Life Is Precious

LIFE IS VERY PRECIOUS! Sometimes we just take life as it comes and expect everything to stay as it always was. Of course that's not going to happen. Time moves on. Our bodies get older, and for many of us, we end up getting one thing or another. Many of the common things are just rocks on our roads that we can take care of and be done with. But also for many of us, we get a Life Threatening Disease, that is a big fight for each of them every moment of their life. Cancer of course is one that effects many people in this world. It just takes over and you have to watch it all the time. Weakness, and sickness and so much more. You go through Chemotherapy and it just shakes up your body and kills it bit by bit. Let's face it, their lives are a living hell. One thing that is really hard for them is, friends and people are afraid to get close to them. Friends who knew them before the Cancer hit or whatever they have, don't come by to see them anymore. They are the same person you knew before, only their bodies have been through hell. Do you realize what a comfort it is, to have a friend and familiar face stop in for a friendly visit. It will uplift them so much. It will ease their minds and comfort them in the moment. It will lift their hearts right up. This is what they need. Don't wait until it's too late to see them alive. See them while they are still here. And share with them your thoughts, and what is happening in your life. People you each know and have common, talk about. It's not about how long you stay to visit, just 15 minutes will be okay. Out of your life, 15 minutes to make someone feel so good that you stopped, is not asking much. In years to come, you will be glad you did at that moment. Prayers are nice, and thoughtful. But seeing them in person, and visiting them means so much more to them. I met someone a few weeks ago, he told me he brings his children to the Nursing Home and he finds out who needs visitors. He says he wants to instill the importance of visiting those that are battling to stay alive. He wants them to get use to being around the elderly and those who have come down with something that has made them weak. I think he has the right idea. Do we fear being around these people? If it is something we won't catch, why are we afraid? Are we afraid to see them so weak and lifeless? We should think of the smile on their faces when we visit, and when they see us. I know some residents of some Nursing Homes, who never get any visitors, from Family or Friends. It is sad to be in such a place, and not have anyone come to visit them. The next time you are sitting around and say, I don't have anything to do, you do. Go visit someone, and make their day so much happier. The next time you send a prayer and you live right here in the same city as they do, send that prayer, but add to it with a visit to see them. Remember, they don't have life like you do, and you have it within you to make their days better. Thank you for listening.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS in life that make life so much better. So many people pass by and miss the little things. A smile from a stranger. A butterfly passing by your face. A bird singing in a tree nearby. Blue skies and white clouds. Green grass and a leaf on a tree. A flower. And even a dandelion. Even though some call it a weed, it is so very beautiful and yellow. A beautiful Tree with it's branches held up high. I remember years ago, someone came to visit this area and said “this city is so boring, what is there to do?” There was a time when I was first out at Aronson Island and wondered, “I am bored. What do I do now.” I felt lost and alone, and not sure what to do. Until a voice inside me said “look at those flowers, look at the green grass, hear the Yellow Warbler, see the Yellow Warbler, look at the Lilacs, see the butterflies. Inside the voice said YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The digital camera was just getting started, or at least for me it was. As soon as I had my first one, all I wanted to do was capture the beauty I saw and experienced. The peace it brought me, and the feeling it gave to me. The comfort and the companionship that nature brought to me. This is why I love living by the Park, I am so close to Nature. So many birds come to Aronson Island, and it is so close to where I live. I've come to be so close to Nature, that when people come and scare something away, I get a bit upset. Of course some who know me, will stop and wait before coming by me. I thank them for their consideration. I once was outside and watched as a butterfly flew by several faces very close. They were all watching me and wondering what I was looking at. I wondered who saw the butterfly as it went right by their faces. Only one was able to tell me she saw it. The others were lost in their own worlds. How can you appreciate something, when you don't take notice. Now I'm sure if a deer, a bear, a porcupine, or a pheasant came by, they might notice it. If they didn't notice the Butterfly, they might not notice a Dragonfly either. I try to pay attention to every little thing. Even one little thing will brighten my day so very much. If you want to make your days better, notice the little things. They all add up to the bigger thing. They do for me.

The Old Carnegie Library

The Old Carnegie Library

© by Bud Lemire on April 26, 2017

The Carnegie Library, was opened in the year 1903

And holds a lot of memories, there for you and me

At 201 South 7^th Street, made of Sandstone and Red Brick

All the books on the shelves, so many we could pick

Every time we went there, the old wood floors would creak

As we would find ourselves, among the many books we seek

Picking up the book, to see if it was the one we'd choose

On an overdue book, we always paid our dues

I remember Mrs Jensen, at the old Library here

At the Old Carnegie, where my memories are so dear

Downstairs for the children, greeted with a smile

That one book we looked for, became a bigger pile

She would find so many books, we were looking for

We'd be piled up with them, when we went out the door

She would always talk to us, with her hands on every book

And add it to our pile, that was all it took

In 1995, the Carnegie Library came to an end

The Escanaba City Library was born, and all was great again

The past was long ago, yet lives in our memory

Within every era, there's always a good story

My memories of the old Carnegie Library was going

downstairs and the books Mrs Jensen would pile in

our arms and we'd leave with. She'd always find

many books for us, and of course for me, I always

read them. Those memories, live within my mind.

Everybody Has A Story

Everybody Has A Story

© by Bud Lemire on April 10, 2017

Everybody that you see, has a story that should be told

It doesn't matter if you're young, or if you are old

The story of your life, and your journey here

Your happy times, your sorrows and your fear

What you did in your life, and how you got to be

the person that we know, the person that we see

It all depends, on what you wish to share

In your life, there's many things, if you even dare

A side of you, that not everyone knows

The many choices you had, and the one you chose

A story of your Heaven, a story of your Hell

In your life, it's one that only you can tell

A story about you, that you could leave behind

Someone in the future, might be interested in what they find

Your story would fascinate others, so it should be told

Don't wait too long, your memory may not hold

Share it with the world, share it with family and friends

Otherwise it'll be forgotten, when your life ends

Everybody has a story, of their life lived here

A journey in this world, of everything that they hold dear

Everybody has a story that should be told. And think how

wonderful it would be to read about someone you know and

get the inside story of who they were and how they became

who they are as you knew them. Even if you had known them

all your life, there will be things you never knew about them.

Avril

Avril

© by Bud Lemire on April 4, 2017

The first letter from her, was May 18, 1987

On her Birthday today, I found out she's gone to Heaven

Her letters, always brought a smile to my face

Now I know, today, she's found a better place

She'd tell about Mum, and her boys

And her cats, who played with the toys

Books she was reading, was a topic we would share

Many times our letters, would take us anywhere

Her letters, were always a welcome sight

This year finds her, in a better light

Over years, memories fade, we've been out of touch

I wanted to let her know, my dear friend, I loved you so much

Her words written in a letter, that came from Liverpool

Brightened up each day, as if it were a jewel

I wanted to keep all of her letters, and read them once more

The space I had was limited, I had to throw them out the door

I hold the treasured moments, that we shared within each letter

I smile as I think of Av, and it makes me feel much better

She was a special friend, a Pen Pal and the very best

This wonderful soul who wrote me, I was surely blessed

Av, every time your letter appeared in my Mailbox, it was like

a gift. As I think about, you were the gift that wrote the letter

that was a gift for me. Each letter was packed with all the

ingredients that come from a wonderful soul. And they came

through in each letter. I even read them to my Mum, who also

loved each one. I thank you so much for crossing paths with

me, and sharing some time as a wonderful Pen Pal.

Dementia

Dementia

© by Bud Lemire on April 4, 2017

“Did I come here off the street?”

“Hey, I was wondering, is there anything to eat?”

“I don't remember how I got to this place”

“Is there some place I must be, just in case?”

The memory goes, and confusion is often there

And many other qualities, that you should be aware

In five minutes, they can forget everything they've been told

Although it starts in the thirties, it's mostly when you are old

Some remember events, from many years ago

Others will not recognize, people that they know

Some will have a hard time, finding their own room

Others won't know, what to do with a broom

They've forgotten how to do things, that they normally use to

And need help daily, in everything that they do

Assistance and guidance, repeating words you said

Help in doing the little things, like climbing into bed

You'll have to repeat to them, so that they will know

They'll repeat as well, as Dementia starts to show

You never know, what you will find

When Dementia, takes over your mind

So many people, as they get older, get

Dementia. It can cause you to forget

many things that you knew. Little things

will be big things. You'll need guidance

and assistance in doing things you normally

could do by yourself. You'll forget things very

quickly, and need it repeated. You'll repeat things

you have said just awhile earlier. Be aware of

Dementia and its signs. And have patience if it

happens to someone you love.