Dear Beverly

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Just stopped in to say hello.

         You remembered me.

Always.

Funny how things worked out.

Is “funny” the right word?

Doesn’t matter the word,

it is the concept of how things work out

when two people standing in the woods,

metaphorically speaking, part

and take different paths.

Paths that they’ve agreed to.

The grand bargain.   Our bargain.

Robert Frost’s poem speaks to it.

“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both”

You and I could not travel both.

You went one way, I went the other.

“I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Have a tune for you today …

“Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here”

I hope others "miss all the little things"
I hope others "miss the way the sunshine would light up your face"

I do, I do ... I truly do … enjoy.

Link:  Lifehouse: From Where You Are

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah I miss you

So far away from where you are
I'm standing underneath the stars
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

I feel the beating of your heart
I see the shadows of your face
Just know that wherever you are
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

I miss the years that were erased
I miss the way the sunshine would light up your face
I miss all the little things
I never thought that they'd mean everything to me
Yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

So far away from where you are
These miles have torn us worlds apart
And I miss you, yeah I miss you
And I wish you were here

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say hello.

          You remembered me.

Always.

Up before dawn; light rain.
Couldn't sleep ... cold.

Good news is that the storm will pass.

I only wish that the "storm" of last June 
had done the same for you.

Have a tune for you today ... Enjoy.

If you could have only heard 
this tune in your head that day, 
"every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain."

Link:  Gary Allan: Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain

I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning
I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying
It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around
Don't even know which way is up, you just keep spinning down, 'round, down…

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

So hold your head up and tell yourself that there's something more
And walk out that door,
Go find a new rose, don't be afraid of the thorns
'Cause we all have thorns
Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind
And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin'

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna run out of pain
It's gonna run out of sting
It's gonna leave you alone
It's gonna set you free
Set you free

Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain

It's gonna set you free,
It's gonna run out of pain,
It's gonna set you free 

Dear Beverly

Just stopped by to say how much I miss you.

         Mi Amor, you remembered me.

Always.

We sat for two and half hours

and looked through old photo albums.

You told me of your kids

You showed me pictures

and smiled brightly as you spoke of them.

I spoke of mine; my family

We laughed … it was a beautiful morning.

The pain; the hurt; the loss,

these feelings did not show through.

There were other things to speak of.

We sat there in the sun and talked.

Over thirty years had passed,

and yet it seemed like only yesterday

when I saw you last.

Funny how the mind works.

Have a tune for you today … enjoy.

Link:   Tracey Chapman: The Promise

If you wait for me then I'll come for you
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me, if you miss me once in awhile
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me like I dream of you
In a place thats warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you and I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you and I have desired
To see your face, your smile
To be with you wherever you are

Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say you'll be waiting

Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise if its one that you can keep, I vow to come for you
If you wait for me and say you'll hold
A place for me in your heart.

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!