Yes I know what you do
Yes I know the awful things you say and who you say them to
Yes I know where you go
Yes I know what you do

I know how you feel, you get crazy inside
They say it runs in the family
I know just how you feel when you get crazy inside
Your mom she said that you are just like me

I can see it in your eyes
I can see your shaky hands
Yes I think you think I'm stupid
You don't think I understand
Yes I see you and I see myself when I was a younger man

When you were a child
You were happy and free
You were my reason to live
I would die when you smiled at me

I can still see you
I remember you painting
Sunflowers in your room

I know where you go when you want to fall
Hey don't you want to be happy?
I know where you go when you want to fall
Your useless friends, they tell me everything

Everything
I see you run around in circles
I see you digging your own hole
I see you fight the fights you just can't win
I see you losing self control
What it does to me deep down inside I hope you will never know

When you were a child
You were happy and free
You were my reason to live
I would die when you smiled at me

I can still see you
Painting flowers on the wall
I remember you happy
I remember it all
All I want to remember
Pretty pictures on the wall
I remember you happy
I remember it all
All I want to remember
Sunflowers in your room

Dear Beverly

-->

Stopped in to say hello.

         You remembered me.

Always.

Change in the weather, again.

That time of year … getting dark earlier.

Can get you down.

How about something to brighten it up,

Some good old rock ‘n’ roll … rock on.

Have a tune for you today that does just that ... enjoy.

 Link: Bob Seger: Old Time Rock and Roll  

Just take those old records off the shelf

I'll sit and listen to 'em by m'self

Today's music ain't got the same soul

I like that old time rock and roll

Don't try to take me to a Disco

You'll never even get me out on the floor

In 10 minutes I'll be late for the door

I like that old time rock and roll

Still like that old time rock and roll

The kinda music just soothes the soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old time rock and roll

Won't go to hear 'em play a Tango

I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul

There's only one sure way to get me to go

Start playin' old time rock and roll

Call me a relic call me what'cha will

Say I'm old fashioned say I'm over the hill

Today's music ain't got the same soul

I like that old time rock and roll

Still like that old time rock and roll

The kinda music just soothes the soul

I reminisce about the days of old

With that old time rock and roll

Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

            Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

What is the human spirit?

Kindness and caring?
Lies, deceit and games?
Love and tenderness?
Control and calculation?

I have to come down on the side of ...
Kindness and caring.
Love and tenderness.

Love without condition is, I think, the mark of the best of us.

Your word is all you have.
Once given, no matter the consequences, it must be honored.
That too, I think, marks the best of us.

Love and honor.

But what of anger and hate?
How does one resolve the conflict that rages within?
How can one not hate the one who filled your world with ...

Lies
Deceit
Control
and Pain

How does one let go of the anger?
Through love?

Have a tune for you today ... enjoy

Rodney Atkins: Honesty

He said, "Just think it over and write me a list so we can figure out what we both deserve"
She hardly could believe it, that their love had come to this
Dividing and deciding his and hers
But she grabbed a paper napkin and asked the waitress for a pen
And one by one she wrote down what she wanted most from him

Honesty, sincerity, tenderness and trust
A little less time for the rest of the world
And more for the two of us
Kisses each mornin' I love you's at night
Just like it used to be
The way life was when you were in love with me

She reached across the table and placed it in his hand
And said, "You know this isn't easy for me"
As he thought about the new car, the house and the land
And wondered what that bottom line would be
And a thousand other things that she'd want him to leave behind
But he never dreamed he'd open up that napkin and find

Honesty, sincerity, tenderness and trust
A little less time for the rest of the world
And more for the two of us
Kisses each mornin' I love you's at night
Just like it used to be
The way life was when you were in love with me

Well, he fought back the tears as he looked in her eyes
And said, "I don't know where to start"
She looked at him and said, "Everything on that list in your hand
is written somewhere in your heart"

Honesty, sincerity just like it used to be
The way life was when you were in love with me

Dear Beverly

-->

Hello, just stopped in to say Hello.

        Hi back at ‘ya … you remembered me.

Always.

It’s so incredibly easy to look back down the tunnel of time to see the light.

I could have done this.  Done that.

It is so easy; so very easy.

I could have said, “Let’s have lunch.” 

I could have said, “I miss you, it’s been so long, let’s have lunch.”

You see, just simple things would have been enough.

Stop and smell the roses.  It’s not so bad.

Think about the good times.   Lots of good times to think about.

Reach out to your friends, what’s the worst that could have happened?

Like you used to say, “oh wells.” 

Have a tune today … all about slowly down and focusing on what is important.

Didn’t do it.  Trying better now.

Enjoy.

Link:  Mac Davis: Stop and Smell the Roses

Hey Mister
Where you going in such a hurry
Don't you think it's time you realized
There's a whole lot more to life than work and worry
The sweetest things in life are free
And there right before your eyes

You got to stop and smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way

Before you went to work this morning in the city
Did you spent some time with your family
Did you kiss your wife and tell her that she's pretty
Did you take your children to your breast and love them tenderly

You got to stop and smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way

Did you ever take a walk through the forest
Stop and dream a while among the trees
Well you can look up through the leaves right straight to heaven
You can almost hear the voice of God
In each any every breeze

You got to stop and smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way

You got to stop and smell the roses
You've got to count your many blessings everyday
You're gonna find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road
If you don't stop and smell the roses along the way