Embracing Pacing

Embracing Pacing
18 October 2014

While visiting my nephew
The baby wailed and bawled.
What on earth should I do
So he no longer squalled?
I picked up the wee one
And held him in my arms.
From experience in person
One way to silence his alarms
Was to walk the floor,
Pacing around and around.
Going outside thru the door
He stopped making any sound.
In a moment of reflection,
I realized he wouldn't stay
At this stage of perfection,
An expression of his naivete.
He'll be small enough to carry
For just a little while more.
This stage is just momentary
Then he won't be a baby anymore.

Dinner Guest for Breakfast

Dinner Guest for Breakfast
25 August 2013

I went for Sunday dinner at my nephew's,
Going to their friends' was confessed.
They had an invitation they couldn't refuse.
The friends' supper would be breakfast.
We would be having homemade waffles to eat
With the young family of Jacob and Nancy.
So we jumped in and drove down the street.
To their middle-class home, nothing fancy.
She was busy with the waffle maker,
I went and looked over the back acre.
After blessing the food, it was served.
The kid's plates were closely observed
To make sure they had enough in quantity
And inspected for parental seal of quality.
There was butter, peanut butter and maple syrup
To go on the waffles and eggs were scrambled up.
For the first time, in spite of reluctance,
Regardless of the prejudices I had,
I ate eggs and peanut butter all at once.
It really wasn't so awfully bad.
Perhaps it's a new way to get my protein,
A modification of my diet,
A variation on my usual routine.
Nah, I just thought I'd try it.

Winner Grinner Spinner

Last Sunday after dinner at my nephew's, I played Star Wars Monopoly with him & his 2 oldest boys. Eventually I won and got to recite this poem.

Winner Grinner Spinner
21 June 2013

I won, I won!
I'm number one!
It was hard won
But so much fun.
When all was said and done,
I'm the favorite son.
I won, I won!
I'm number one!
It was hard won
But so much fun.
When all was said and done,
I'm the favorite son.
I won, I won!
I'm number one!
It was hard won
But so much fun.
When all was said and done,
I'm the favorite son.
I won, I won!
Ad nauseam.

After all the action
I'm getting traction
From the satisfaction
Of your reaction.
From the composition
Of your disposition
It's an imposition,
I'll supposition.
In addition
I have a premonition
You'll commission
My verbal rendition
As future ammunition.

Innocent Present

Innocent Present

8 January 2012

A favorite memory to recall

Involves my nephew's youngest son.

After dinner when he was small

He toddles up and gets my attention.

Then on my lap snuggled in,

A wee giggle escapes

His open-mouthed grin

As he feeds me grapes.

Such a precious boy

Sharing on his part,

And his smile of joy

Is forever in my heart.

Baby’s ABC’s

Inspired by my nephew's baby, Monson.

Baby’s ABC’s

28 October 2011

A is for applesauce that’s easy to eat.

B is for beans which for Monson’s a treat.

C is for car which he’ll drive before he’s thirty.

D is for diaper that gets changed when it’s dirty.

E is for ear to hear everything.

F is for fork to give food a fling.

G is for grandmas of which he has two

H is for house with a roof and windows, too.

I is for ice that comes out of the fridge.

J is for joke to release tension a smidge.

K is for key to unlock the house’s front door.

L is for love that can’t be bought at the store.

M is for Mommy, center of and my life’s anchor.

N is for nurse, her job, for which we thank her.

O is for oven where she does her baking.

P is for potato fries that she likes making.

Q is for quilts to snuggle under.

R is for roses that fill us with wonder.

S is for shoes, easiest to lose of all clothes.

T is for toes that Monson uses to pick his nose.

U is for umbrella to keep dry in the rain.

V is for video to watch and entertain.

W is for work where Daddy has spoken.

X is for x-rays when bones are broken.

Y is for yogurt which when frozen, you lick.

Z is for zipper to change clothes real quick.

Clan Plan

Clan Plan

by Al Smith

18 April 2010

Two phone calls: one of information

And a second one of expectation,

Clarification, explanation and examination

All to avoid the exasperation

Of cross-communication.

Whether or not we’ll be able

To match each other’s timetable,

Exploring each possibility

To the point of incontrovertibility

Coming up with a solution

And making a resolution

Of whether to go or stay

And what will work each day.

With my nephew’s move everything changed

Now my whole life’s become rearranged.

I used to always go there

Now everybody’s coming here.

Instead of making reservations

I don’t have to change locations.

It seems like in a blink

I’m having to rethink

And this paradigm shift

Leaves me a bit miffed.

In spite of feeling somewhat bemuddled

I want to make plans that won’t be scuttled.