Today is the second anniversary of Barbara's transition to the "other side". There is so much that one has erased from one's records that leaves so little to be remembered by. I felt that Barbara deserved better than that, because of the beautiful life that she led, and how many people she affected positively. She certainly made her small portion of the world a better place because of the way she lived and loved life and people. In my small way I am determined that she will not be forgotten, by donating these courtyard tables to the Bourne Senior Center, in her memory, I hope that she will be remembered in perpertuity. I certainly will remember and love her that long...I miss you Sweetheart, and love you very much. I created this poem to explain what I feel :

The ERASER

When Mr Death makes his visit to claim you
He surely will  carry a very large Eraser, too

His purpose is to expunge all that you held dear,
And to make your name completely disappear.

From your house, your car and even your checkbook,
You just can't hide from his audacious look.

And, finally all that is left of what was you
Is a name and two dates on a headstone to view.

In order to correct this outrageous situation,
I've given to the Center two tables as a donation.

In Barbara's Memory the plaques will proclaim,
Even tho she's gone, please, remember her name.

The tables will reflect how she lived and loved life.
Enjoying friends, serving folks and being a wonderful wife.

Use the tables with enjoyment, and feasting pleasure,
For these tables to me, are truly a treasure.

Submitted by Barbara's adoring and loving husband,
Chuck Hoeft, November 29,2013

October 9th, 2013 Would have been our 65th anniversary, I thought that it would be redundant to create another poem that would contain many of the familiar things of past anniversaries. I ideated what I could write about and it came to me that I wondered what happened to all the Love that I generated for Barbara. In a dream I created this poem verse by verse, correct rhyming and meter, etc. and when I awoke, I hoped that I could remember what I had done. This is the result:

RECIPROCITY

Where in the Earth does my Love go?
To find the answer, I've searched high and low.
It is said that WE generate the Emotion of Love,
But, I feel that it's a gift from the Lord up above.
When Barbara was here, my frequency of Love I did emit,
And, she reciprocally, her Love did send for me to admit.
Our emotional energies were so in tune,
We felt it was a wonderful act of good fortune.
However, in her absence, my Love is still transmitting,
But, with no reciprocity, my emotional frequency in just not fitting.
I needed the interchange of our Love to propel me
But now, it's like pedaling a bike with one foot, do you see?
What happens to that Love that I generate?
Does it just go to  the atmosphere, and there dissipate?
So, now I ask again, where in the Earth does my Love go?
I'm afraid that it's something that I'll never know.

I truly Love and  miss you Sweetheart,
for You were the force that made us One.
October 9, 2013
Your Loving husband, Chuck
 

Barbara was at the Heritage Nursing Home in Sandwich, and our anniversary fell on Sunday October 9th, 2011. Since we had been attending chapel services there I made sure that Barbara had her favorite color purple blouse and skirt, and brought a purple corsage for her to wear, and asked the preacher if I could read this tribute to her, aloud to the attending parishioners, and he heartly agreed. I held her hand as I read this and she sobbed quietly. This is what I said:


Our Sixty Third Anniversary

    On October ninth 1948, Sixty Three years ago, at the Lutheran Church where we met, Barbara and I pledged to each other to be loving Friends and Partners in Marriage, to Love and to Honor, but not obey because neither would be the Boss.
    Over these years We haveTalked and Listened, and Appreciated one another, and Respected and Cherished each other's Uniqueness.And We have Supported, Comforted, and Strengthened each other through Life's Joys and Sorrows.
    We have shared Hopes, Thoughts and Dreams as We built our Lives together.
    We have built Homes that were Compassionate to all, full of Respect and Honor for each other and to others.
    My Life has been so wonderfully Enhanced with Barbara as my beautiful Bride and Soul mate and Mother to our four beautiful Children. She has always kept herself Attractively Attired and our Home wonderfully decorated, to which I was always eager to come home to after the demands of my profession had required my absence.
    I wish to thank Our Heavenly Father for bringing Barbara into my Life and for these Wonderful 63 years. Praise the Lord !!!
October 9, 2011