Not so long ago, I couldn’t imagine you at fifty.
Now, I can’t imagine my life without the journey that’s brought us here together.

Your spirit defies the number of years you’ve been here.
Your eyes project the soul of one who’s grown, yet somehow captured youth by it’s tail.

No matter where you go, you bring warmth, love and the strength of earth.
A spirit that keeps those around you in love with the possibility of what might yet be,
Rather than the reality of what has been.

I’ve been thinking about this moment for years,
And can only tell you how happy I am to be the one to share it with you the way no one else can.

Thank you for choosing me to share in your journey.

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Happy Mother’s Day. I wish I was there to share it with you.

Mother, wife and friend.

You are our joy, our hope and our love.

It’s only ink on paper
A momentary thought
A letter to myself
Something to remind me

In a flash, there’s nothing more
That ink on paper
You can see right through it
It’s not a memory
But a reminder of what has passed
And what has yet to come

A photograph
A flash of light
A slice of time
Something to remind me

In a blink, there’s nothing more
That photograph
You can see right through it
It’s not a memory
But a reminder of what has passed
And what has yet to come

Two

We make our ghosts along the way
Then hide them in a cardboard box
Away from today
Bound for tomorrow

This box is filled with
Promises lost
Promises found
Promises kept
Promises bound
And a promise for tomorrow

This box is filled with dust
Only ink on paper
Only a photograph
These aren’t memories
But a reminder of what has passed
And what has yet to come

Open it wide and let them out
The promises of tomorrow are buried deep
Beneath the dust that clouds our memories
Robs us of our celebration
Of ghosts we’ve never known
And those who’ve yet to come

Three

These ghosts are mine
These ghosts are yours
We’ve known them for a moment
And we’ve known them for a lifetime

They make us who we are
And who we will become
Together

Our ghosts
They dance among us
They point us down a dusty path
To the left from which we came
And to the right for which we’ll go

Our ghosts are all we’ve been
And all that’s yet to come
Dance with joy
Keep them near
To remind us

To help us with our tears
And our smiles
But mostly with the life we have before us
These ghosts are mine
And yours
And ours
Open the box and let them free

A word
A picture
A card
These are not our memories

Let out ghosts run free
So we can be among them

And dance
And cry
And sing
And explore the world in front of us

Together.

As beautiful as it was, we knew it needed a little work to get it into playing condition. Since I know very little about hammered dulcimers, I had no idea where to start. Well, after a couple months of research, I have located a source for strings and parts and badly needed guidance and should have it tuned up and ready to play in a week or so.

I can’t wait. Thank you again, sweetie for this little bit of magic in my life. I will treasure it forever.

If you enjoy John’s work, or his mission to “spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through musical remixes,” please make a donation of any amount to the project.

I made dinner for her at my apartment, lamb to be exact. Then, all dressed up, we headed out to see Sam Kinison. You read that right, Sam Kinison on our first big date. What were we thinking, right?

Let’s just say, I guess we were made for each other, because 23 years later, we look at this clip and fall in love all over again. I hear ya saying, “that just aint right,” and for most, it would have been a whole lotta wrong. But something happened that night keeps happening over and over, no matter sort of “that just aint right” we stumble into now and again. We fell in love.

Now, here’s one of the most memorable bits from the show. I am warning you right now, this clip is NOT safe for work, family or any beast under 18. In fact, do yourself a favor and just don’t watch it. It’s just too romantic for words.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Sandy. You redefine the word love for me every day.

And thanks for that night, Sam. I know wherever you are, the joke was on you – just the way you intended it.

If you enjoy John’s work, or his mission to “spread scientific knowledge and philosophy through musical remixes,” please make a donation of any amount to the project.