Henry/Deerlick




		WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" November 7, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 43 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com -------------------------------------------------------- By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of "WRITE 2 THE HEART" You are receiving this FREE newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. ----------------------------------------------------- Write 2 the Heart is continuing to give away mouse pads to writers whose submissions are published. Only one per writer. You will qualify even if you had something published in the past. ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ Today we have submissions by our writers from Georgia, Rose Wade-Schambach and Maggie Scott. Both remember people they love. ------------------------------------------------------- Missing Henry By: Rose Wade Schambach ------------------------------------------------------- Not a day goes by that I don't miss Henry, although I am especially reminded of how much I miss him when the beginning of winter sets in. Maybe that's because the day we laid Henry to rest was a raw winter day in November. The night that Henry slipped away from us was the exact evening that Indian summer was forced away by the first snowfall. It seemed that even the weather mourned his leaving. The medical staff at the VA Hospital where Henry spent his last few days on earth said that he tried desperately to hang on to life. So much so that they had to restrain and keep him sedated just so he would stay in bed. Henry wasn't ready to leave this world at seventy-four and neither was I ready to give him up. Henry was my Dad and I loved him. We had had our differences over the years as fathers and daughters often do. There were those turbulent teen years when we constantly butted our heads over all the basic and usual issues: the guys I dated, my curfew, and whether or not church attendance should be optional. The first two issues were optional arguments, but on the issue of church attendance, Henry never budged. No matter how late I may have stayed out on Saturday night, I was still expected to be in church on Sunday morning. I don't think Henry ever missed a church service in his entire life, unless one of those few days he spent in the VA Hospital fell on a Sunday. Henry never missed a home football game in our town either especially in those years when I was a cheerleader. I could always count on Henry to be up in the bleachers no matter how hard he had worked that day or how increment the weather. Henry never complained. I often wondered why Henry worked so hard when he could have taken things easy. He worked every summer in the blistering sun to raise a garden, and then he eventually ended up giving away the proceeds of his labor to neighbors and friends. Long after he retired he kept giving back to the community by being a crossing guard at the elementary school that I had attended near the home where I grew up. The children all loved Henry and sent their crayoned condolences after the funeral. Henry understood that families stuck by each other no matter what. He never agreed with my choice of mates, but never once voiced his disappointment to me. Maybe he should have advised me not to have so many children when we were already perpetually strapped with financial burdens, but he kept his opinions to himself. I'm not sure I could do the same if one of my daughters were in the same position. Instead, Henry would reach in his pocket and press some cash into my palm whenever he would say good-bye and whisper, "buy yourself something pretty, Baby." I always did. There was a side of Henry that I didn't learn about until his passing. I wish I could have seen it sooner. By the time I was born, Henry was already old and defeated at the ripe age of thirty-five. Maybe it was largely due to the fact that he was raised during the Great Depression and then went off to fight in World War II when he was just a child himself. What little life he brought back from the war he ended up giving to the steel mills. All in all life was sucked out of him and with it went his sense of humor. It was at the funeral home that I caught a glimpse of the Henry I never knew. As I stood by the casket overtaken by the smell of chrysanthemums, the people that had known Henry long before he became my Dad filed by to pay their last respects. Bit by bit I heard stories of my Dad in his growing up years. They introduced me to the Henry before the war and steel mills who loved to laugh and play pranks and act out for his friends and family. A wave of emotion swept over me as I realized that I had misjudged him in so many ways. I had always suspected as much during those brief moments over the years when a twinkle in his eye would surface briefly and then cloud over. Now I can hear traces of his laugh echoing through his grandchildren in a house filled with love. Thanks Henry. Rose Wade-Schambach schwadeton @ yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------- Rose has had many stories published in Write 2 the Heart as well as other on line ezines. She teaches creative writing in Georgia. --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Deerlick Park Swing By: Maggie Scott --------------------------------------------------------- I know, just a little How Noah felt on his ark A comforting feeling At a place called Deerlick Park It is located in a small town By the name of Douglasville There, we found pleasure High, upon a hill Placed there, among the tall green trees Is a wonderful strong swing Where the two of us sat, enjoying a summer breeze We sang old songs With our voices held high Beneath the beauty Of a clear blue sky We did much talking So much, did we have to say As we sat in our special swing Watching, children at play We were above a lake Where a few fishermen came Placed close to the road were fields Where people played baseball games Sometimes, we stopped by Baskin Robbins For a cool tasty treat Sitting in our swing We would laugh and eat This is a place I never will forget The enjoyment of the movement Of the swing, where we sat Although, we were of good size There was plenty of room for us two As we sat and enjoyed the swing Just meant for me and you. © 03 August 2001 Maggie Scott Dedicated to my very best friend- Linda Jones -------------------------------------------------------- Linda and I spent some enjoyable moments in our favorite park. I wrote this poem in dedication to those good times with her. -------------------------------------------------------- FROM OUR READERS ------------------------------------------------------ Speaking as a parent who has always lived a long ways away from our parents we have always stood back and let the kids have the first go at the grandparents. Sometimes they remembered us after about 1/2 hour. We understood. Yours will too. Bev **** Thanks for the reminder of Who is in control in these uncertain times! Sometimes we do need to be reminded to keep our mind on Him. Jill -------------------------------------------------------- <>< Prayer Request For Those In Service To Our Country ><> As you read over this list of names, take the time to pray for each one and their families. If you have a prayer request to add hit reply and send me their name and I will be happy to add it to our list. Trey, Chris Speir, Tim Speir, Emmett Summers, Jessie, Ken and Eloise asks for prayer for her family members and extended family in the Armed Forces. --------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner Oops! I missed it. I just checked over the Presidential Prayer Team prayer list thinking I was adding my prayers to those covering this nation. Prayer for President Bush, yep. Prayer for his Cabinet, yep. Prayer for advisors, yep. Prayer for the military? I have been praying for the ones we have listed here, but I have failed big time in keeping all the military in prayer. Excuse me while I go find a pen and write that at the top of my prayer list! It was so obvious, how did I miss it? My Alaskan family just called and said they made it home at 1 am and went to the first house in their path. They will be here shortly. I am so excited. God Bless, Cheryl --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- © 2001 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. ------------------------------------------------------------ All subscriptions sent to your email free of charge.