For Jon

You promised you'd write
You promised you'd call
You promised you'd come back
You promised you wouldn't disappear

You never wrote
You never called
You never came back
You disappeared

I wrote everyday
In hopes that you would
I prayed every night
In hopes that you'd be home faster

You told me you were invincible
You told me not to worry
You told me lies

It worried me that you felt invincible
I knew you'd be reckless after that
Although I pleased with you not to go
Your duty to your country outweighed my reasons

Please come back Jon

Airplane Delay

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long, uneventful flight home. With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on my issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together.

I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the "Sky Mall" magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony.
With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.

Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed. The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say "We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes. The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that I was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over "these" folks? I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up. Just get their butts in a seat and let's hit the gas I thought.

The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud and excited voice that we were being joined by several U.S. Marines returning home from Iraq !!! Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause. The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats. They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her. The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time.

When we were finally airborne, I was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in "me" getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand. These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about "me" and "my" issues I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life. I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to "me" while those Heroes were going home to their loved ones. I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed, I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane. The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms. I felt proud of them. I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say "Thank You for a job well done." I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

WELCOME HOME! AND THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!!

You Are

You are my first
You are my only
You are my first kiss
You are my sweetheart

You are the kiss
That made my heart melt
You are the voice
That made me vulnerable

You are the smell
That I'll always remember
You are the smile
That made me happy

You were never mine
You'll never be
Yet I loved you
And you loved me

Freedom isn't Free

We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have, of which we should be eternally grateful. KEEP THIS GOING PLEASE

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops
Show Your Support Send This Page Along Today

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our servicemen. There is nothing attached.... This can
be very powerful.... Just send this to all the people in your address book. Do not stop the wheel, please. Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, prayer is the very best one.

For You Samantha

I don't know you well,
I don't know who you are
But one thing's for sure...
You're as funny as hell!

For You Chuck

vrrrrm!
I say as I inch closer to the front
Vrrrrrrrm!
I say right behind you
VRRRRRRRM!
I scream into your ear
You're my friend
My city bus driver
You keep me safe
As with all your promises
VRRRRRM!
I say one last time
Vrrrm
A whisper as I go down the steps
v
r
r
r
m
you hear the distance echo
Then you drive off
only to return tomorrow
with your happy grin
and a good sense of humor

For You Lisa

Your day is filled with pain
Your life has many bumps
You've lived a life so hard,
I wish to set you free
You don't ask for anything
You don't complain
You keep your head high
And smile back upon world so cruel
You're my hero
So brave and fierce
You're my hero
So friendly and modest
Stay the way you are
Show the face you do
Smile upon the world
For one day you'll be free

For You Storm

You avoid me,
You come back,
You don't answer me
You're the first to say hey
You confuse me
With this game you're playing
But I love you all the same
I look for you
I smile and wave
I keep up a flow of talk
That is met with stony silence
I'll never stop trying
To win your heart back

For You Terri

You let me know
everyday
You let me know
how much you care
You tell me
everyday
That you'll be there
for me
You mean more to me
then you'll ever know
your support puts a smile on my sad face
I will remember
I promise I will
I will remember
How much you care

For You Orion

You make me laugh
When I'm down
You're there for me
When I'm lonely
You're here for me
When I'm sad
You're the clown
When I need one
You're the pillow
When I'm crying
You're the one
Who keeps me going
You get me up
each morning
You make it easier
to hitch on my fake smile

For You Wes

I've never seen you smile
I've never heard you laugh
I've never seen you have fun
I've never seen you when you're not tired
I want to see you smile
I want to hear you laugh
I want to see you have fun
I want to see you when you're not tired
I miss you're one phone call
that lasted for an hour
yet seemed like an instant
because you laughed
That time is the only memory
that we share
that time is the only memory
but I hope there'll be lots more
I miss when we talked for hours
I miss your laugh that made my day
I miss your antics when we're having fun
I miss the sound of your voice, so full of energy
You've changed I know,
I accept it
but I wish
you wouldn't be so distant

For You Brandon (Teddy)

Thanks for always being there
you're with me through thick and thin
you're one of the few who's heard me cry
yet you never left me afterwards

Thank you for being my friend
and for being a shoulder to cry on
you're always there when I need you
thank you so much for that

You never once complained
except about your hunger,
but not once,
about anything really

I would like to give you a million thanks
but all I have time for is one
so here it is right now
a million thanks in one

A Christmas Poem

A Christmas Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

This poem was written by a Marine. The following is his request. I think it
is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.
Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed
themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.