Dear Beverly

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Your memory is with me this morning; your smile; your warmth.

       You remembered me.

Always.

It is fascinating to me

how people interact.

Strangers becoming friends.

Friends finding peace with each other.

What is it in the human spirit

that craves contact with others?

If hugs and smiles and laughter

are the nature of things,

then what happens when they

are denied?

Makes you wonder.

Have a tune for you today.

It’s a fun one … enjoy.

Link:  Thompson Square: Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

We were sittin' up there on your momma's roof
Talkin' 'bout everything under the moon
With the smell of honeysuckle and your perfume
All I could think about was my next move

Oh, but you were so shy, so was I
Maybe that's why it was so hard to believe
When you smiled and said to me
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I like you a lot
But you're 'bout to miss your shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

It was the best dang kiss that I ever had
Except for that long one after that
And I knew if I wanted this thing to last
Sooner or later I'd have to ask for your hand

So I took a chance
Bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee
And you smiled and said to me
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I love you a lot
I think we've got a real good shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon
And your momma cried
When you walked down the aisle

When the preacher man said, "Say I do"
I did and you did too, then I lifted that veil
And saw your pretty smile and I said
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
Look at all the love that we got
It ain't never gonna stop
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

Yeah baby, I love you a lot
I really think we've got a shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

         Doll, you remembered me.

Always.

What makes another human being unique?

Given it some thought of late.

For you, I remember the humor.
Kindness.
A loving nature.
A beautiful smile.
Your way of saying things.

But that could also describe 
thousands of other people.

You had flaws ... who doesn't?
No one is perfect.

You made mistakes ... we all have.
Again, no one is perfect.

Those things don't matter.

There are so many intangibles
that go into the making of a person.

Things that can't be touched or felt,
but they are there nevertheless.

Things that made you, you.
Made you perfect.  Just perfect.

These memories of you being you 
remain with me ... always.

Have a tune for you today ...  

"Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you are perfect to me."

If you could have only heard those words last June.

 ... enjoy.

Link:  Pink: F**king Perfect 

Made a wrong turn once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good'
It didn't slow me down.
Mistaken, always second guessing
Underestimated, look I'm still around

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me

You're so mean when you talk
About yourself. You were wrong.
Change the voices in your head
Make them like you instead.

So complicated,
Look happy, You'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough, I've done all I could think of
Chased down all my demons
I've seen you do the same
(Ohh ohhhhhhh)

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me

The whole world's scared, so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in line and we try try try but we try too hard
And it's a waste of my time.
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair
Exchange ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that, why do I do that (why do I do that)?

(Yeah!)
I'm Pretty, pretty, pretty

Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're fucking perfect to me
(You're perfect, you're perfect)
Pretty, pretty please, don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than fucking perfect.
Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing, you are perfect to me. 

Dear Beverly

You are in my heart and on my mind this morning.

           You remembered me.

Always.

A beautiful winter's day.
Sunny, bright and warm.

A sign that spring is near.

Miss your smile.
Miss your humor.

Have a tune for you today.
It is a fun one ...
I think you would have liked this one ... Enjoy.

 Link: Lady Antebellum: Downtown

Well, all the parties on the streets are talking, store front mannequins sleeping in lights.
We used to smoke while we were jaywalking like it was your birthday every other saturday night.
Knew The bands so we never payed our cover.
Wrote our names on the bathroom tiles.
We never dressed to impress all the others,
They would let us in on our laid back kind of style.
But boy you know it's been a while.

I don't know why you don't take me down town like you got anywhere better to be.
Talk it up and give me the go round, round like a good time tease.
I'm only counting on your cancellation,
When I should be counting on you at my door.
Did you forget about how we went around,
I don't know why you don't take me downtown anymore.
Ohhhhhhhh anymore.

I got some platforms sitting in the corner.
They wanna stroll on a city sidewalk.
I got a dress that'll show a little uh uh but you ain't gettin' uh uh if you don't come pick me up (damn),
Show me off (wow),
You might be tired, but I'm not!

And I don't know why you don't take me down town like you got anywhere better to be.
Talk it up and give me the go round, round like a good time tease.
I'm only counting on your cancellation,
When I should be counting on you at my door.
Did you forget about how we went around,
I don't know why you don't take me downtown anymore.

I don't know why you don't take me downtown like you got anywhere better to be.
Talk it up and give me the go round round like a good time tease.
I'm only counting on your cancellation,
When I should be countin on you at my door.
Did you forget about how we went around,
I don't know why you don't take me downtown anymore.
Ohhh anymore.
Yeaaaaah I don't know why you don't take me downtown,
I don't know why you don't take me downtown anymore.
I just don't get it

Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

           You remembered me.

Always.

Love.   

You just wanted to be loved.

Not isolated and left alone, 

but loved and treated with kindness.

It seemed so simple,

but it proved to be elusive.

In the days of my grief

I wrote of your needs in this poem.

He Called You Sam

He called you Sam. 

How odd a nickname for such a pretty girl.

“Hey Sam, go out and play.”

“Sam, clean that room.”

“Please,” he didn’t have to say.

Reluctant for the chore, but you adored the man.

So off you’d go for the one who called you Sam.

“Sam, such a lovely smile you have today.”

It would grow brighter with his voice.

“I love you daddy.”

“I love you, Sam.”

That’s all he had to say.

And then the cancer came.

Gone and you just a child of twelve.

It could never be the same.

No one to call you Sam.

No sound of “Sam” to bring a smile.

No “Sam, clean that room” today … or any other day.

One day there.  One day gone.

Lay bare the heart ... and cry you did.

Such a heavy load to bear.

No one to keep the boys at bay.

No one to teach you this or that.

No one to say: “I love you, Sam.”

“I love you, Sam.”

The loss, it marked you well.

A wound not seen, but there, a heart not whole.

A week?  A month?  A year? 

Could he have tarried just awhile?

Only those who took the time,

Who stopped and sought to listen.

They too could hear the whisper in your heart.

The need.  The need.  The need.

The need to be just Sam.

And hear without condition,

“I love you, Sam.”

“I love you, Sam.”

He called you Sam. 

How odd a nickname for such a lovely woman.

Have a tune for you today.

Not a song.

Not music, but a tune ... that's what you call them.

Enjoy.

Link:  Hunter Hayes: More Than I Should

 Oooh yeahhh!

Wasted time and money
Honey, treatin' you like a queen.
I might as well have just thrown matches at a tank of gasoline
Well it all went up in a ball of flames.
Yeah, girl you torched me good.
Yeah, I got burned and learned that I loved you more than I should.

Cause my heart said a long time ago,
Buddy tuck your tail and run.
Cause it ain't love,
When you're stuck on the wrong end of the gun
Well, you put your finger on that trigger
And you shot me where I stood.
I found out the hard way.
I loved you more than I should.

Ooooh yeahhh!

Well, curse the man who made the sweet perfume that cast the spell.
And curse the night that made us kiss beneath the star that fell.
And curse the man before me,
Didn't warn me when he could.
And curse me most of all for loving you more than I should.

Cause my heart said a long time ago,
Buddy tuck your tail and run.
Cause it ain't love,
When you're stuck on the wrong end of the gun
Well, you put your finger on that trigger
And you shot me where I stood.
I found out the hard way.
I loved you more than I should.

Last night I found myself inside the strangest, sweetest dream
You were standin' arms wide open right in front of me.
The closer I moved toward you, the further away you stood.
I woke up and wispered, "I loved you more than I should."
They'll write on my gravestone,
I loved you more than I should.

More than I should, yeahhh!

Ooohhh!

Yeahhh!

Dear Beverly

On this day you are in my heart.

          Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

It is so easy to forget.

The busy affairs of the day
get in the way.

Things you have to do ...
this and that.

I choose, however, to remember.
I choose each day to spend a few moments
in reflection on your memory.

I celebrate your life.
I no longer grieve.
That has passed.

The pain can only be endured
for so long and then you have
to let that go.

But the memories remain ... always.

Have a tune for you today.   Enjoy.

Link:   Christina Perri: A Thousand Years

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Dear Beverly

Just stopped in to say hello.

       You remembered me.

Always.

Isolated and alone.

Written off … forgotten.

Words delivered with an intent to hurt.

Why?    

Why?   

Why?

It didn’t have to be that way.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:  Taylor Swift: Mean

You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Calling me out when I'm wounded
You picking on the weaker man

You can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know, what you don't know...

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them
I walk with my head down
Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
'Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know, what you don't know...

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar
Talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion
But nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean

All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so?..

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city (Why you gotta be so?..)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean (Why you gotta be so?..)
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me (Why you gotta be so?..)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say that you are in my heart and on my mind this day.

         Oh Doll, you remembered me.

Always.

You were more than my wife.
You were far more than that.

You were my friend.
In the end we found peace.

For 30 years we honored a pledge between us.
Not once was it broken.

It was between us
And it remains so. 

There was a day last June.
You called, we talked.

You called back a few moments later and said: 
"I just wanted to hear your voice again."

A few moments after that you took control of your life.

The torment.
The abuse.
The isolation.

It ended that day.

You were my friend ... 

There is this promise ... 

As long as my heart beats you will not be forgotten.

Have a tune for you today ... the tune ... enjoy.

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 is one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.