The Passage of Time: Story Poems of Warmth and Humor

By Roy Wehde

Unbelievable how you can capture so much, and in poem form to boot! You bring tears to my eyes Dad, not because of the wonderful words in your poem, but for the warmth of your heart. Few people can capture the depth of emotion in words. God has given you an incredible gift and you have shared and brightened so many peoples lives with your expressions from the heart. Love you, Chrissie

All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Greeley, Colorado.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491759691

Roy Wehde

Roy Wehde is one of the Wehde twins, who were well known in Iowa basketball in the early 40s, and at Iowa State University. He was a motivational and speech writer for the State Farm Insurance Company Regional Office in Illinois. At age 70, he began watercolor painting, and, at age 80, he started writing poetry. The cover of this collection is one of Roy's watercolor paintings done in Alaska.

Book preview

cover.jpg

THE PASSAGE OF TIME STORY POEMS OF WARMTH AND HUMOR

Copyright © 2015 Roy Wehde.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

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.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4917-5970-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-5969-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015903399

iUniverse rev. date: 02/24/2015

Contents

Introduction

Mother’s Day

Our 57th Wedding Anniversary

Our 58th Wedding Anniversary

Sally’s 80th Birthday Party

What happened to 2005?

My Friend George Forbes

Friend Dale Liechty

Marilee’s 39th Birthday

Janet’s 56th Birthday

To My Daughter, Christine

To My Son, Mark

To My Daughter, Carol

To Friend Reggie Whitson, RIP

To Betty Fisher-For Glen, RIP

Our 59th Wedding Anniversary, 2006

Dick Boettcher’s 80th Birthday

The Man with a Cause

The Meaning of a Smile

My Friend Clark Carnes

To Melba - In Memory of Vince, RIP

Happy 82nd Birthday – To Sally

The Wonder Woman

To Ramona, 95th Birthday Celebration

What a Night

Oh Be Joyful

To Perin, Married to Grandson Paul

George Forbes – Bad News

Friend Ed Mussman, RIP

Sally’s 83rd Birthday Celebration!

The Honor Flight

Bob Bischoff, My Friend, RIP

Friend Art Butherus, RIP

Friend Joe Lechaix, RIP

What Happened to 2008?

62nd Wedding Anniversary

Ode to Shirley Hill

The Cathedral Window Quilt

Family Reunion in Santa Fe - March, 2010

Happy Whatever – 2009

Ray Adkins Retirement

To Friend Harold Mitchell

Leo Rohrig

Sally’s 85th Birthday

63rd Wedding Anniversary

Friend Jim Donhowe

Changing Attitudes

A Son

Not to Worry

Dr. Sydney Schiffer

Bob Aitken

A Valentine for Sally

To My Carolina

Friend Don Hill, RIP

Our 64th Wedding Anniversary

Mother’s Day

Friend John Hindahl, RIP

Christine, on her 60th Birthday

Don’t I Know You?

We Are Busy Traveling

Mother’s Day 2013

Susan Maxwell’s Birthday

Our 66th Wedding Anniversary

Ramona’s 100th birthday celebration

Friends Hugh and Phyllis Arnold

It Was a Long Night

To Jan Esbeck on her 80th Birthday

Little Toes

Or So It Seemed

A Toast to Hollis Johnson

Are You Getting Any Breaks?

Sally’s 89th Birthday

The Joy of Being a Twin

Comments:

I will treasure this poem, and keep it in a special place. - Dick

"How can I ever thank you for the lovely poem you wrote about Lil Sam.

I fought back tears I was so deeply moved." - Marcia

Thank you so much for the beautiful poem. The thought and compassion that went into the memorial was absolutely dear to me. - Carol

Roy, I really enjoyed your poem about Harold. Isn’t it great to remember such good friends that we have met in the State Farm family over the years! - Gene

Roy, please don’t be embarrassed to include me in your poems. Your tribute to a wonderful friend only enhances my convictions about you. - Dean

My daughter has enlarged and enhanced your poem to display it in our home. - Phyllis

Can we use part of your beautiful poem in Ed’s funeral program? - Lucille

I laughed when I read the poems about our trips together! What great times. - Howard

I sent a copy of your poem on your son to all of my kids! They’ll love it. - Steve

When I feel down and depressed I get your letter and poem to Syd and re-read them. then I feel good again. You are special and I really thank you. - Fern

The comments by my wife Sally were too numerous and adoring to mention! One reader commented, I want to meet this woman!

This book is

dedicated to my family

Sally writes:

"I have written only one good poem in my life, and that was at a State Farm convention. I had written, in part, ‘I am full of joy -— from living with Roy.’

(I was very pregnant at the time with Mark, and everyone laughed.)

After 63 years of marriage, I am once again ‘Full of joy -— from living with Roy.’

You can’t be down in spirit when he gets up in the morning singing!

God has given me angels on earth.

I have overcome several months of serious handicaps in dressing, walking, bathing

and keeping a smile because of -— being full of joy from living with Roy."

The joy is mutual!

(For the kids: Incidentally, your mom is not pregnant again.)

Interior_First%20Picture.jpg

Seated: Janet, Roy, Thelma (Sally)

Standing: Chrissie, Mark, Carol

Introduction

When I was 80 years old, sitting in our choir loft, the pastor gave a sermon about love. It was Mother’s Day, and I had forgotten to get my wife a present! How could I tell her that I loved her? I decided to write her a poem then and there. She loved it. That was the beginning of this series of poems that were, over a period of years, written to encourage and honor her. Then I also wanted to write to my friends, writing of the fun times and sad times that we had lived through together.

Some of the recipients of these poems have been moved to tears, and some have really laughed. Some have framed their poem, and some have kept theirs handy to read over and over again. Many have wanted me to share these poems. Since I’m now 91, I guess it is time!

Mother’s Day

She wondered at length what would be her role.

What work and service would make her feel whole.

Four beautiful children were given to guide

And her shepherding led to a feeling of pride.

She coddled her husband through problems and pain

And reveled in joy at his honors and gain.

Her friends feel her warmth, her beauty, and charms,

And little children rush into her arms.

Her humble spirit and love of the Lord

And acts for others make her dearly adored.

So the question is answered for all to see.

At least, her wholeness is obvious to me.

So for Nurture, Love, Guidance and Care,

My dear Thelma has always been there.

With that in my heart, I’m now ready to sing.

Let praises and love to the heavens ring!

Our 57th Wedding Anniversary

I had gone to the dance between halls Friley and Elm.

Thus started the saga between students Roy and Thelm.

In walked this darling girl with the golden tresses;

Radiantly dressed in the most stunning of dresses.

We went out that night, and it was plain to see

I was right when I said, This is the girl for me!

At the dance I couldn’t read her name tag at all.

On my first date I asked for Nancy when I came to call.

Through the years, seeing that beautiful innocent smile

I had validated my choice. I had won by a mile!

Through life’s tragedies and pains hard to endure,

Her loyalty and trust, We’ll make it for sure!

So as we plan to organize the days of our ease

And search together for those darn missing keys

We thank each other and thank the Lord for years 57.

After all, it really has been a small slice of heaven.

Our 58th Wedding Anniversary

I read the story about 57.

The warm nostalgia caused my spirits to leaven.

My sweet farmer’s daughter is a party girl!

Our social schedule is a social whirl.

It’s bridge and games and visits galore.

Dinner parties and shows till the days are no more.

She’s the life of the party in a family charade.

But about 9 in the evening she starts to fade.

She wants Roy Carl to join her in bed

But the motives have changed so there’s less to be said.

When I give in and talk it must be too deep.

Why else would she immediately fall off to sleep!

She’s out of bed at the crack of dawn

Showers and dresses and gets her makeup on.

My ability to sleep is pretty well gone.

I join her in the kitchen, still a little drawn.

She serves me orange juice, and coffee too

While the crossword puzzle I struggle through.

Could there be a more loving wife than that?

If you show me you can find one, I’ll eat my hat.

There is a call or a note to a particular friend.

That happens each day until it comes to an end.

And I marvel at her warmth and easy rapport.

It is often interrupted by a knock on the door.

The beauty is her friends are both young and old.

She gathers all