Dodger Blue is feeling blue.
The broadcast booth is dark.
The man who brought the game to life
has sadly left the park.
He rounded third on Tuesday night
and safely slid in home.
His well-lived life brought joy to ours.
But now we feel alone.
The prince of play-by-play has died.
Vin Scully has moved on.
That warm and winsome voice we loved
is going, going, gone!
Peace to his memory!
Just leave it to Beaver to shed a few tears.
It doesn’t surprise me. For so many years
his big brother Wally was his best friend and more.
But now his big brother is gone.
So long Wally Cleaver. So long Ward and June.
So long Eddie Haskell. You left us too soon.
Our “Leave it to Beaver-ville” won’t be the same
with “The Beave” all alone by himself.
Yes, Tony Dow’s death made the news yesterday.
It makes our hearts grieve when celebs pass away.
Those we followed as fam’ly, we watched faithfully.
No wonder it’s hard when they die.
Their deaths are reminders that we’re growing old.
That each day’s a gift that’s more precious than gold.
That now is the best time to tell those we love
how we feel about them while we can.
Like sheep without a shepherd near,
we wander lost. We tend to fear.
We stress and worry or we fight
with others in our way.
We grieve a war quite far from home
and consequences yet unknown.
Inflation rates, gas prices, too.
And how the market trends.
The short supply of baby food
affects the way our world is viewed.
As do the senseless shooting sprees
in grocery stores and church.
And COVID still won’t go away.
We mask and vax and boost and pray
and yet the virus undermines
our plans and way of life.
We’re sheep in need of being told
there’s hope beyond our gateless fold.
That Someone longs to calm our fears
and fill our empty faith.
We rack the days each month and then
they break apart time and again.
Our ordered plans quite randomly
can find us on our heels.
We’re challenged by another’s choice
that silences our eager voice
and finds us angling our aims
and banking (fingers crossed).
Behind the eight ball, we are blind.
We’re snookered by what seems unkind.
But patiently we call our shots
and do the best we can.
Sometimes we scratch and lose our turn,
then take our cues from from those who’ve learned
that life (like pool) takes more than skill.
We play what we’ve been giv’n.
My dearest daughter,
I know your heart is broken.
As the last words spoken between us
echo in your mind,
please know I’m not blind to your tears.
I can imagine your fears
of facing the challenges of tomorrows
without being able to pick up the phone and call me.
But as Jesus told his best friends
the night before He died,
“Don’t let your heart be troubled!
Don’t be afraid.”
This One in whose presence I now find joy
will never leave you or forsake you.
He will comfort you as only He can.
He will carry you when you are too weak to stand.
He will fill your heart with memories we made.
In the heat of death valley, He will be your shade.
Please know that the time and space between us
is only a temporary separation.
The gulf of grief will be spanned by grace.
It won’t be long until you see my face again.
Remember, a family reunion awaits.
In the meantime,
care for your mom.
Lean into your sorrow.
Embrace the ache.
Speak my name.
Look at my pictures.
Forgive my mistakes.
Honor my memory by the choices you make.
And each morning when you wake,
thank the Lord He placed us in the same family.
He graced us with the privilege of being father and daughter.
Be grateful He gave us each other
for the years that we shared on earth
(and the time we will have in Heaven).
Never forget how much I love you
and how proud I am to be your dad.
See you soon!
Dad
My Rhymes and Reasons 