It's in the Bible somewhere that life goes as quickly as a breath of air;

It might be in the book of James but I couldn't say for sure.

I do know from experience that a truer story has never been told;

It seems like only yesterday I was playing football in the cold.

Why, I can remember back to the first grade and Mrs. Barton,

And Mama's tale of Mr. Brown going to town and just'a cartin'.

And my buddies with nick-names like Pig, Pat, Jabo and Congo.

I think back and wonder just where did all the time go.

My first job off the farm was in a Corsicana hat factory making hats.

It was better than picking cotton and made me feel like a fat cat.

Worked there for a year, bought me a car and went back to school,

Graduated with a C- average; Mama didn't raise no fool.

Went to work for $1.00 an hour in a sawmill for a year.

Quit that slave job and joined the US Air Force and made a career.

Looking back, those twenty years went by faster than a jet;

So-called retired, and wasn't even dry behind the ears yet.

Started to college on the GI Bill, got a license for real estate,

Wasted all that edyomocation and started working for the State.

Twenty years later and here I am retarded twice over.

All I do is play with a dog named Clyde who acts like Rover.

My beautiful girls are grown and the grandkids are absolutely great.

I'm doing not much of nothing; can't remember names, times or dates.

This memory loss is not all that bad when it comes right down to it,

Always meetin' new friends, hearing new jokes and forgettin' when you do it.

I've done a lot of things during this life, some good, some not so good,

Some things I would change, but one thing I wouldn't even if I could.

That's the life, the good times I've had with Hazel, my beloved wife,

She stuck with me through thick and thin and has actually saved my life.

Looking back, the years and time have gone by like a great flash.

Don't read me wrong; oh, I'm not nearly ready to crash,

Just slow down some and give me some time to enjoy it;

Good Book says that won't happen, so I got my candle lit.

by Dwayne Garner

"SPECIAL"

The street, overnight

Had been magically transformed;

Transformed into a fairy land

With a myriad of tiny icicles

Clinging tenaciously to every tree's bare twigs.

Magic! As the sunlight Glinted and bounced

In the cold, crisp air

Of the first day of winter.

She sighed, thinking she was so special,

`Cause God had created All of this magic for her, His special child.

by Linda Amos