A Thanksgiving Paraphrase 2017

1 In the beginning God created the Linda and the Steve.

2 And the heart of Steve was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of his heart.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of Steve’s loneliness.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was Linda.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Love, and the darkness he called all else but Linda. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, Let there be a wedding in the midst of the years, and let it divide the past from the future.

7 And God made the marriage, and divided the years which were before the wedding from the years which were after the wedding: and it was so.

8 And God called the marriage Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said let the years under the Heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Home; and the gathering together of the years He called Happiness, and God saw that it was good.

11 And God said let the Happiness bring forth Children, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the Happiness brought forth Liza, and joy, yielding seed after his kind, and the Happiness yet again brought forth Stephanie, yielding much love, whose seed was in itself, after its kind: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the Family to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the Family to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; One He named Till – Billy and Faye, and one He named Ortego – Lloyd and Myra. 

17 And God set them in the firmament of the Family to give light upon them.

18 And to teach wisdom and give blessing over them day and night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving inner beauty that hath life, and joy that may fly above the children, Liza and Stephanie, in the open firmament of Heaven.

21 And God created great strength of character in Liza and Stephanie, and every living creature that moveth were blessed by them.  Linda and Steve rejoiced abundantly, after their kind, and every blessing of God followed them after His kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let praise multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, let the earth bring forth the living creature after His kind, young men, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after His kind: and it was so.

25 And from the young men God chose the Johnathan that He had made after his kind – Bush: John and Karen, and God chose the Jason after his kind – Roussell: Joe and Jeannette, giving unto them every blessing of honor, and strength, and fear of the Lord, finding favor with God, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make new Families in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over their own children, and over their own joy and blessings of life, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created Families Bush and Roussell in his own image, in the image of God created he them; Bush and Roussell created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the blessings of children, and joys of life, and over every living thing that moveth upon the Family.

29 And God said to the Families Bush and Roussell, behold, I have given you every joy of life, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every blessing, which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for Grandchildren!

30 And to every child of Bush, and to every child of Roussell, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every blessing of joy and life to Audrey, and Jack, and Riley, and Teddy so that they may bring forth abundantly the inner beauty that hath life, and strength of character and praise to God, and joy that may fly above the children in the open firmament of the marriages which God has called Heaven: and it was so.

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, to Linda and Steve He said, “Behold, is it not very good?”  And they replied on bended knee and heart and with voices raised in Thanksgiving and Praise that it was indeed so.  And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

32 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

33 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  And on the seventh day and all the days of his life, Steve and Linda will praise and thank the Lord God for the fullness of all His blessings.  Amen.

You Said "Yes"!!

For 45 years my heart has dared to ask these things.  I had to know or be lost from not knowing:

  

What will you say to a boy of sixteen with sweaty palms and shaky fingers who spun the rotary dial to ask for a date?

  

What will happen when without saying a word – one look, one small lean in – one giant leap of daring and hope -  a first kiss?

  

High school sweethearts, do we dare be apart?

Had enough college dates?

Aren’t we even better together?

Can there be any other future than with each other?

Will you marry me?

Will I ever realize my dream for us?

 Will you forgive my boyish start as a husband?

Will you encourage me at every turn?

Will you love and lead us into lifelong friendships?

Will you inspire me to love our marriage more than anything?

Will you give us the unspeakable joy and gift of two incomparable daughters?

Will you be the most loving Mother I have ever known?

Will you rewrite the book on being a marvelous Gran?

Will you make each of our parents proud of our lives? 

Will you make our home the place my heart feels happiest?

Will you laugh at most of my jokes?

Will you tell me which jokes not to tell?

Will you pray for me?  Our girls?  Us?  Our grandchildren?

Will you make my heart sing every day?

Will you be my girlfriend?

Will you always “Let It Be Me”?

Miracle of miracles, you have said “Yes” to all these things and so much more.  Because of that, my life comes to life every day.

I love you far beyond words, my precious Linda.  Happy 40th Anniversary.     

More Than Lawnmowers

Frank Burns was on to something.  In a moment of patriotism, the hapless, wound-to-tight, brunt of MASH camp pranks, announced that he had figured out the meaning of the whole war – lawnmowers.  He explained to his smirking buddies that he realized that they were fighting the Korean war for the “American Dream” – the God given right to pursue one’s own dreams.  In his sweet, albeit elitist, view, every American wanted and rightly should fight for the freedom to have his own home complete with a two car garage, two great kids, and his very own lawnmower.  The memory of the look and smell of freshly cut grass was his anchor for making sense of the war. 

I agree.  There is something wonderful and deeply satisfying about mowing your own lawn, but I think there’s more to it than simple pride in ownership or competition with the neighbors.  I believe the joy rises from a place that transcends routine maintenance.  It is not only the reason we take care of our lawns and homes, but it is also why we work hard at our jobs.  It is what drives us to put our own preferences or wishes aside in favor of this one thing.  We sacrifice for it.  We devote most of our time and energy for it.  It is the reason that the “special moments” are so special and a simple, everyday event can suddenly become unforgettable.   It’s why I get those - lump in my throat, chills down my spine – frissons, usually without warning.  Thunderstruck.   Over what, you ask?   Consider these examples in no particular order, chosen from oh, about a million or so:

     A single yellow rose extended with a smile, a tear, and “You’re going to be a Daddy!”

    

     A onesie pulled from a faux birthday bag with, “Mama and Daddy, we’re having a girl -      

      Audrey Faye!”

     “The LSU School of Dentistry is pleased to inform you of your acceptance into our …”

     “Yes, I’d love to go to a sweetheart banquet with you.”

     “Daddy’s taking us to Diiisney Wo-orld, Diiisney Wo-orld, Diiisney Wo-orld…” – once as little girls and then again at 20 something.

     Tiger Stadium – ‘nuff said.

     Tiger Band – ‘nuff said.

     Our first baby’s first breath.

     “Dr. Steve, can I talk to you about marrying…?” – twice!

     King cake baby on a cupcake? – “Because there’s a real baby coming!”

     “Thank you, Daddy.” –spoken with wedding-gown eyes – twice!

     

     My grandson’s new-born head smells like cookies too.

     

     “Daddy, I want Jesus in my heart.”  - twice!

     

     "Stephen, you may now kiss your bride." - once!

     Back seat duets 

     Son-in-law golf

     

I think you've got it - Love.  Family Love.  God’s Love.  Nothing else comes close.  All the trappings of this world are as tasteless and as much fun as chewing on cardboard without it.  But with the love of family, everything has meaning, everything matters.  Now that both our girls have a child, a whole new perspective on all this has opened up for us, and them.  So, thank you, Jack.  Thank you, Audrey.  Thank you, Lord.  I’m beginning to understand why the “old” folks put so much stock in getting the family together.  I find myself now thinking more and more of the next opportunity we'll have to all be together.  I can’t wait for the next time when I’ll be able to hold in my hands, and smell heads, and read to, and tickle, and feed, and whisper secrets to – all of our kids – grand, in-law, and actual.  Let’s do it soon, OK?  I’ll have the grass mowed when you get here.       

For Jimmy

Something’s missing.  Did I dream it all? 

Like the itch that disappears when you reach to scratch

Or, the fleeting thought, never to return.

           

He was my friend.  Still is, will always be.

He knew me like few ever have, and I him.

He was really here before, I know,

But now, there’s just the memory…

Of his broad grin and silent laugh through gritted teeth,

Squinted eyes that gleamed with innocent mischief.

The hot breeze off the blazing Cozumel beach

Carries that crystallized memory to me now -

An open air afternoon of cigars and drinks, 

Bar stools under a thatched roof.

There was talk of love for our wives, as men will do...

Only in the rarest moments of unfailing, unabashed friendship.

We marveled at how our children called the other “Uncle” -

A couple of regular guys blessed beyond belief.

Our families linked in a bond that goes beyond the slow grind, yet unfair fleeting, of time. 

He was my friend.  Still is, will always be.

He knew me like few ever have, and I him.

Whether –

The drummer in a smoky Ocean Springs dive,

The dashing tuxedo clad - bride on his arm -

 anniversary  cruise - date, 

The shirtless Dad in his recliner,

The “Blueberry Hill” crooner,

The Ole Miss diehard,

The New Orleans weekend beguiler,

The prayerful churchman…

         

Always the same.

           

He was my friend.  Still is, will always be.

He knew me like few ever have, and I him.

Those times really happened, right?

How can they be just as real as this grave marker at my feet?

Why can’t I remember carrying his casket that day?

How has fifteen years gone by since that day?

Twenty-four years’ bonding – ended, but not undone.

This memory umbrella protects my heart just now

As I brush the wet grass from his name.

Linda holds the LSU umbrella to protect us from the rain.

Which is the reality? 

The cold grey sky above and bronze lettering below?

Or these beautiful memories of my best friend?

The love in Linda’s misty eyes holds me steady

And tells me the truth – always has:

           

He was my friend.  Still is, will always be.

He knew me like few ever have, and I him.