Thursday, January 27, 2005

Before I turn 80....


This is a poem I wrote in honor of my Grandmother....

Before I turn 80.…


Before I turn 80, I want to hold the world in my arms…
Before I turn 80, I want to own an exotic fast car…
Before I turn 80, I will have seen all 50 of these United States…
Before I turn 80, I will have eaten over one million cheesecakes…
I will have over 25 stamps in my passport from all amazing different countries,
And I will have perfected the art of making my Grandmothers Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I will be able to give myself time to heal when the healing is to be done,
without the slightest frown,
I will have danced in my lovers arms in a garden of Jasmine while the light of the moon looks down.

To ride my favorite roller coaster 20 times in a row without claiming I am too old to ride anymore.
I will be able to forgive those who hurt me before storming off and shutting my hearts steel door.
I will have joy in taking naps during the day, like when I was just a kid.
I will have walked along the beaches of Miami with my love, just like my grandparents once did.

I will not be so narcissistic and think every bad comment is directed towards me.
And when things get tough, no matter how bad they are, I will never, ever try to flee.
I will have kissed my love not only on top the Eifle Tower in Paris,
but kissed several times in a gondola gliding across the canals in Venice.
I will have played Texas Hold' um in every casino on the Las Vegas Strip,
And I will have learned the art of not caring about money and giving too much for a Tip.

To do the unthinkable and obtain tickets to both the World Series and the Super Bowl.
And argue with every Yankees fan I know who says the Red Sox don't have a Soul!
To sit outside Big Ben looking for the Second Star to the Right,
And to be a school girl again remembering my past loves in the late hours of the night!
I will have kept journals of all the fine wines and foods I have tasted and consumed,
I will have learned to be inspired by the death of my loved ones instead of grieving away in my room.

I will have the ability to follow my dreams instead of just flying around in a bunch of turbulence.
I will be more bold, daring, sassy, courageous, and fly by the seat of my pants.

Before I turn 80, I will have spent all the penny's that were held in my rainy day tin,
Before I turn 80, I will know the truest treasure is having my life surrounded by friends.
Before I turn 80, I will have prayed with Buddist Monks on top a mountain in Tibet,
Before I turn 80, I will be able to go to my final sleep with not one single regret.


In Memory of my Grandmother

Charlotte Sophia Burgess

January 27, 2005