Poems from the past by Lynne

In sorting through my Christmas basket of letters and photos (sorting and decluttering goes along with age) I found some great letters from my cousin in Canada, and even a few from my mother who died in 2000. Sadly, there were also Christmas letters from "Squeeky" and Nelson (Tom) (obituaries are on the blog). As a bonus,  I found three nice seasonal poems by Lynne. I've been nagging her for years to compile them, but who listens to me?  I really like the New Year poem message--remarkable from one who has faced down cancer three times.
"There is time out there to be lived,
But not one minute must we hoard."

Christmas 1993
Home for Christmas

I'm going home for Christmas
(who says one can't go home again!)
And it always recalls to mind,
The dear folks who will be waiting there
With smiles to sweet and kind.

I am going home for Christmas,
at the thought my heart sings;
I can scarcely wait for that morning
For the joy that it brings.

It's a small house in a village
where smoke curls in the air,
The log fire where the flames leap high,
A cozy, winged-back chair.
Pure contentment, yes it's there.

The shadows of the evening
fall across the snow,
and bathe the earth in pale pink glow,
While winter's sun burns low.

The neighborhood church is beckoning
With iviting candle light, and music,
traditional and old is telling of a reckoning
so long ago foretold.

Home reflects itself within my heart,
I'm at once happy and at peace for he who sees
For I'm going home for Christmas
To all those memories.

Christmas 1995
So, Tested Friendships

Like lighted cnadles set on a window ledge
at night, which throw
A mellow, yellow path of light
Across the Christmas snow. . .

Like dancing hearth flames' warm caress
Reflecting cheer,
Soft'ning kind faces
That we hold dear.

Like holly berries bright;
Like mistltoe, with berries white . . .
Like bright stars upon a clear midnight.

So, tested friendships,
Mellow, cheering, warm and purse;
One of life's cherished gifts,
Through passing years endure.

Christmas 2002
The New Year

The old year was generous in many ways,
In other ways she may have seemed austere.
But I feel no recrimination--only joy,
As I face the New Year without fear.
There is time out there to be lived,
But not one minute must we hoard.
The year is given to us in trust,
Wanton waste we cannot afford.
And the days will grow into weeks,
The tasks and blessings will pile high.
We'll find real joy in living,
As these weeks go swiftly by.
And weeks make up months--just twelve,
How quickly the precious time goes.
Amy time have made us wiser and better.

Ladies' Breakfasts

The women of the class of 1957 have often met in July before the class reunion for breakfast. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, although I've attended quite a few over the years, but here's the history as Lynne recalls it:

"For fifty years the ladies of our class have met for breakfast. After our graduation, some married, some went off to college and trade schools, others entered the work force. It became our custom to get together as often as we could, as many of us that could. These early breakfasts were held in my mother's kitchen or dining room depending on how many showed up. We sent out notes or called--e-mail hadn't been invented yet! All came who could. We'd catch up on boyfriends, work opportunities or college activities. The subjects changed over the years to finding jobs, finding husbands, having babies, and buying houses. Then we moved on to middle age issues (for some finding new husbands and new houses) such as the right school for the kids, and then on to aging parents, retirement and for some, widowhood."

At some point, it became a bit more formalized and we began meeting in restaurants. The first one I remember attending was around 1979 and I think it was at Maxon's. The photo below, sent by Nancy S., was taken at the restaurant in the Oregon Conover Square, and because I'm wearing glasses and had a perm, I'd date it as 1993, but she says 1990 was written on the back.


Left to right: Francine K., Diane B., Sara Y., Jean M., Sylvia T., Nancy S., Norma C.

This photo is from 2003 and the women of the class of 1957 met with those of class of 1956 at the restaurant at the White Pines State Park. Neither class was having a reunion that year, so there weren't as many people in town.


Front row left to right: Diane B., Francine K., Priscilla D., Katie Dirksen, our PE teacher in high school, Carolyn D. (56), Jane K. (56), A.J. O. (56) Sylvia T., Beverly B. (56), Phyllis G. (56). Back row, left to right: Marion D., Jean M., Norma C., Barb N. (56)

Lynne F., Sylvia T. and Norma C. in 1999
Lynne writes: "We'll all be looking forward to meeting again on June 30 (time and place tba) for the annual ladies' breakfast."