Life, Love, Laughter, and Tears

By Barbara G. Walsh

When I started working on these poems, it was because I wanted to put a few in a folder as a surprise gift for my son, who was coming to visit me from Italy. He was visibly moved when he read them, so I knew I was on the right track.
After he was stricken with ALS, I decided maybe I could put together a book of poems in his memory.
I hope they are enjoyed by all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490730042

Barbara G. Walsh

Barbara G. / Walsh was born Barbara A. Burnor in a small town in Vermont. Growing up at the base of a ski and tourist area was a privilege. She now resides with her husband in a northwest Chicago suburb. The poems contained herein this book are based on many of the experiences, both good and bad, she has encountered in life.

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© Copyright 2014 Barbara G. / Walsh.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN:

978-1-4907-3002-8 (sc)

ISBN:

978-1-4907-3003-5 (hc)

ISBN:

978-1-4907-3004-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014904552

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of my son,

Fr. Joannes Sweeter. He lost his battle with A.L.S. at

the very young age of 43 years.

Contents

Section 1: Son

1.   A.L.S.

2.   A child’s call

3.   A mother’s loss

4.   Changed Holidays

5.   Despair

6.   Grief

7.   In a Tomb

8.   Italian Message

9.   Mothers Love

10.   My Child

11.   Son

12.   Three Months

13.   Unnamed

14.   Where was my Family

Section 2: Family and Friends

1.   A Mom

2.   Appreciate

3.   Autumn Family

4.   Baby Girl

5.   Christmas back home

6.   Christmas Vacation

7.   Commitment

8.   Cruise

9.   Dance by Chance

10.   Family Forgotten

11.   Friend in Despair

12.   Friends Forever

13.   Grandchildren

14.   He’s Mine

15.   Kids grow

16.   My Girl

17.   My Love

18.   My mom

19.   My secret Love

20.   Our Grandchildren

21.   Princess

22.   Searching

23.   Sewer Man

24.   Sixty Years

25.   Step Daughter

26.   Tina & Frank 40 Years

27.   Tis You

28.   Tom

29.   Traveling with my love

30.   Waiting

31.   Woman

32.   Your Wedding day

Section 3: Work and Coworkers

1.   Behind The Desk

2.   Bock

3.   Brandon

4.   Bring a smile

5.   Caring Team

6.   Ron Chandler is his name

7.   Child in Crisis

8.   Getting Older

9.   Guest Services Week

10.   Happy Patient

11.   Have a Seat Please

12.   Hospital’s at night

13.   Jeff

14.   Jeff’s Birthday

15.   Keep them safe

16.   Leo

17.   Meghan’s Bachelor’s Degree

18.   My Job

19.   Night Nursing

20.   Our Goal

21.   Same day Surgery

22.   Smiles Please

23.   Toby

24.   Who-Why

25.   Working World

Section 4: Miscellaneous

1.   Autumn Arrives

2.   Autumn Blessings

3.   Cancun

4.   Christmas 2010

5.   Easter

6.   Gift of Life

7.   Happy holidays

8.   Jackets and shorts

9.   Life Mark

10.   Looking Back

11.   Mind improvement

12.   Old Age

13.   Parasailing

14.   Spring Cleaning

15.   Spring

16.   Take Time

17.   Turkey Day

18.   Two weeks till Christmas

19.   Vacation Ends

Section 1

A.L.S.

This piece is at the very root of this collection of poems.

I lost my son, a Franciscan Priest in Rome, to this terrible disease.

Until you have witnessed its devastation, first hand, it is nearly impossible to imagine its wrath that gets bestowed on us. The type which my son had is genetic, and many of his family members have lost this terrible battle.

It is my hope that I can help make a difference by donating a portion of money made on the sale of this book, to A.L.S. research.

A.L.S.

A.L.S., was once to me just a name

A terrible disease that changes life, nothing is the same

Rich or poor, active or not

It takes away smiles and leaves us all in a very sad spot

The mind stays strong, but the limbs get weak

No place to hide, the future seems so bleak