In years past, I travelled for work.
At that time in life, it was a small chore,
To leave home Monday morning and go afore.
Sometime by plane, but mostly by car.
Being the newest to the job, I got the oldest car.
It ran OK but leaked oil and smoked a bit.
When at a light, it was a sobering scene.
The smoke all around, the color of cream.
Smells from the engine would run amok.
You could smell me coming for almost a block.
I talked to my boss on many a day.
He told me to park on the lawn and I would
Not have any crab grass. A joker he was.
Complaining a little, was all I could do.
Then I received news of a car that was new.
Drove to Seattle, as quick as I could,
And a new Chevy Bel Air, I quite understood.
Those were the days of good cheer
And good friends. Of small happenings
As the love did long endear.

Some whiskers that were on my chin,
have rebelled and are off again.
Unsure the way they left, or how,
but they're back; up in my brow.
Growing North, South, East and West.
I wish they would grow, with the rest.
There never was a brow that was dark
so I assume this growth but a lark.

In the US Navy and been at sea.
Doing Island Surveillance,
My mates and me.
Pulling into the Harbor
Our anchor drops
Into the waters of this beautiful bay,
At the South Pacific Island of Ponape.
We go ashore to walk about
And observe this Island life.
A native male, in a loin cloth.
One picture of me with ancient
Island wealth; Stone money called Fey.
The stone is not of this Island
And was carried in a dugout from
Where; not known.
Our mission was to check the population,
Pass out medicine and rations.
A great lesson of history in kind
Of reversing back to another time.

This life I knew,.
The wife I had,
Is now askew,
Has gone bad.

Dementia isn't good
And will never be,
Wish that I could,
Provide help to thee.

Trying hard to please
Caring, about every day,
Down on my knees
To think and pray.

It doesn't matter
Doing it this way,
For all the idle chatter,
Here I will stay.

To be with you
And for my care,
Please let me do,
So you are aware.