This is a piece of our story; the man I knew. This was written 11 months before cancer entered our lives.
20 Aug 2007
Paul teased me about writing a book for him, instead I wrote this poem for his 60th birthday.
Book of Paul…
He is everything wonderful that I ever needed,
handsomely wrapped up in one big tender man.
His rolling laughter leads to coughing fits;
spitting up water and vitamins,
and then falling off the bed!
A prankster to his core,
full of special surprises for all.
A memory-maker, his camera always within reach,
he records the Kodak moments of our lives.
His cards & gifts & little notes come from the heart,
and always meet their target.
He loves easily and deeply…
his children, grandchildren, his friends & me!
He would love to be a millionaire,
but he lives well, and is generous with what he has.
His tastes and beliefs are “traditional”,
yet he has an open mind and can embrace the non-traditional,
except food, of course!
He loves Taco Time, Nascar, animal shows,
Funniest Videos, Cops and bad sci-fi movies.
Every day he says and does funny or special things for me,
he can calm me with only a look, or a touch.
He wants us together, no matter what,
and turns every errand into a “date”.
He acts crabby sometimes,
but just below the surface is a joke or a prank or a smile.
He notices the little things,
and always says “thank you”.
For a T-shirt and jeans guy,
he sure is a clothes horse!
He gives hugs and touches often,
he sings seriously and dances with a laugh.
Happy Birthday… With All My Love,
Patti
© Patti Hall and https://1writeplace.wordpress.com, 2013.
THE WRITE PLACE... 
April 20, 2013 at 12:05 pm
How sweet!
April 20, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Thanks for stopping by my place again, Heather! I was getting lonely:>) Hope your day is going fine. Patti
April 21, 2013 at 1:12 pm
I can surely feel and hear him in this!
April 21, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Yes, I can almost conjure him up by reading this. Thanks for stopping by again!
September 25, 2013 at 8:32 am
Lovely man, your Paul. How terrific that you wrote an Ode to Paul before he got sick. How sad that he and so many other loving husbands have left the earth plane, but I know there is much I have learned from being on my own. Since I can’t reclaim the old life, this life is good, too. And no one complains that I dump all my stuff on the dining room table. I never forgot even at the hardest times that life is beautiful, love is essential, change hurts, and I can make it. I’m so sorry about your more recent losses, Patti, especially that grandbaby. Can’t imagine the pain of that.
September 25, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Thank you, Elaine. I journaled a lot and read a lot–TV held no interest to me. Being a Leo, Paul wanted to be part of my everything, so I drew him into my world with this poem. You may imagine how happy it made him.
Thank
September 25, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I was trying to thank you for your kind words, when my computer went a dif way!
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