August2012
For Larry
A brave man who is still doing well and refuses to be beaten
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
~~R. Rogers/O. Hammerstein II~~
Dec-2011
Happy New Year
And there's a hand, my trusty fere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
This verse from Robert Burns speaks from my heart to yours at this end of year time. Many thanks to all of you for your support, kindness and friendship.
Hope goes out to all but especially to Larry for his courage.
Blessed 2012 to all of you
Jess.
Nov 2011
Remembrance
Please view in Original size
11th Hour of the 11 Day of the 11th Month. Two Minutes Please.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
~~Laurence Binyon~~
Dec 2010
Merry Christmas 2010
So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
John Lennon
Nov 15 2010
After The Rain
Weep not for me though I am gone;
into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will but not for long,
upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace,
my soul's at rest.
There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was blessed;
for all those many years.
There is no pain,
I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts.
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath;
remember not the strife.
Please do not dwell upon my death,
but celebrate my life.
~~Constance Jenkins~~
28-JAN-2010
"A Soldier's Prayer Book"
A soldier using a deck of ordinary playing cards as an aid to prayer and meditation dates back at least to 1788. The popular song Deck of Cards (sometimes known as "A Soldier's Prayer Book") was written in 1948 by "T." Texas Tyler. The song itself was based on a tract that was found sandwiched between the sheets of an old 1811 bible.
Ace: The one true God
Deuce: The Old Testament and New Testament in the Bible
Trey/Three: The Holy Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit/Ghost
Four: St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, evangelists and authors of the four Gospels
Five: The two groups of five virgins who trimmed their lamps for a wedding. Five were wise (by saving enough oil) and were admitted, while the other five were foolish (did not have enough oil) and were shut out.
Six: God created the Earth in six days.
Seven: God rested on the seventh day, now known as the Sabbath.
Eight: The eight righteous people whom God saved during the Great Flood: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives.
Nine: Of the ten lepers whom Jesus cleansed, nine of them didn't even thank him.
Ten: The Ten Commandments God handed down to Moses.
King: Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, or alternatively, God the Father.
Queen: Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Queen of Heaven.
Jack or Knaves: Satan or the Devil
365 Spots: Days in a year (basic deck actually contains 364 + one Joker, though most decks of cards will contain two jokers)
52 Cards: Number of weeks in a year
Thirteen Tricks: Number of weeks in a quarter
Four Suits: Approximate number of weeks in a month (can also mean the four seasons but this is not included in the song)
Twelve Face Cards: Number of months in a year
10-DEC-2009
The Book
THERE is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
~~Emily Dickinson (1830–86)~~
15-AUG-2009
Twilight Years
Age is opportunity no less
than youth itself,
though in another dress,
And as the evening twilight fades away
the sky is filled with stars,
invisible by day.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
(1807 - 1882)
21-JUN-2009
Will you walk into my Parlour?
"Will you walk into my parlour?"
Said the spider to the fly;
"'Tis the prettiest little parlour
That ever you did spy.
The way into my parlour
Is up a winding stair;
And I have many curious things
To show you when you're there."
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly,
"to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair
can ne'er come down again."
~~Mary Howitt (1799-1888)~~
22-DEC-2008
If Winter come, can Spring be far behind?
My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!
Drive my dead thoughts over the universe
Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth!
And, by the incantation of this verse,
Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawakened earth
The trumpet of a prophecy! O, Wind,
If Winter come, can Spring be far behind?
~~~ by Percy Bysshe Shelley ~~~
18-DEC-2008
From our house to Yours
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
For every year the Christmas tree,
Brings to us all both joy and glee.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Much pleasure dost thou bring me!
11-NOV-2008
We Three.
"We Three" that is what they called themselves.
Brother, Sister and Father, representing the three services in WW2. Navy, Army and Air-force on a rare time they were all home on leave at the same time.
Jess
"At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month we will remember them."
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
“For the Fallen”
by Lancaster-born poet Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)