Sitting at my desk in the mornings
So low I came in under the door
Just one of your magic phone calls
Filled my hearts spirit and let it soar
Sometimes we would share some problems
And just how to fix them too
Sometimes we shared ol’ friends
And just where they got off to
Sometimes we only shared a joke and laughed
Then back to work we both would go
But always we shared a special closeness
Only two men who care could know
The lessons in my life keep coming
The way you always said they would
No matter what the problems were
I knew that you always understood
With grinning face and blue eyes shining
Leaning on something you’d laughingly say,
‘Don’t know why you got so many problems
Shoot, you got little Mary to start your day’
Everytime Mary would hear me laughing
She never, ever had to guess
Shaking her pretty blonde hair she’d say,
‘Richard, you and Papa Ref are a mess.’
I always felt safe no matter what I did
Knowing you were just a phone call away
A few minutes laughing was all I needed
Oh what I’d give for another phone call today
I wish you could call me just one more time
Then continue with your hard earned rest
I’d tell you how much I loved you
And as my friend, you were my best
Sitting at my desk each morning
Is never as much fun as before
Missing your deep laughing voice
Knowing your phone calls won’t come anymore.
"All My Friends Let me Laugh"
The familiar laugh I heard today
Came from deep within
It reminded me of a time with you
So I begin to laugh again.
My mind took me for that ride
At over three-mile-a-minute speed
The country was flat, the night was clear
Ah, what’s a few little bees to heed.
Roaring down the cap-rock
Like a massive water slide
All the good folks of Stamford knew
The arrest was of Bonnie and Clyde.
Escaping from a mid-night swim
At speeds too fast to say
Hauling our ice chest full of plasma
Just trying to save the day.
Leading a bright red rig downhill
With no lights to see the road
Miles away a cheap Nebraska cabin
J.R. Ewing shared our load
The familiar laugh I heard today
Was not all from speed and fear
A lot was from a happy time
When you and I were near.
A low winding hill country drive
Finds Colt beside Momma’s belly deep in Spring
Wildflowers, white wine, grapes and cheese,
Just for the wonder of you, bluebonnets I bring.
A drive in the sun without our shirts
To feed the seagulls from a barge
Just pickin’ and singin’ by the pool
Or an Oklahoma sweat dance for large.
Fly too low to the new roof and watch
The workers all jump to the ground
A long drive home thru mid-west corn fields
Trying to gag their local beer down.
Just south of Cotulla on a mid-night run
Some dumb buzzard getting in our way
The strange smell floods our minds
Like the blinding white lights of day
The familiar laugh I heard today
Takes me to another place
Like your wonderful perfume
Fills my senses and smiles my face.
Seeing your beautiful blue eyes laugh
With me nothing could be dearer
Recalls the saddest feeling we shared
Sierra Blanca in our rear view mirror.
A walk on familiar back streets
Enjoying the glory of a West Texas sunset
Knowing no matter how old we grow
Our souls have already met.
Backing ol’ yellow a Chicago block
Stopping exactly where I should
Oh what I’d give to hear him again
“Son, you sure can drive that thing good!”
A swim in Possum Kingdom lake
Too cold to hold your nose
The funny way her ankles looked
Getting in the boat in her panty hose.
That familiar laugh I know so well
Sometimes pulls the memories of my heart
But the smiles still come from knowing
Friends and fun time places can never part.
"Paint Me …. Please"
Paint me with your magic brush
Decked out in turquoise green.
Paint me sparkling mountain sun
All fresh and new and clean.
Paint me laughing no more tears
A Rio Chama child
Paint me living life again
All free and young and wild.
Paint me throwing rocks of joy
A South Street Taos lad
Paint me hurting never more
Just strong and straight and bad.
Paint me as I used to be
All bronze and tall and clear
Paint me with your magic brush
With nothing more to fear –
Paint me.
"Heaven’s Grocery Store"
Author Unknown
I was walking down life’s highway, a long time ago.
I saw a sign that read “Heaven’s Grocery Store.”
As I got a little closer, the door came open wide.
And when I came to myself, I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels, they were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said, “My child shop with care.”
Everything a Christian needed was in that little grocery store.
All you couldn’t carry you could come back the next day for more.
First I got some PATIENCE, LOVE was in the same row.
Further down was UNDERSTANDING, you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of WISDOM a bag or two of FAITH.
I just couldn’t miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place.
I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run the race.
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE.
I didn’t forget SALVATION, for SALVATION that was free.
So I tried to get enough to save both you and me.
Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill.
For I thought I had everything to do my Master’s will.
As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER and just had to put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.
PEACE and JOY were plentiful, they were on the last shelf.
SONGS and PRAISES were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I saw the angel, “How much do I owe?”
He just smiled and said, “Just take them everywhere you go.”
Again I smiled at him and said “How much, now do I really owe?”
He smiled again and said “My child Jesus paid your bill a long time ago.
"Everything I ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"
by Robert Fulghum
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life: Everyday you…
Learn some,
Draw some,
Paint or write some,
Sing and dance some,
Play and work some.
Take a Nap every afternoon.
…When you go out into the world you always watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together –
…and the first word in your first Dick and Jane reader is a big SEE
Learn to see (Look)
Everything is there –
God – Love – Ecology – Politics – Basic Sanitation and Sane Living.
"Twas the Night Before Jesus Came"
by Bethany Farms
Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying not one in the house.
The Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I fled like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
