PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

The last couple of times we’ve had dinner with our family I have been enthralled

as we sit and talk around the table…by all the names I’m called.

Since James was given to me by my parents on the day that I was born. 

like most people I’ve had many names…many hats that I have worn

In the moments our family spends together, however,

in all the conversations we have had…

Deborah calls me Jim…Damien, Trista Taylor, Aden and Ava call me PopPop…

while Bryan, Ali and Ryan call me Dad.

And I got to thinking…now that Damien and Trista are about to have a baby

(November 14th is the anticipated date)

although I don’t yet know what my great-granddaughter will call me…

I know it will be great.

Whatever name she chooses…I’ll add it to the list I’ve been compiling… 

and just like Jim and Dad and PopPop…when I hear it

you can bet that I’ll be smiling.

Which makes me think…

although our birth certificate contains the first name to befall us…:

we spend the rest of our life trying to live up to

all the different names that people call us.

With the hope the people who say our name…whatever name

will always love…and never fear it…

and we will smile…feeling that same love…every time we hear it.

So when we’re gone…when our friends and family are seated around a table…

when only memories of us remain….

a smile will cross the face of everyone…

every time they say our name.

Years ago at our cabin, when our grandchildren Damien and Taylor were young…

(Why does time so often seems so short)

the four of us with lumber from Lowes decided to build a fort.

The exact date of this undertaking…I’m so old now…I forget

I do know our two other grandchildren, Aden and Ava, weren’t in our family yet.

We built that fort one summer and what a playhouse it became…

built with our own hands…between two trees…Camp Mica was it’s name

We built it far enough away from the cabin…

where Damien and Taylor could let their imaginations fly…

but close enough, where through the woods, we could keep a watchful eye.

We even installed a zip line pulley system…making it easy for us to transport…

Nana’s home-made cookies directly to the fort.

The cabin and the fort had walkie-talkies…the plan was as simple as it was grand…

they would walkie-talkie up their order,,

and we would zip line down a basket…into their waiting hands.

Aden and Ava when they finally arrived…and were old enough to enjoy our forts design

took full advantage of the walkie-talkie and Nana’s cookies coming down the line.

But as I say time is short and our grandchildren are all grown…

the zip line was long ago taken down…and Camp Mica stands alone.

The forest has grown up around her…we can barely see her through the trees

I like to think she’s waiting patiently for another generation to appease.

She’s resting as we all are on her memories…of a time not long ago

when children climbed her ladder to play in their miniature chateau.

When they called us on their walkie-talkie…because on snacks they wanted to dine

and we gladly filled the basket and sent it down the line.

Now as I sit her looking down at that old fort…remembering the laughter and the tears

I see how just like me she has weathered a little over the years…

Yes, Camp Mica needs a little touching up…

but with a great-granddaughter on the way…it’s future is now set…

and I’ve got a little time to bring that old fort back to life…

because, it seems, she’s not done making memories yet.

Today I’m grateful to be part of a family:

Mine consists of a great grandchild-to-be., 

grandchildren, children and a wife…

and grateful knowing as part of a family

I’ll be on the giving and receiving end of love…

every moment for the rest of my life

For our last day in Paris everyone went exploring on their own…

before we took the train to London and most of us headed back home.

Damien and Trista went back to London with us…but will stay there a few more nights…

They’re going onthe Harry Potter tour and seeing some of London’s other sights. 

I have to add something that happened yesterday but we only found out today 

July 14th in Paris…is a date that in Trista and Damien’s mind will forever stick…

for this is the day…the very first day…Damien felt his daughter kick!

As he put his hand on the outside of Trista’s stomach and felt his baby girl kick

his heart swelled with pride…

of course Trista has felt her daughter kick before…all-be-it from the other side.

For Deborah, Bryan and I…at our favorite breakfast spot is how we began our day

and we thought how cool that after only 2 days in Paris…we have a favorite café.

Then Bryan went off exploring while Deborah and I walked around our neighborhood

taking in the architecture, the shops…the street vendors…the windows adorned with plants…

at one tiny shop up on a corner…Deborah purchased a pair of French Pants.

We ordered and shared a Nutella’s banana crepe..under a beautiful bleu profond sky…

then sat for hours doing just enjoying each other’s company and watching people walk by.

Then, after saying goodbye to Damien and Trista who will be taking a later train,

it was off to catch the Eurostar back to London…..tomorrow we’ll be boarding our plane.

It was here we said goodbye to Ali and Ava and Bryan…which always tugs a little at our heart

as we go from being a family together…to being a family apart.

But how wonderful to have had this time together…if even for a little while…

and to have made so many memories that will forever make us smile.

A quick thank you to Ava, yes Ava, because you have sole ownership…

for your graduation present…coming up with the inspiration for this trip…

And to Bryan for organizing this wonderful time and for giving Ooh La La Tours its name… 

together you to provided us a once in a lifetime opportunity…

after which…I say with confidence,

none of us will ever be the same

May we be blessed as parents…

when our children look at us they see…

the type of person throughout their life..

whom they would like to be.

After 22 hours in planes and a ride on the London tube

our adventure in England had begun…

We met Bryan, Ali and Ava at our hotel…then it was off to have some fun.

To fend off any jet lag…we didn’t rest…we got going quick…

stopping for some French Pastry…which, by golly, did the trick.

Next it was off to Westminster Abbey…where they coronate their kings and queens.

The service was uplifting as the choir’s voices rose up to the heavens

in one of the most beautiful churches we have ever seen.

An interesting note…when we arrived outside of Westminster Abbey

barricades were up and Bobbies were everywhere…we knew something was going on. 

It turns out London was being visited by French president Emmanuel Macron.

He was there to lay a wreath on the tomb of the unknown warrior- 

(an unidentified soldier who died in World War I)

Then, after waving to us, he was off to address Parliament…

No doubt…given the state of the world today …there is much work to be done.

After our service was completed and we walked out Westminster Abbey’s door

we witnessed some of the pomp and pageantry the British are famous for.

The central band of the royal legion was playing La Marseillaise-

The National Anthem of France…

which we heard two young Frenchmen next to us sing…

this was followed by a rousing rendition of God Save The King

I know there are troubles in the UK…just like in America

(we passed homeless people sleeping on the street)

problems that need to be addressed…

but watching the British…the people who invented pomp and circumstance

we couldn’t help but be impressed.

The evening ended at the Kings Head pub…a fitting end to today’s trip…

in a traditional English Pub…while eating fish and chips.

Sitting around the table of that pub…with our children and grandchild…now grown

I had to stop and smile…as we celebrated with our own pomp and circumstance… 

a royal family of our own.

Life is one long miraculous journey

If we’re lucky that’s the wait it is meant to me…

and today I’m grageteul for the family and friends

who are making this journey with me.

May we be blessed to understand…

whether traveling in our city, in our country or across the ocean…

traveling with family…with those we love

is the definition of  poetry in motion.

Every day we’re making memories…we’re out in the world having fun…

and every day, if I am lucky, I write a few lines about one…

But with our suitcases and passports packed…and armed with Google translator

For the next 10 days we’ll be making so many memories…

I’ll have to write abut them later.

We are celebrating Ava’s graduation

Making memories in London, England then Paris, France…

and when it comes to writing abut them…this is the first time I’ve had the chance…

When it comes to our itinerary…our son Bryan has sole authorship.

Counting Deborah, me, Bryan, Ali, Ava,

Damien, Trista and our great-granddaughter-to-be

there will be four generations of our family on this trip.

It’s a trip we’ve been looking forward to for a long time

one we know, in our hearts we’ll never forget…

Okay, there’s a good chance our great-granddaughter might not remember

because she’s riding along inside Trista…and hasn’t been born yet.

But a trip filled with family, fun and happiness (studies have fund this to be true)

when experienced by the mother-to be will be felt by her baby too.

This first poem finds us traveling on different airplanes…

We’ll be meeting Bryan, Ali and Ava in London

then Trista, Damien and our great-granddaughter in France…

And as we’re flying we’re hoping we packed enough essentials

like socks and underwear and pants.

If you don’t hear from me every day…no need to worry or be wary

blame it on London or Paris or Bryan’s itinerary.

And know we are doing our best to have fun…to play, eat, drink, sing and dance…

to help Ava make a host of memories in London

then Ava and our great-grand daughter even more memories in France.

Four generation of our family…celebrating where we are, where we’re going 

and where we came from….

on a family trip that if we’re lucky will be remembered for generations to come