In September 1964, Joel and I stood in formation as SAE pledges.  We stood in alphabetical order, he was in the row in front of me.  Joel was 17 years old and was always enthusiastic about everything we shared.  That characteristic never changed over the decades.   Even when we would only see each other once a year, we would embrace like we were teenagers again.  Miss my old PB! Where’s Hackett?  We now know!

I know that today, like many birthdays before, you are conducting “Stars and Stripes Forever”!!  

We will Forever miss you!

46

Hangs on the walls of a heart that wishes.

The halls that tunnel that heart are quite full

One could imagine all the frames

46 hangs brighter than all the others

When rain burns the skin

And vision goes dark

Instinct grasps to survive

A drive to pull and tug upon a lonely wish

I want it all back

A wish that’s only silly

To rewind the steps and missteps

Forcing into every crack and corner the perfect vision of something else but just the same

Just like your vision so many pieces of mine has closed its eyes

In ways I could’ve only seen right now

Times and things that will forever rest in peace

With still a drive

To understand

To feel

Into hopeful validation of lost dreams

A forever hope that your heart follows into my own

Who knew how deep skin can burn when wet

How pitch dark vision can see valleys of sorrow

Yet a knew found comfort opens through these places with new hopes and dreams

Walk with with me through the wet valleys

Light my soul on fire in a way I’ve never felt

Help me feel your heart in a way that couldn’t have been

That never would have been

Visual memories that smell so sweet and look so pretty live on past the end of time

I’ll put them in my pocket

As these heart eyes close remind me that others are just beginning to open

The life blood of 46 that runs through the veins of so many

One misstep and all wouldn’t be

This may not be you or the way I want you but you have me and I have you

Still and will

Give me a taste of what it’s like as I know you’re the lucky one

And when I lay for a new day

46

Your loving grandson 

James

Poem that I wrote recently.