Nagelkirk's Fruit Market

Nagelkirk's Fruit Market

© by Bud Lemire on May 29, 2017

I remember as a kid, a place where we'd stop

After stopping at Holiday, for our pop

We'd stop at Nagelkirk's Fruit Market, for my favorite fruit

After picking out the best one, we would scoot

We'd head over to Pioneer Trail Park, for our picnic there

This is a memory, that I wanted to share

There were many fruits to choose from

There was a favorite fruit for everyone

Strawberries from the Copper Country, were found

Apples for Ninety Nine cents a pound

Nectarines and peaches too

Some berries that were juicy and blue

Cantaloupes that were as sweet as could be

These fruits wander around in my memory

That little fruit market on North Lincoln Road

Is what inspired me to write this ode

Although watermelon was the only thing on my mind

There were many other fruits you would find

Nagelkirk's is a great place, in Escanaba's history

It will always be a fruity place, in my memory

Nagelkirk's Fruit Market has been popping up in my

memory lately. I figured I'd jump at the chance to

write a poem about it. At the same time, it would

be interesting to hear what your memories of it

would be. Which reminds me, next time I am at

the store, I need to pick up a watermelon.

Through The Eyes Of A Senior Companion

Through The Eyes Of A Senior Companion

© by Bud Lemire on May 23, 2017

Through the eyes of the Senior Companion, I've seen it all

The reason for each, and why they answered the call

What makes each of them special, and how do I know

I watch what is said, and I watch what they show

I imagined myself, I put myself in their shoes

I watched each of them, with the time that they use

Each one is special, in their own way

With their own unique style, they use every day

Nobody does it, quite the same

In fact, each have their own favorite game

Each have, their own style

Some will laugh, some will smile

Helping is their job, in their own way

Their personality with each, is what makes their day

Nobody can be like another, unique is to be us

But these are some people, that you can trust

Deep inside, you will come to know

These volunteers, with a special soul

Every day, they give their all

They throw the dice, they catch the ball

When you wonder, when the day will be done

They bring along, their own style of fun

I applaud the Senior Companions, every day

I celebrate everything about them, in every way

Just this year I became a Senior Companion, and I've

met so many wonderful Senior Companions that I work

with. We aren't working alone, we work as a team to

make those who struggle, make it through their days,

brighter with cheerfulness and fun. Each Senior

Companion I work with, has their own style of helping.

And their own method, and personality, that they bring

to the program. I'm proud to be a Senior Companion,

and work along some really wonderful people.

You're To Blame

You're To Blame

© by Bud Lemire on May 14, 2017

You're to blame, for this smile on my face

You're to blame, for this tingling all over the place

Oh yeah, you're to blame

Because of you, I haven't been the same

You're the force, behind everything I do

Your energy, is what always helps me through

Oh yes, you're to blame

Because, you are my Twin Flame

We are held together, so very tight

In the early morning, and through the night

The blame I give to you, is what I say

Because you're on my mind, all through the day

You're to blame, every time I read

For the love I feel, and the love I need

You're to blame, for making it so hard

It's because you hold, the Lovers Tarot card

You're to blame, for the chances that I take

You're to blame, that I am awake

You're to blame, for the glow that is in my eyes

Because your beauty, is beautiful like the sunrise

Vicki, you're to blame for all the happiness I have

in my life. You're to blame for all the love you've

shared with me. The best love anyone could have.

You're to blame for making reading even better

than it was before, because you are on each

journey through the pages with me. You're to

blame for jumping in my lap and making every day,

every moment so much better. You're to blame,

because I love you so very much.

Show Me The Lyrics

Show Me The Lyrics

© by Bud Lemire on May 14, 2017

Show me the lyrics, not the song

I love the music, don't get me wrong

I can't listen to the song, because I can't hear

Yet, there are many things that I endear

If the lyrics touch me, I know it's a great song

I'm still wondering, where I belong

I love this life, that I am living

And this chance, that I've been given

I love my life, but this fight can be hard

In my hand, I'm holding the Death Card
My love is waiting for me, on the Other Side

Through the hard times, he's been my guide

Close Captioned, is the way I watch TV

Reading the words, in front of me

I've learned to read lips, when you're facing my way

It took me some studying, but it helps me every day

I long so much, to hear the music once more

To hear the songs, that I've loved before

They'll play in my head

When the lyrics are read

Some are forgotten, when they are too new

Yet the older ones, always come through

Let me see the lyrics, to that song

I love music, don't get me wrong

Can't even hear, the knock on my door

I wish I could hear, like I did before

It's not the same when your hearing goes.

Music is out of your life. You tend to listen

to the music that has been recorded in your

memory. But after awhile, that starts to fade.

Sometimes seeing the lyrics will refresh how it

sounds.

I Came To See Me

I Came To See Me

© by Bud Lemire on May 7, 2017

Once again I find, like I did before

Traveling back in time, opening that door

I find myself in Escanaba, on the North side of town

To help my younger self understand, and I won't let me down

I find him reading a Star Trek book, in his bedroom

He looks at my face in the door window, like it was his doom

Coming to the door, to see who it could be

He doesn't realize, I am the future He

I see the CB radio, on the table near his bed

And saw the title of the book, that he just read

I told him I had a lot to say, and could I have a seat

He pointed to the chair, and it was good to be off my feet

I asked if he believed in Time Travel, to any time or place

He was looking down, and then a smile came to his face

“Yes,” he said quite slowly, “I believe it could be done”

I knew this was just the start, of what had just begun

I asked him, “Do I look familiar, at all to you?”

He smiled and said “Sort of like Grandpa, yes, you do”

I smiled and said “You may not believe me, but it's true”

“I come from the year 2017, I'm the future you”

He blinked, and I could tell he was thinking

He probably thought I had done too much drinking

I didn't tell him too much, to change his future in any way

Yet I knew he was looking, at my hair of gray

I'm surprised he even talked to me, because I use to be so shy

I told him in the future, that he wouldn't be, and he would pass it by

I told him not to worry about his failures, all would be okay

People would come to love him, when changes came his way

I told him, all he had to do, was just to Be

Life would mold him, into the perfect Me

He came up to me and hugged me, and I use to be so shy

He thanked me for the visit, as we each said goodbye

As I Time Traveled back to the future, I thought about the younger Me

And of all his changes to come, that were yet to be

I often think back to all the changes I've been through. Some

would say I was a totally different person back then. I always

wondered how it would be if we could Travel back in time to

meet ourselves, what would we say. I believe we all go

through many changes in life that mold us into who we

become.

The Popcorn Stand

The Popcorn Stand

© by Bud Lemire on May 2, 2017

When I was a kid, I loved to stop at the Popcorn Stand

I'd munch on popcorn, as I listened to the Escanaba City Band

It would be there, on Sidewalk Day or in the Park

And on Venetian Night, it was lit up in the dark

It was on the corner, of North 9^th and Ludington Street

Next to Harry & Mac's, you'd get a haircut after taking a seat

It seemed that at every event, that's where it would be

And at that same event, that's where you'd find me

A red and white box, filled with popcorn to eat

With a little butter, now that can't be beat

Give me a root beer, to wash it all down

Nibble on popcorn, to prevent a frown

I was a happy kid, when I stopped at the Popcorn Stand

I thought life was great, I knew it was grand

Back in the sixties, the Popcorn Stand was there

And of course back then, I had darker hair

Even though I can cook popcorn, at home any time

The Popcorn Wagon, still crosses my mind

Every time I think, that life is so grand

I smile and think, of that Popcorn Stand

It was located there on North 9^th and Ludington, next to

Harry & Mac's Barber shop and Canterbury Book store.

I would stop there often for popcorn, and enjoyed it so

very much. Then it would be there on Sidewalk day. And

when the Escanaba City Band played down at the Bandshell,

it would be there too. On Venetian Night, it would be there too.

The Popcorn Wagon meant a lot to a kid like me. In my memories

I am standing there as a kid, waiting for my box of popcorn.