After all we have invested
In our marriage through the years,
After all the joy and laughter
Working through the sweat and tears.
I’m sitting at a quilt shop
Waiting for my wife.
I don’t think I’ve been here yet
For more than half my life.
This one seems a little longer
Than the stop we made before.
But I’m quite sure it’s only been
One or two days more.
It’s fun to see the seasons change,
To watch the flowers grow.
Soon the pumpkins will come down,
Then Christmas lights will glow.
But I sit here patiently
As she fingers every swatch.
It’s good I brought along an extra
Battery for my watch.
I brought along some bookwork.
I finished up my tax.
I’ll still make the deadline
If I send it off by fax.
I’m sure there is new merchandise
She has never seen before.
Even though to me it looks
Like every other store.
I know more things than shopping
Come into the mix.
It’s more than checking every bolt
To get a cotton fix.
She needs to meet with other gals
Who share the same affliction.
Except that this group therapy
Helps promote addiction.
Here she comes with half a bolt
And an extra quarter,
A rotary cutter, yellow thread,
Some piping for a border.
I help her load her packages,
I ask if she had fun.
I say that we should head for home
If she is sure that she is done.
“Just because it’s on the way
Let’s hit the John Deere store.
I know that it will only take
A couple minutes more.”
The toolbox on my tractor
Has a little tray.
So I can take with things I need,
Or just think I may.
It’s really dark out here. We have been blessed with clear skies since the beet harvest season started. There is no moon, so the stars are beautiful. But when I shut off the pickup headlights, man, is it dark out here!
I need three weeks of winter
Right here in July.
The projects on my workshop bench
Are piled up to the sky.
You know that spring is close at hand;
The yard has turned to slop.
The winter projects all complete
Are stacked up in the shop.
Ijust can’t hold back any longer. I need to weigh in on the health care debate.
Right there is a large part of the problem: They aren’t debating healthcare. Congress is only arguing about who will pay the bill. No, I admit I haven’t read the 2,000 pages, but the news is only about the bitter posturing.