What is your name : Kate Warfield

Who do you want the poem written for: My parents, Bob and Marie and my fiance's dad, Tom

Why do you want the poem written: Doug and I are getting married November 25. I would like my nephew, Robert, to read this poem during the ceremony as a tribute to my mom and dad and Doug's dad. All of whom have passed. Robert is 16 and very mature for his age, so I have no concerns about his ability to read this poem. Just a little back ground....Doug and I have been together for four years. We met about six months after my mom passed. My dad passed away one year later. Doug's dad had passed away about two years before I met him. As we got to know each other, and I and my family were travelling through this period of grief, we both came to understand what a tremendous influence our parents were in our lives. How happy they would be for us. And what fun, joyous people they were to be around.

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): I would like this to be a happy poem.

Please choose which package you would prefer : Unique

Would you like a copy of the handwritten drafts : Yes

What are the key messages you would like to send: That Bob, Marie and Tom are with us now. That we miss their physical presence, but memories always make us laugh and smile. That we wouldn't be the people we are today without them. That this poem is our way of honoring them.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: My dad had a signature dance. We called it "The Bob" because the look never varied, regardless of the song. The arms were held in the same position, the look on the face was always the same. His face always seemed to be saying, "look at me, aren't I styling!"When my mom and dad moved back to Jackson, my mom found a house on the lake. My dad was opposed, saying that once you had the house, then you had to do all those other "lake" things. Well, they bought the house on the lake and then the boat. Later on, you would overhear Dad claiming that buying the house was the "smartest thing he ever did". His three hour cruises on the pontoon boat were family staples. My dad was a character. He loved to stir the pot and get conversation going.
My mom was always involved in something, always willing to help others out. When we were younger, she started a "Meals-on-Wheels" program in our town. This was on top of working as a secretary and raising seven kids. I don't know where she got her energy. But, she was very efficient. She got to the point where leftovers were separated into individual meal portions and frozen. She embraced paper plates and plastic silver ware early on. But, she never quite got out of the habit of bulk buying. As we got older, we could still plan on visiting and opening the cupboard to find enough shampoo to last six months. One of the funnier things about Mom was her love of gadgets. She was always ordering new gizmos. One of the funnier ones was the flobe. It involved hooking some contraption to the vacuum cleaner to cut your hair. I think she actually used it a couple times. She also loved the National Enquirer magazine. Doug's dad loved to hunt and fish. And taught Doug to do the same. He also loved to cook and try new things. He would keep files of recipes to try. When he cooked it was a crazy process. He'd be flying from one spot to another. And the mess would be following him the whole time. Doug seems to have also picked up this trait! He was also a salesman. Always looking for the deal to be made.

Do you have any other comments or thoughts : As different as the three of them were, the things that are the same ring loud. They raised their kids to be individuals. They loved being with family and friends. And, they loved having fun. Doug and I are the last in our immediate families to get married. First time for both of us. Our family members are: Doug's mom-Ruby, Brother & wife-Ted & Julie & their son Thomas. My family is: Sisters/Husbands/Kids: Mary & Roger; Carol & Larry; Amanda, Andy, with Meghan & Patrick; Brothers/Wives/Kids: Mark, Debbie and Robert; Tom, Sam, with Ellen and Jack.

A Happening Place

Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please? Because every now and then in life, there?s opportunity you should seize. And that moment is upon us, after all, this is Doug and Kate?s wedding day, and I?ve got some thoughts on my mind, yes, I do have some heartfelt words to say: You see, I?d like to thank you all for being here, but there?s a few people not there in the pews, and I?d like to say a few words, dedicated to them, so these lines I?d better carefully choose. As one mom and two dads are not here today, but I bet we can all remember the warmth of their smile, and just a moment, I thought it got a little crowded, because they were there, as Kate walked up that aisle. Because truly, they maybe gone, but they?re not forgotten, and they live on, inside of every one of us all, and that?s why we should enjoy every day for what it brings, because when it comes, you can?t ignore God?s call. Bob, Marie and Tom were such joyous people, and God picked them, it wasn?t just by chance, because He needed someone to liven up the party, and yes, He too had heard about the Bob, Bob?s dance. The arms were always held in the same position, the look on the face was always the same, it always used to be saying ?look at me aren?t I styling?, this was pure hip hop, by any other name. Bob and Marie bought a house by the lake, and Bob was opposed, didn?t want to do those lake things, but later on, it was the ?smartest thing he ever did?, it?s quite amazing the wisdom that time always brings. Actually, Bob will always be known as a character, he?d get the connection going by stirring the pot, but in Marie, he know exactly what he had, and I know you?ll agree, he had a wondrous lot. Because Marie was always involved in something, it didn?t matter, she was always helping out, she started a ?Meals-on-wheels? program on her own, she taught many of us what true love is all about. Because this was on top of being a secretary and raising 7 kids, I don?t know where she got her energy, her light, but she embraced paper plates and plastic silverware early on, and leftovers were separated and frozen every night. She never quite got out of bulk buying, we?d open the cupboard and the shampoo could last for years, and Marie also had a love of gadgets, new gizmos, although the Flobe ended up with some tragic tears. Now tom used to love to hunt and fish, and he taught Doug those mighty fine arts, he also loved to cook and try new things, and Doug?s inherited his love of messy tarts. Tom was also a natural born salesman, and he was always looking for a deal to be made, and as different as the three of them were, we?d like to thank them for the roles they?ve played. Because the things that are the same about them ring loud, they raised their kids to be individuals, each their own, they loved being with family and friends, loved having fun, and that?s an important lesson that they?ve shown. So please wipe away any of those tears, and replace them with a big smile upon your face, because I know they all liked to party, and I?ve heard, that now, heaven?s quite a happening place.

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2008

Allen Jesson

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