Time Passes
Time passes and few will notice.
Until it’s passing becomes a comfort,
A reminder, this life is not eternal,
Our trials and triumphs not forever.
Tears fall and few will miss them.
Until their falling from cheeks of others,
Heralds a time hardly remembered,
When emotions ran deep and daily,
And tears flowed with ease.
Friends will visit and few will cherish those moments.
Until mobility gives way to agony,
Faculty gives way to confusion,
Ease gives way to strain,
Chairs at kitchen tables give way to pews before caskets.
Emotions run raw and few will relish them.
Until loss becomes commonplace,
Demise becomes expected.
Until the end is anticipated,
Hoped for, welcomed.
Time passes and few should notice.
Until passing be our comfort.
In loving memory of Marie Rellinger.
This was written after attending the funeral of my wife’s Great Aunt Marie. At the age of 88, she willingly embraced her diagnosis of cancer and fought it with passion and grace. But just as Marie accepted the battle such a diagnosis brought with it, so too did she accept it’s eventual and inevitable outcome at 89.
Neither path was right or wrong to her — to suffer in therapy was almost an honor, a badge for her 89 year of service to this world and her lord — to slip away at the end surrounded by family was Marie’s sweet reward. She was ready — even if we weren’t.
At the funeral I watched a whole generation of her friends share her views — proud men and proper ladies, born a decade or two into a new century past. They were not saddened by the loss, but comforted that Marie had been ‘received’. They were happy to be celebrating her life together, as friends, while there were still friends to share it with.
There were tears at Marie’s funeral, but not from her peers. The tears came from those of us too caught up in the moment to be able to reflect on what one can accomplish in 89 years. Too caught up in what it means to lose a loved one and unable to see what it means to rest after a long and fulfilling life.
I will cherish the tears while the thought of death still terrifies me. I will relish the heartache while loss still hurts. But I will bring away with me a new understanding of what it means to celebrate life and the passing of time.
Pictured in the Rellinger family portrait, clockwise from top left: Gary Rellinger, Todd Rellinger, Audrey Merrifield, Tanya Merrifield, Mary Rellinger, Marie Rellinger, Grace Merrifield.
Monsters Under My Bed
There’s monsters under my bed daddy,
I keep my eye on them,
That’s why I’m sleeping on the floor,
So they don’t get out again.
They keep me up all night sometimes,
Fighting until the morn,
They can’t decide how to get out,
Afraid of my own scorn.
Somehow they manage to escape,
And it’s never very long,
Since every morning when I get up,
Those monsters are always gone.
Little hands
I love their fingers, their tiny little hands,
The way they fiddle or fumble or illustrate commands.
Soft and gentle, they delicately sway,
Or dirty and sweaty or sticky from play.
Lines so fine and nails so clear, Digits so chubby, finger pads so dear. Sleek as butter, plump as can be, The hand of my children just fill me with glee.
Plink, plink!
Plink, plink, plink, plink Water drips into the sink It’s hard for me to think and think With water dripping, plink, plink.
Drip, drip, drip, drip I’m going crazy, I’m going to flip Into a sleep I’ll never slip With that water going drip.
Bloop, bloop, bloop, bloop The waters filled the sink like soup From this night I won’t recoup With water dripping bloop, bloop.
Tigers and Monkeys Took Over My Room
Tigers and monkeys took over my room, Just when mommy had given me the broom, To clean up the mess all over my floor, That got so deep, she couldn’t open my door.
Elephants and giraffes got in my way, And stopped me from cleaning so I could play, I tried to say no but what could I do, When into my room marched the whole zoo.
Iguanas and eagles fought at my feet, I had work to do but they wanted to eat, So I said, “Enough, enough! Get out of my room!” “My mother will kill me if I don’t clean up soon!”
Bears and big horns knocked me flat on my butt, With all this commotion, my mom said, “What’s up!” I must be in trouble, I am certainly doomed, For the whole day has passed, and I haven’t cleaned my room.
First day of school
Mickey the monkey started school today Mickey was shy but kids asked to play There was painting and crafts and snack time too Mickey was amazed with so much to do
The teacher was nice, Mickey thought to herself She lets us play house with the toys on the shelf And when the day has passed and Mickey’s time is up She sends us Mickey off with a smile and thumbs up
Alphabet for bedtime
A is for all my kids who I tuck into bed, B is for best wishes and a kiss on the head.
C is for cuddles at night when you fret, D is for a drink of water you’ll get.
E is for every time you get scared in the night, F is for fearless when I ward off your fright.
G is for giggles when I tickle you tummy, H is for the hugs that you give to your mommy.
I is for the interesting stories you tell, J is for just one more story you’ll tell.
K is kidding with a smile and a wink, L is for laughing when I stare and don’t blink.
M is for many miles travelled in a book, N is for noticing how tired you look.
O is for overtired when your day has been long, P is for “please won’t you sing me a song?”
Q is for “Quiet! Your sister is sleeping.” R is for resting your tired eyes from peeping.
S is for sleeping the whole night away, T is for tomorrow, a brand new day.
U is for upset when I turn out the light, V is for very upset when I tell you good night.
W is for wishing on an evening star, X is for ‘xplaining what those stars really are.
Y is for “Yes dear, it is now time for bed.”, Z is for the ZZZZZZ soon to be filling your head.
I got my shot
I went to the doctor to get my shot It hurt a little, but not a lot
Because I was good and didn’t fight Mom and Dad took me for a bite
I ate biscotti, drank chocolate milk The drink was cold and smooth as silk
Now I’m shopping for toys and stuff So getting a needle’s not so tough
Turtles turtles everywhere
Turtles, turtles everywhere Turtles, turtles in my hair They’re in my soup, they’re on my bread They’re in my shorts and on my head
Turtles, turtles on the wall Turtles, turtles down the hall They’re in my room, they’re on my bed They’re on my pillow and on my spread
Turtles, turtles in my drawer Turtles, turtles I want no more I’ll make them leave, they won’t I dread I fear those turtles are in my head
One Child is Gone
One child is gone Two stayed behind One child’s moved on Two pass the time With idle thoughts And daily chores No longer fraught Their tears no more
One child does write Two read with glee One child sheds light On life to be With friends anew New places gone And school too It won’t be long Your heart is there Your thoughts are too We send our care And hearts to you