giddyupgo1's blog: "This is for everyone..."

OLD PEOPLE We love to see life Feel the glow of the sun, To feel the earth beneath our feet, see the water in rivers and streams run. We love to be with family We enjoy our friends, BUT What do we do? How do we feel? When they don't want us. Old people. We don't walk as fast, see as good, or hear as well as we did. We do talk about the past they feel, too much. We helped shape our world, Gave life to our children. We gave ideas and ideals to live by, and gave them a chance to grow. They depended on us as babies. Needed us as children. Tolerated us as young adults. They forgot us when they became adults. Old people become old because.... They are pushed back, overlooked ~ forgotten. WHY? They answer, you have done your part. Now it's our turn... FOR WHAT??? We are forced to grow old The world is only for the young NO WAY~NEVER~NOT ME I will fight, stay active and young at heart Even if I have to be alone.... I will survive. written by Beverly thank you Beverly FULL CIRCLE Until you've walked a while in my shoes, Don't toss me aside like yesterday's news. Though I'm but a shadow of what used to be. Don't turn away! I beg you, Please. There's a real living being inside of this shell. Who's lived a full life, and lived it well. I once was a child full of vigor and fun, And wide eyed wonder of a life just begun. I've passed many milestones over my years, I fought many battles, and conquered my fears. I was highly regarded in our society, A leader and pillar of the community. I've known both sorrow and happiness, But now, I have out lived my uselfulness. Clearly, time has taken my youth away. I'm weak and frail, my hair has thinned and grayed. Life's burdens and woes have wrinkled my face, My memories so dear, have all been erased, My spirit is dwindling, my flesh is too weak, My thoughts are confused when I try to speak. The one that I cared for, now must care for me, I pray you may never know such humility. Alas! I've come full circle, I'm child like again. I've lost control of my life, on you I must depend. Until I'm called Home by my Father above, Treat me with kindness, Compassion, and Love. Give me the respect that I am due. Because one day, I just might be you! Gloria Dianne SENIORS LIVES ARE OFTEN LONELY I'm at the Home, away from home~ I'm new here, don't you see? Bewildered, nervous, frightened, Please come and say "HI" to me. I've brought a lot of memories Of the way it used to be, I'd love to share them all with you; Take time to listen to me. My hearings failing, so please speak up, My eyes work hard to see. One arm and one leg don't work so well, But please don't pity me. I realize you've got your own life, A home, a family. I used to have the same you know, I'd love you all to visit me. When sickness triumphs o'er my resistance, A bother I can be. I'm at the mercy of the staff, Please take good care of me. Upon those long and lonely nights, I fear to die without thee. Please don't leave and close the door, But, rather, stay with me. Old friends, their numbers dwindle, Now that I'm eighty-three. I lost another yesterday, Please come and cry with me. And when my journey here is ended, Life's grip to set me free, Don't fear, my dying is not contagious, Come say goodbye to me. The months and seasons pass, The years so quickly flee. Would I be asking you too much To please remember me? If you think about it, if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be where we are today. God Bless All of our elderly! Well I received a nice surprise in my mail this week.... A wonderful poem, written in response to the Elderly People Poetry "So you have Grown Old...." I'd like you to know, You should never dismay Because I truly will listen, To all that you say. You've lived life to the fullest For company you yearn, And YES, I will listen For from you, I can learn. Though the years may be selfish And they take what they can And I know you must crawl Where you once really ran. I will sit with you listening Of true tales of old, Where you once were so strong, Where you once were so bold. I'll delight in the knowing That this time is well spent As you speak of the old days One by one, each event. I will pay close attention I will give you respect I will drink of your words Every sentence dissect. For in my conclusion I do realize That the elderly are Such dear people, so wise. So I say to the old folks As I sum up their worth Thay are the most valuable People on Earth!

"A Mother's Love" From the moment of birth, a mother's life changes When she sets eyes on her baby, her world rearranges. Through thick and thin, She'll see them through Just to hear them say, "Mom, I Love You." She comforts them and helps them conquer their fears Laughs with them, cries with them, and wipes their tears. Her own wishes and desires come second best, That her children may be well fed and dressed. A mother will always be the best she can be, Some things that no one Else can see. Seeing hope, and seeing dreams, Seeing pranks, and seeing schemes. Love for her child will not be far from a mother's heart, Until the unfortunate day In which they must part. A mother will love her child until the day that she dies, And her dying request will be "Please wipe my baby's eyes." Mother There never was or could ever be A dearer mother than God gave me From a baby, you had raised me through sickness and through health And mother to me meant love, More greater than Wealth. And Now that I'm a Mother, I hope to be. The kind of mother,That God gave me. by daughter Florence Gately Thank you Florence I loved it! A Child's Angel Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, thats enough for me to be happy. Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angels love and be happy. And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me? If I don't know the language that men talk? Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to speak. And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you? Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray. I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me? Your angel will defend you, even if it means risking its own life. But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore. Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you, the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you. At that moment, there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly: Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name Your angel's name is of no importance, You will call your angel: Mommy

Purpose We all have some kind of purpose, It's not to hurt people or tell them their worth. Everyone was put here with an equal chance, Take a look around you, take a good long glance. Some were meant to heal, and some to teach, Some are used to build, and some to reach. You may not know your purpose just yet, God will tell you, when he knows you are set. Don't rush your fate, it has already been planned. And God will always be there to lend a helping hand. You will go through times that are really rough, But you will always have someone, when the going gets tough. Don't judge others, for when you do, There is always someone else, judging you. Think about things before they are said, Say your prayers before going off to bed. Take time just to sit, and observe all things, A flower and its petals, or a bird and its wings. For when you just look at what is around, A new aspect on life could be what you've found. Live for today, live one day at a time. Live for yourself, and for God, that's no crime. For when you do all these things to make your life great, You will find your own way to the pearly white gate. I Asked the Lord to Bless You I asked the Lord to Bless You, as I prayed for you today To guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. His love is always with you His promises are true And when we give Him all our cares, you know he'll see us through. So, when the road your traveling on seems difficult at best Just remember I'm here praying And God will do the rest.

We always think that our lives will be perfect, especially when we bring a newborn child into the world But sometimes...."God" has different plans for us... Sometimes God gives us an angel and doesn't tell us. Until afterwards. It changes our lives forever "The baby has died" The words no one can say. Half truths.Turning away. Avoiding eyes. And pain becomes so powerful That it pushes everything else far away. So far away. Were there ever good feelings? Where is joy? Eager anticipation? Smiles? Excitement? Pleasure? Most of all... Where is love? You feel nothing but pain. Pain does go away. It uses itself up. After its harsh, tormenting , and constant Battering of self and soul, Pain slowly stops. With cost, of course. For feeling always costs. And emptiness remains. Sometimes the pain returns as part of the price of life. But never with such intensity. The memories of pain begin, Yet are less intense. Within the emptiness The soul feels a different kind of loss Before beginning its long task of repair and loneliness. It seeks to find some warmth Where harsh and constant pain once lived. For emptiness is cold. Yet life with its strong pull to keep on living In the middle of wanting to die Keeps the soul alive, Urges the spirit to heal, Tries to make sense out of nonsense; Peace out of pain; and love out of loss. Somehow the memories grow from pain Into pictures of pretending How this little life would have grown. And become. And shared. And laughed. And cried And been a part of you, Rather than apart from you. The memories picture grows with time. It begins to have a sense of comfort. A sense of love. A sense of peace. The emptiness of soul and the loneliness of self Are lessoned by a sense of warmth and love That conquers the sometimes returning pain and sadness Life comes back together although arranged quite differently. It is stronger, It is more firm even though held With moments of sad lonliness And knowing emptiness. Yet able to continue. Able to continue living. Able to know the memories of death, To know the memories of broken hope. To be able to say: "I have felt such bitter pain. I have cried tears that would not stop. I have wanted to stop living Only to stop hurting." Somehow the miracle of life Still exists within death. And I still continue to live Perhaps to believe in love... As I am able to say: "My baby has died" I wrote this poem for Troy one year after he went to heaven It's been a year since you went away We miss you more with each passing day. Your life was short, who would have guessed But for the time we shared, we were truly blessed. Things will never be the same, you know We'll never have the chance to see you grow. Although you're not here and we had to part, We hold your memories close to our heart. You've touched our lives in so many ways, And sometimes its hard, just to get through the days. Our hearts entwine with yours, in love Until we meet again, in heaven above. Sadly missed by Mom, Dad, Ryan and Beverly Ann I'd like to add also, that I wrote this poem, all but the last two lines. I couldn't figure out out to close the poem, so I asked my mom for assistance. She wrote the last two lines, and they fit perfectly...thanks Mom GOD'S LENT CHILD I'll lend you for a little while A child of mine, God said For you to love the while he lives And mourn for when he's dead. It may be six or seven years or forty-two or three But, will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me? He'll bring his charms to gladden you and, should his stay be brief... You'll have his lovely memories As a solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, Since all from earth returns, But there are lessons taught below, I want this child to learn. I've looked the whole world over in my search for teachers true. And from the things that crowd life's lane I have chosen you. Now will you give him all our love? Nor think the labor vain? Nor hate me when I come to take This lent child back again? I fancied that I heard them say Dear Lord, thy will be done For all the joys thy child shall bring The risk of grief we'll run. We will shelter him with tenderness, We'll love him while we may And for the happiness we have known Forever grateful stay. But should thy angel call for him Much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand...

THINGS I'VE LEARNED I've learned... You cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I've learned... that no matter how much you care, some people just don't care back. I've learned... that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I've learned... that it's not what you have in life but who you have in your life that counts I've learned... that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes... After that, you better know something. I've learned... that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do. I've learned... that you can do something in an instant that can give you heartache for life. I've learned... that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I've learned... that you should always leave loved ones with loving words, it may be the last time you see them. I've learned... that you can keep going long after you thought you couldn't. I've learned... that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I've learned... that either you control your attitude or it controls you. I've learned... that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place. I've learned... that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I've learned... that money is lousy way of keeping score. I've learned... that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. I've learned... that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you are down will be the ones to help you get back up. I've learned... that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that does not give me the right to be cruel. I've learned... that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for love. I've learned... that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. I've learned... that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you have celebrated. I've learned... that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish, Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it. I've learned... that no matter how good a friend is, they are going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned... that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. I've learned... that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I've learned... that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we have become. I've learned... that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other, And just because they don't argue, doesn't mean they do. I've learned... that we don't have to change friends, if we understand that friends change. I've learned... that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever. I've learned... that two people can look at exactly the same thing, and see something totally different. I've learned... that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt. And you will hurt in the process. I've learned... that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help. I've learned... that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I've learned... that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. I've learned... that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings, when standing up for what you believe in. I've learned that people who know absolutely nothing about you, can change your life in an instant. I've learned that your family can let you down, and sometimes... others can become your family, teaching you it's "ok" to love again

SLOW DANCE Have you ever watched kids on a merry go round? Or listen to the rain slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight? You better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last. Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you" Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, Do you lie in your bed? With the next hundred chores running through your head? You better slow down Don't dance so fast. Time is short The music won't last. Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die? 'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"? You better slow down Don't dance so fast. Time is short The music won't last. When you run so fast to get somewhere, You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry Through your day, It is like an unopened gift Thrown away. Life is not a race, Do take it slower Hear the music before the song is over