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Roads

When I look back and think of your past, I can't help but come up with a heartfelt smile, two journeys, now as one, that both started in The Emerald Isle. You were both brought up struggling, you came from a similar background, but it took a trip to the mainland, before it was true love that you found. You met at a dance in Wales, Mum thought Dad was rather continental, maybe something to do with his dark complexion and the fact, like me, he can be a little temperamental. And as they built their roads together, Tom was digging his while Nora worked in a shop and those roads led to London, where their single lives came to a full stop. And then they moved to Leeds, to be with Willie and Cis and that has been the secret of their marriage, best summed up as simple as this: They've been flexible, they've adapted, they've certainly moved with the times, one of the many reasons why we love them and one of the many reasons for these rhymes. Dad continued working all over the north and Mum had a couple of kids along the way and then they bought their first house in Aberdeen Walk and I guess that was a very proud day. Mum had two more boys, so now there was Michael, Brian, Philip and Jack and those roads started to lead somewhere, they were both certainly on the right track. Because Dad started his own steel fixing company, with his mates Micky Preston and Sean Kenny and that business grew and grew, the first few employees turned into many. And Siobhan was last to come along, all good things take their time, I suppose and now she lives in America with Tom, but she's still our wonderful Irish Rose. When we were kids we went to Ireland every year, they were happy times, we were safe from harm, we had so many great adventures, let loose with our cousins, down on the farm. And that sense of adventure has stayed with us and now the grandchildren are exploring the same streams, they too, have Irish blood running in their veins and I guess, there's nothing better than Irish dreams. When I was young and about knee high, I remember there being a lot of stress in the car, that was when Dad was teaching Mum to drive and I think she'd nearly driven him too far. They both have a strong faith and each and every Sunday they go to Mass and they've tried to encourage us all to follow, with varying degrees of success - alas! Another major turning point in their road, was when they bought Healds Hall, it was a tall order to take it on, but their dreams have never been small. And with determination and a lot of hard work, it is what it is today and I guess you could say that for all of us and now there's not much left to say. Apart from: They've always supported us, no matter what we wanted to do, even when it meant heartbreak, they knew we had to climb our own mountains to get a better view. They have truly been superb parents and that has shown in the likes of us five, we've all turned out reasonably stable and successful and most importantly, we've learnt how to thrive. And now we're all keen golfers and I'd like to say there's not a bogey in sight, but I've only just taken my first lesson and I won't make Tiger put up much of a fight. And although the days of Bremner and Giles have gone, Dad still takes the grandkids to watch The Mighty Leeds, in fact, they both spoil their grandchildren rotten, even the far flung distant seeds. Because the family tree has spread its branches and the kids are finding roads of their own, but they too will find their path through life, because of all the love and kindness that you've shown. And all of the roads that have led us here today, we've travelled through the laughter and the tears, here's to you, Mum and Dad, we're proud of you and here's to at least another forty years.

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2009

Allen Jesson

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