Block 20

Block #20

. . . Wow . . .

this one was hard.

Jack Greene

was a blessing

in disguise.

Fall,

1968 . . .

and what a disguise to wear . . .

a high school sophomore,

drummer in band,

played right behind the brass section

so he was in my ear all the time.

Strange relationship . .

I last saw him over 31 years ago,

yet he is still a major part of my life.

He has been dead for,

Lord,

I can't remember how long now.

When he died,

the winds were taken out of my sails.

I cried all the way home from Indianapolis

the night I went to his viewing.

It was a dark

and rainy night . . .

just like in the stories.

So many things that

"could have,

should have"

and I do believe

"would have"

happened

were no longer possible.

Chances

for feelings

died the day I found out he died.

The cancer would have taken him soon enough

but that damn car crash . .

all I can say that fits is

"that

really sucked

big time ! ! ! ! !"

There is still

an empty space in my heart

held there for a guy

who tried to impress me

but didn't have to.

Hell,

he tore his pants

and I

had to take him home to change them. . .

memories from 42 years ago

and they are still as clear

and vivid

as that Friday night.

I had to find something

that would put the feelings I have

onto cloth.

Nothing seemed to fit . .

but it was a MUST!

Then I found a stitch called

Rhodes.

More specifically

the Rhodes Heart.

THAT was what I needed.

A heart pattern

that could be done in "green."

I smiled all the time I was stitching.

It was perfect . . .

except there was extra space

on the bottom.

Then,

Sam Jaffe jumped into my head . .

remember the beginning of the TV show

Ben Casey?

Man,

 Woman,

Birth,

Death,

Infinity.

I know it all started

in the Fall of 1968 . . .

but the feelings will last

through Infinity.

He has spent a lot of time,

recently,

here in Western New York.

A friend says

that sometimes those you lose

come back to visit.

He must have gotten

a great deal
on housing accommodations

because he has been here

for at least 2 months now.

The dreams are comforting,

in a strange way.

Last night

I even discovered

he hasn't been dead at all.

Woke up

before I could figure out

where he has been hiding

 the last 25 or so years.

Now THAT

brings a smile to my face.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for my love of music. Thank you for allowing me the ability and freedom to sing at the top of my lungs when the radio is playing something I like.

Thank you for giving me memories that go with certain songs. The memories vividly appear when I hear their intros.

Dear Lord, please don't take those memories away. They allow me to look back into my past, and feel the warmth all over again.

Amen.
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