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There is a house of many that I pass by everyday,

And sometimes I have to wonder, who could live there anyway.

The parking lot is empty, any hour I’ve gone by,

But there is a flag that proudly waves, its colors in the sky.

The mailbox at the corner of the building that I speak,

Is rusted, chipped and faded, and the hinges really squeak.

There are curtains on the windows, which will open now and then,

When someone’s expecting company, a loved one, or a friend.

 It’s very well looked after; flowers grow, with lawns of green,

You would think the house was vacant, because no one’s ever seen.

The sitting swing rocks back and forth, so easy with the wind,

A sign out front informs you, of the hours you can spend.

But the day is nearly over, shadows cast and night will fall,

The doors are locked until tomorrow, and will open at roll call.

The wheel chair at the entry, has been tucked away inside,

It’s not used much but is placed there, for someone who needs a ride.

Today’s a little different, because the flag now at half - mast,

Is telling us that some one will be going home at last.

The sign that reads “No Vacancy”, will once again be changed,

And the furniture that filled a room is being rearranged.

The swing now still and motionless, is empty as before,

And will wait until tomorrow, when the wind will blow once more.

The parking lot is busy, but the curtains keep their place,

There will be no smiling faces, as they sing Amazing Grace.

While the world is such a busy place, and time is of the essence,

There are those, who really need, to have you in their presence.

But, the mail is not delivered, by a postman anymore,

And words of love not written, down on paper as before.

A thumbtack holds a calendar, with nothing on the page,

But the occasional appointment, only marked with D and A.

It’s not much, to look forward to, a check up and a pill,

A Doctor gives them words of hope, strengthening their will.

The loneliness encountered, by someone who doesn’t get,

A visit from a loved one is compounded like a debt.

From day to day they sit’n wait, and count away the hours,

There is no mail on Saturday, and no one’s sending flowers.

Someone, will be in tomorrow though, the pastor will arrive,

To thank God, for the Sundays, and the week that has gone by

The day has been a long one, and so much like any other,

There was no mail and no one seen, a father or a mother.

I guess I’m rather fortunate, to have a family tree,

That was planted by my grand dad, long before I came to be.

And years from now, when I am done, and in retirement,

I’ll spend my days, not Home Alone, but in accompaniment.

Of family, and the friendship, of the loved ones I hold dear,

The mailbox will be painted, and the hinges oiled each year.

The day has been a long one, and so much like any other,

The family has gone home now, “What ya thinking about, Mother?”

 Geo W. Donovan March 22nd, 2005

Old folks are worth a fortune,

 with silver in their hair,

 gold in their teeth,

 stones in their kidneys,

 lead in their feet and

 gas in their stomachs.

I have become a lot more social

 with the passing of the years,

 some might even call me a frivolous old gal.

 I’m seeing five gentlemen every day!

As soon as I wake, Will Power

 helps me get out of bed.

 Then I go see John.

 Then Charley Horse comes along,

 and when he is here he takes a lot

 of my time and attention!

 When he leaves, Arthur Ritis shows

 up and stays the rest of the day.

 He doesn’t like to stay in one place very long,

 so he takes me from joint to joint!

 After such a busy day,

 I’m really tired and glad to go to bed,

 with Ben Gay!

P.S. The preacher came to call the other day.

 He said that at my age I should be

 thinking about the hear-after.

 I told him I do, all the time.

 No matter where I am,

 in the kitchen or down in the basement,

 I ask myself, “Now what am I here after?”

Author Unknown

The Big Yellow Bus

Wish there was a way, I could bring back a day,
To ride on a school bus again.
On a cold vinyl seat, where my friends use to meet,
In the mornings, and at the days end.

Lester and Roy would count each girl and boy,
To make sure we all would be there.
On the big yellow bus, there were many of us,
Who rode to and from with no cares.

When I look back now, I wonder somehow,
I made it as far as I did.
But what I wouldn’t give, if I could relive,
Just one of those days as a kid.

To ride once again, with some of my friends,
Are just memories for many of us.
But we rode every day, and I’m happy to say,
It was on an old “ Big Yellow Bus”.

Thank you, Lester and Roy

The Milky Way

I wonder what it would be like, to walk the Milky Way?

Or to take a trip in outer space, that would be nice some day.

To see the earth and all the stars, a different point of view,

The trip of a life time it would be, I’d take you with me too.

Just imagine looking down, from some place way up there,

Into miles of shiny oceans, through the crystal clear blue air.

A camera could not capture, all the beauty that was seen,

Snow capped covered mountains, or the trees of hunter green.

Now look out there somewhere beyond, and you will see the Moon.

The Little Dipper’s not so small, and in it there’s a spoon.

Oh look there goes a comet, Haley has come round again,

Joining universal fireworks, that never ever seem to end.

Just to the right if we wait till night, the Sisters will appear,

Bringing laughter and some happiness, which you can often hear.

If you look around for Venus, shining lady of the stars,

You will find her in proximity, of a planet known as Mars.

Way over on the corner, is the largest of them all,

I know you’ve heard of Jupiter, at it’s very best in fall.

There is Neptune and Uranus, but you have to strain your eyes,

These two are the quiet ones, the turquoise of the skies.

Just to the south of Venus, on a clear and pitch black night,

You’ll see the lights of Mercury, when the timing is just right.

And if you listen close enough, when it is very much in dark,

You just might hear Ol’ Pluto, in the background when he barks.

Then there’s Saturn in splendor, with it’s many shining rings,

Oh how wondrous it is out there, and all the things it brings.

Yet it is just as beautiful, from right here where I stand,

To look out into the heavens, from my home and native land.

Who knows I may just get a chance, to take the greatest trip,

To be where no one’s ever gone, without a rocket ship.

And if I could I’d take you there, just so we could say,

We visited the Universe, and walked The Milky Way.

Geo January 22nd, 2005

The Spirit of Christmas

Here is a little story I would like to share with you. We all have experienced, at one time or another, very special events or times in our lives that seem to stand out and are forever etched in our minds. This is a true story of a special Christmas and memories which will be with me forever.

If my memory serves me correctly it was around 1990 or 1991. Christmas was fast approaching and I was living alone at the time, in a small one bedroom apartment in the tiny community of Welsford, New Brunswick. While living in this community for nearly fifteen years, I had made many friends, but this is about two very special friends of mine. Twin girls, Sara and Kara had been born to a couple I had known quite well for a number of years. Kara was born with Spina Bifida, and Sara was as normal as could be. They were about five years old now and during this time the three of us had become very close. I would visit occasionally and both girls just loved to see me come around. I guess I was more like family to them and with each visit the bond grew a little stronger. Now you have to imagine a man living alone has really no reason, not to mention much interest in putting up a Christmas tree. But this year somehow seemed different, and I’m sure it was the Spirit of Christmas that was getting to me. As the 25^th of the month drew closer and closer, I knew that this year would be different, different than any I had experienced in the past.

I remember as a kid setting out in search of the perfect tree, not that many of them were perfect, but it was the thrill of dragging home some scrawny Charlie Brown which would be used to celebrate the occasion. So it was, I donned my winter apparel and headed out, knowing exactly what I intended to do. It was like something was directing me to follow every step that had been pre planned or laid out for me. After a thorough search of the area the perfect tree did appear, so down it came, and it was now on it’s way to the most wonderful Christmas that ever was for me.

What does one do when you have never been alone at Christmas? You now find yourself wondering how on earth you’re going to trim a tree, when you have absolutely nothing to trim it with. I stood the naked tree in a corner and wondered when the next part of my imagination would take over and give me some direction. All I knew at the time was that this was going to be a tree for my two little friends and somehow everything would turn out fine. It would be the special Christmas I had hoped for. Without thinking much more about it, I hopped in my truck and headed to the local general store to have coffee. You can imagine what a variety of goods would be available in a little local country store. Being the time of year it was, extra care was taken to order all kinds of things pertaining to the season, especially candy and the like.

While standing there sipping away at my coffee, I noticed a box shaped like a star with candy inside. Wow, my heart started beating a mile a minute and I knew what the next step would be immediately. I bought that star shaped box, and any other candy I could find that would make the ornaments for this special tree. Gum drops, life savors, round balls of bubble gum, popcorn, it didn’t matter as long as I could turn it into ornaments, it went home with me. I even bought a spool of thread to tie things together so they could be hung up. I remember tying two tooth picks together in the middle so they formed a + and then sticking one ball of bubble gum on each end of the tooth picks. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning making ornaments and decorating. When I finished the only thing on the tree that wasn’t made of candy were the icicles and mini lights I had bought as well. Even the empty star shaped box was placed on the tree to top it off.

What a sweet little tree! Well not really, looks can be deceiving. Most of the candy I purchased as it turned out was of the sour kind. Remember me saying it was as if I’d been following directions from a power greater than mine. How could I know that sour candy was a favorite of these two special little friends, I didn’t, but could something or someone else know?

On the day before, the day before Christmas (December 23^rd) I asked their parents if they could bring Sara and Kara to my place, explaining I had a little surprise and a little gift for them. Boy, I want you to know if you ever witness the spirit of Christmas like I did in the eyes and on the faces of those two little girls; you would know what Christmas was all about. When the season of celebration ended my two little friends came to visit once again, and as promised, they helped me dismantle and undecorate their tree. When they left they each had a shoe box nearly full of sour candy, memories for a life time, and smiles that would melt your heart.

That my friends, was about 21 years ago. Neither they nor I will ever forget that very special Christmas.  

Thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me share one of life’s more pleasurable experiences.

                                        Geo Donovan

    

 Jack Frost

The Moon reached out, to wake Jack Frost,

And his coat of white appeared.

Ah haaaa he said, with the turned leaves red,

When he whispered through his beard.

The flowers of the summer past,

Have vanished over night.

Jack and the Moon have come too soon,

While the Sun was out of sight.

There is honking of the wild geese,

As they head to warmer climes.

Followed only by the wind blown clouds,

And days of harder times.

The Sun, now low, cannot support,

The life that lingers still.

The things that Jack has breathed upon,

Now fall against their will.

Jack pressed in vain against the pane,

To let himself inside.

But the glass stood tall and would not fall,

No matter how hard he tried.

By morning all that could be seen,

Were clues that he was here.

Droplets left on the windows,

As the Sun of the day reappeared.

Now you might consider Jack to be,

A Pro, who paints in white.

His canvas is the landscape,

That he works on every night.

The gallery where he shows his stuff,

Can be seen night and day.

On trees, on rocks, and windshields,

And on fields of non cut hay.

So go on Jack Frost, and color the world,

As you've done for many a year.

You, and the Moon, and I, well know,

Ol' Man Winter will soon be here.

With a brush that's a little wider,

He too is a Pro of White.

Then you both can work in unison,

On the canvas, every night.

Geo W. Donovan........... October 9^th, 2006

A Waklin’ Miracle

  Some time during the 60s, a group called The Essex had a song titled “A Walking Miracle”. The only relevance between this song and this story is the title. The paragraphs below describe what I believe was a true miracle, one that did actually happen to me.

  I was in Alberta at the time working as a property manager for a rather large firm which managed properties for different groups of investors. I was in Red Deer managing three units (buildings) having a total of eighty-eight apartments. This job required much care and attention and could sometimes get very demanding. There was much to do, and a lot of walking to do every day. Way too much for one person to look after if you consider the amount of yard work which must be done every day, summer and winter. After some discussion with my boss I was told to hire a grounds keeper. There are programs available through Canada Employment that will subsidize the employee's wages if they are currently on unemployment. I selected and interviewed several people before finally choosing what seemed to be the most likely candidate for the job. His name was David G and during the interview I found out that he had a young son and wife that he was trying desperately to support. At this time David was living in another apartment not under our care. I approached him about this and it was agreed that he would move into one of our vacant apartments. This would be a good move for him as he would not have to travel and would be available in an emergency, not to mention a better rate than he was currently paying.

  Prior to hiring David, as I've mentioned above, a lot of walking was involved and sometime in the months before, I was blessed with a troublesome Planter's Wart on my left foot. It was not only painful, but unwelcome discomfort which led me to walk on the side of my foot. Each night I would bathe and cut nearly an eighth of an inch of this off this wart. I suffered nearly two months and repeated the same procedure every night.

  It was nearing the first of November and David was packed and ready to move. There was a wet slushy snow on the ground on moving day but that wouldn't interfere or prevent him from moving. Now, I've told you something of David and how he was struggling trying to stay above water and provide for his family. Like most of us, at one time or another, we have all had to make sacrifices. In saying that I noticed that something was bothering him terribly and so I questioned him about it. He just said ah nothing much, my feet are cold, wet, and my running shoes are just about beat. I could see by the expression on his face, he was in pain but that he would rather just keep going and get it done as soon as possible. As it turns out, I had bought a new pair of running shoes just a week or two before that, thinking it might help my situation with the Planters Wart, but they didn't help and I only had them on once. I told David, when we get back to our complex, I'll give you a brand new pair and explained to him why I had them and that if they fit that they were his, no questions, no charge. I even threw in a pair of fresh clean socks to boot. They did fit him and for the rest of the day he felt much better. Normally this would be the end of the story but, let me tell you about that little miracle.

  Time went on as usual and each new day would be pretty much the same as it was the day before. Up to now I walked with a limp, cut away portions of my problem every night and would wake up to do it all over again the next day. Then one day about two weeks after David moved to our complex, he and I were outside talking about the ground maintenance and how well he had been doing with his job. I left him with a bit of praise and was actually walking on another property when I suddenly realized I wasn't limping around anymore. I stopped, pondered this for a moment and headed directly to my own apartment. Once inside I removed my footwear and my stocking. 

If I never live to write another word, I swear there was no visual sign, nor was there any pain where the Planters Wart had been. Truly, you could not tell it was even there at all. I marveled at this, and you can appreciate my happiness and overall joy. Then, I remembered, miracles do happen. I solemnly swear and truly believe this was a miracle. Because I helped someone overcome their misery, I was relieved of my own. To this day I have never had it reappear and I don't think it ever will.

So, let's go back to the title of this story. I really think you could call this, “A Walking Miracle”   

It kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?      Thanks for listening.  Geo Donovan