MEMORIES

“Daylight
See the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away
Like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day . . . “

So every morning I get up, I look in my closets and see years ago. It seems that I still have a lot of ties, maybe more than I need to have, but like friends, I can’t bare to part with them.

“Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
in the lamplight
the withered leaves collect at my feet
and the wind begins to moan”

You would think: “What do I need all these ties for now?” You could, but then you would think: “Where are you going that you need all those ties now?” Again you would be right to think that, after all, I am retired.

“Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again”

Funny thing is the withered leaves that collect at my feet are the very memories I have, places I have gone to, people I have met, and even meals I ate.

“Every streetlamp
seems to beat a fatalistic warning
someone mutters
and the streetlamp gutters
and soon it will be morning”

I can look at each and every tie I own, and a vignette will pop up of a time and place or person that made some kind of statement. I could chronicle my life, my career and say without reservation, this is how it happened.

“Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn’t give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin”

But only last year I purchased a new tie, for the high school reunion, and it is a stark reminder of a wonderful day! Old friends found, good times and another memory. I hope to be able to purchase more ties in the future, you see I don’t plan to really retire from life, I am starting up a business, kind of looking for a new day.

“Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning”

I still have my enthusiasm for something new. I need people who embrace challenges and are willing to take anything on, which is my nature, even on the board I serve on. I am on so many committees that I am losing track of the different meetings!

“Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is”

I can bask in some great memories, and remember the bad ones, but if you look closely at my life, you see there is constant challenge and adventure, I am a very happy man, I can still plan tomorrow!

“Look
A new day has begun”