Of My Time: Selected Memories: Through a Collection of Prose, Poetry, Photos, Art, and a Musical Composition

By Jimmie Choate Parker

"...a collection of narration and poetry that is such a warming nostalgic trip back through Jim Parker's interesting life that it makes one wish to write something similar, to recapture the beauty we are afforded in our existence. It's a captivating package, written by a talented writer."

Robert Skimin, robertskimin.com, Author of many bestsellers.

"Jimmie Parker's collections of reflections are bilingual reflections of a well-lived life. Only a life well lived would yield this collection of observations that are eternal in their reach and poetic in their touch."

Arnold Garcia Jr., Editorial Page Editor, Austin American-Statesman.

This book is a memoir presented through a collection of prose, poetry, photographs, drawings, and a musical composition.

The first eight pieces are reflective of my feelings, insights, and concerns about certain aspects of the human condition: poverty, man's inhumanity to man, end of life issues, a search for meaning, and finding one's spiritual path.

From the love of a beautiful mother for her children, to the ins and outs of adult love, the next nine pieces, About Love, evoke universal experiences with love.

The eight pieces in Peace/War demonstrate a strong preference for peace over war. Facing death requires great courage, as does facing life.

The poem play in section four dramatizes the need for drastic change in the United States of America. My preamble touches on one's need to handle scarcity and to deal with conflict, both internally and externally; and, the need to find meaning and spirituality in one's life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 3, 2008
• ISBN: 9780595606214

Jimmie Choate Parker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jimmie Choate Parker was born March 18, 1933 in Alpine, Texas. He attended grade school there. He was the 7th grade in the old Perry School in Terlingua, Texas. After finishing the 8th grade in Alpine, he moved with his family to Austin, Texas. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1950. He attended The University of Texas as well as the National Autonomous University Of Mexico, Mexico City. At the University of Texas he obtained a BA degree in Liberal Arts with a major in Latin American Studies ('57) and a Master of Science in Social Work, Community Organizing and Planning ('73). Before leaving the Army in 1969, he flew extensively in Colombia, Panama, Korea and Vietnam. During a period of La Violencia in Colombia, the Colombian Air Force awarded him the title of Piloto Honorario. In Vietnam, logging more than 300 helicopter combat flying hours, he earned a Bronze Star and a promotion to Major, United States Army. After finishing his M.S.S.W., he worked for over 25 years in health and human service programs developing and delivering services to low income and indigent populations. His prescient adventure novel, The Guevara Legacy, was published in August, 2001.

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Contents

Foreward

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Section I Reflections

AT CHRISTMAS, REALITY IS A DREAM

TREE REFLECTIONS

HOLLYWOOD

LOOKING AT THE FAMILY ALBUM TIME

HOME

THE SWING

STARS

INFINITY’S LURE

Section II About Love

OLD MAMA

LOVE REINCARNATED I.

LOVE REINCARNATED II.

LOVE REINCARNATED III.

LOVE REINCARNATED IV.

LOVE REINCARNATED V.

I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME

MEMORIES

IN THAT TIME

ROSES

DROWNING

A SPRING BUTTERFLY

YO SOY/SERÉ

Section III Peace/War

SOLDIER’S LOVE

RIVER PATROL

MED EVAC

A PSALM FOR LARRY AND THE UNKNOWN I

VETERANS

NEW YORK CITY, BAGHDAD, OKLAHOMA CITY, NAGASAKI

HORRORS LONG BURIED

VENTANA EN VENTANA EN VENTANA

Section IV A Play And A Speech

TOWARD A NEW NATIONAL DIRECTION

PREAMBLE TO MY ETHICAL WILL

A Musical Composition

For Piano

About The Author

ALSO BY J. CHOATE PARKER

THE GUEVARA LEGACY

A Novel

Foreward

This book does not contain all of the memories of my 75 years of life. It contains only selected memories, and thus the title. I did not include memories of some stages of my life as being, simply, too humdrum. And, there are some memories I did not include because I do not want to give them further life.

In my role as editor of this collection, I have used a few drawings, illustrations, and a music score provided by my children and grandchildren to heighten meaning, feeling, and impact. I have listed their specific contributions under Acknowledgements. I used a few of my photographs also for the same reasons.

So, while this book is a collection of images, sounds, and words, I take full responsibility as both the editor and the author for its success.

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my wife, Carol. She is the love of my life.

Acknowledgements

Judith A. Parker, my daughter, contributed the drawing accompanying the piece, Horrors Long Buried. Her drawing measures 30 inches wide by 12 feet high. It was one of her senior