New Pictures up on Facebook...

Here are some pictures from today. I had a good reunion with the boys, the looks of "is he really here or is this a dream" were priceless, and they both came straight to me. I'll write more when I have more. In the mean time, click here for pictures.

F-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-freeeeeeezzzzziiiinnnnngggggg...

Not what you expected for my first Haiti blog??? Then you don't know Ft. Lauderdale Airport at 2am. Apparently they want to discourage people from sleeping overnight, or they want to sell more hotel rooms at a cool $139 to borrow a bed for 8 hours. So, I nodded off a couple of times, woke up every 5 minutes as the P.A. system reminded me to recycle, the current security threat level (it's orange in case you were wondering), and to report any suspicious baggage that I may see. I should probably appreciate it now while I can, since I'll be sweating for the rest of the week. Updates to come.

Crabby Old Man poem...

This poem came across my inbox from a woman at our church...it's a forwarded email but it won't bring you bad luck if you don't pass it on, etc., etc., etc. I spend a decent amount of time at work walking down the halls of various nursing homes and nut houses, trailer parks and apartment complexes, tent cities and abandoned houses, and even lonely mansions. The fact is we will all grow old, will all be active minds trapped in worthless bodies, waiting impatiently for this life to pass wondering what waits us on the other side. Read on and ponder on many levels, I did.


Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . .. . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man, . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . .. . and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am, . . .. . . as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . as I eat at your will
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . . . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen .. . with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty. . . . . .My heart gives a leap.
Remembering the vows . . . .. . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . . . I have young of my own..
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . .. . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, . Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . . My loved one and me ...
Dark days are upon me . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . .. . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . .. . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age. . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . .. . . .. grace and vigor depart.
There is now a stone . . . . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . A young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . . . . . . .. I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years . all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . .. . . open and see..
Not a crabby old man
Look closer . . see . . . . ME!!