Uncle Buddy

He may have moved on, but his memories live on.
He is definitely not someone you'd forget.
He had jokes and quotes that one wouldn't repeat or admit,
He'd speak from his head,
And if ya didn't like what he said,
He truly did not give a shit.

I can see him deep in Louisiana,
Listening to 'Sweet Home Alabama'.

Or singing "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay",
I remember him singing that at the piute house.
Seems like just yesterday.

Rough, rugged exterior
You'd think he's a biker.
And many never saw his other side.
If he wanted to
He could be quick with the tongue
Or loud as a gun
Or gentle and kind as Santa
All rolled into one.

To me, that kind and loving side
Is all that has ever shown.

He raised up with his wife
Four of my most favorite people I have ever known.

Howard Utt is a Dad and a Grandpa.
A friend and a Santa to all the children he would see.
Everyone who knew him called him 'Buddy'.
He has always been 'Uncle Buddy' to me.

This Tree

This tree was huge

This tree was colorful
This tree was strong

This tree is struggling
This tree is weak and almost gone
This tree needs help

I know it will survive,
Because I know it is still alive,

It has changed,
But who knows what it has gained,

When life presents me with Spring,

It will sprout new growth,
It will carry new hope,

I will own the knowledge,
And the strength,
It brings.

-Shawn Ealy

True Friends

Thank you for your friendship, Thank you for being there,
I cannot repay you, thank you does not seem fair--

You asked if I was mad at you, you did what you thought you should do,
I did not know that is what I needed, I didn't know I needed you--

Thank you is not enough, I want you to know I know,
We will be friends for Life, where ever it may lead,

Where ever we may go--

-Shawn Ealy

"Riddled"

The mind is a maze, of which you are center stage--
Among the things that you find amazing,

The mind helps us chase, But it can chase back--
When it is pushed past the lines we call crazy,

The Mind is a creative, and powerful place--
Where at times, there are lines, between dreams and reality,
Where there is faintly a trace,

Our mind is a maze of which we know the way--
Through our comfortable, predicable, routines,

Our mind is a puzzle, pleased puzzling itself---
When a piece present does not fit in,

-Shawn Ealy

The Mirror

Today I will being again to do my best to take care of me
To control what my hands will do, the things my eyes will see
And the places that I will be

To compete with myself, to set my own pace when I'm not sure
To do my best today, a little better then the day before

To observe what I do the worst, to discover what I do the best
To take risk when I am ready regardless of all the rest

To believe in myself and overcome my fears
And remember
The person that I need to lead first is smiling back at me from
the mirror

-Shawn Ealy

Magic Road

I recall summers and fourth of Julys,
While warm sun and fireworks lit the skies,
A time I was equally amazed by fireflies,
that glowed in the night.

Found excitement riding in cars
Took notice, and wished upon shooting stars
Traveled a world of imagination, without
leaving the backyard.

When most your time was spent at play and
your nights star gazing the Milkyway.

So if you ever forget feeling that way, there is
a magic road that leads back to that day,
Just ask any child, they can show us the way.

-Shawn Ealy

Friends

I bumped into an old friend
Said, "How Ya Been?"
And he replied remember when,

Not much at all went wrong
We'd go crusin all night long
And listen to the same old song,

Our heads pumped full of dreams
You couldn't show us a thing
Cause we knew everything,

You & me and all our friends
The times we had, the things we did
We never planned for it to end.

But ain't it funny how the day to day
Put an end to all our play
And time just seemed to fade away.

And I sure wish that you could stay
But I know you must be on your way
Before you go I'd like to say,

Don't forget the times and the things we did
And all the fun when we were kids
And if I don't get the chance again
I was glad to be your friend.

-Shawn Ealy