A Poem in Remembrance of Paul Goldstein 2010 by Sue

A Poem in Remembrance of Paul Goldstein 2010

by Sue

A Penny Found on the Ground dated 1975

The year I met you on the phone,

When, ‘MODENT’ was new and alive.

I Found an Invoice, in a Jar of Dreams You sent to me in Maine

It says to write down all my Dreams

And keep them in my Heart,

I’ll keep it there in the Jar,

Or, perhaps I’ll put it in a frame

It matters not what I do

For without you life has not been the same

The recipe for Rice Salad

Remains in lettered Red

Because that was the only pen

I had as I copied what you said

A Penny found on the Ground dated 2007

The year you left the Earth for Heaven

To Join the Songs of Angels

Dear Paul...

Dear Paul,

Things are a bit hectic this year. Moving again, although this time a bit unexpected. I think you'd like the new place. Reminds me a little of Salt Point, without the crazy landlord though we hope. Mom is still in Latham, and doing OK. We had a big Thanksgiving get-together at the Desmond with her, although I think you already know that. The heart-shaped potato on her plate was a nice touch. You must be so proud of Stephanie. The rest of the kids are doing well. All the girls are all either in, or finished with college, and I'm sure Alec will end up there too. Say hi to Dad, the grandparents, and everyone else. I think maybe tonight we'll whip up a batch of coffee-pot mac-n-cheese, some pudding, and watch Murder By Death. I'll leave a chair for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to my brother Paul, who is 52 today. I think, now that I've mastered the art of low-carb cake baking, I will make a small one tonight in his honor. Enjoy!

Welcome Home Mom!

This past Thursday Lee and I flew out to Carlsbad, CA to get Mom ready for the journey home to New York, which occurred Saturday night. She is now back in New York, and seemed to make the journey OK. Some strange happenings on the way there got me thinking about Paul again.

Lee booked the flights for us. Since I was bringing mom home on the red-eye Saturday night, he booked a non stop for me from Newark, and a one way for her sitting next to me on the return trip. His fight didn't need to be non stop, and he would usually rather leave from Stewart or Albany for convenience sake. Here, now is a list of some rather amazing coincidences that followed:

--Lee's flight from Stewart ended up changing planes in Newark, onto the SAME FLIGHT I was on.

--I knew when we booked the separate flights that Lee was sitting a few rows away from me, but didn't remember exactly where. We were both stuck in middle seats too, as that was all that was left at booking time. I checked in online the night before, and quickly grabbed an aisle seat that wasn't available when we booked. It ended up being the seat NEXT TO LEE.

--The flight was full. They even announced that, so that people knew to conserve space in the overheads. When the plane finally finished boarding there was one empty seat from a no-show: THE WINDOW SEAT NEXT TO LEE.

Once again, I'm not usually much for spirits and the like, but I would like to believe that he was either there with us, or somehow made sure that we had a more comfortable ride than we would have. Thank you Paul, either way, and although I'm sure if you're capable of watching us you already know this: Mom is home, and safe with the rest of us. Say hi to dad, and could we manage an "accidental" first-class upgrade the next time we travel?

It would have been a holiday season of Monty Python jokes and at least one showing of "Murder by Death". Sausage or Taylor Pork Roll for breakfast, and a coffee pot full of mac-n-cheese for lunch. Dinner? Maybe a pork roast, or out to Charlie Brown's. At least one car mishap, hopefully not a flaming Taurus in a WalMart lot, or having to make a window out of a table protector. I have these things to remind me of the good times, and how you always managed to get the humor out of the bad times.

I hope they have a huge movie library wherever you are, and unlimited internet. Miss you Paul.

Remembrance (From Sue)

REMEMBRANCE

I paused at the window this morning

On this the twenty second day of December

And took pause as the dawn

Lifted the sun silently over the horizon

I greeted the morning with coffee in hand

Said a prayer & remembered

On this day two years had past

Since I had seen my friend Paul, the last

He's somewhere over the rainbow

He's where dreams come true

He's with all who have come before

Waiting for those yet to travel afar

He greets the mornings with sunrises

He can see more than he could ever imagine

He's fascinated by all he walks by

He finds eternity amazing

He loved whom he loved with a heart of gold

He gave of his heart to the young and the old

Now at this Christmas, his favorite time of year

He has his father with him to toast good cheer

I paused at the window this morning

On this twenty second day of December

And took pause as the dawn

Lifted silently over the horizon

A toast to the life of one well lived

With humor, and grace and love

He will today and forever more be remembered

On this the twenty second day of December

Sue

Another Dream

Paul visited me in my sleep again. This time, I was driving a van on the New York State Thruway. I had somehow crawled into the back and fallen asleep. I can remember waking every now and then thinking how is the van still driving? Is the road that straight? Finally I got up and sat in the passenger seat, marveling at the steering wheel and everything else being controlled by some invisible force. "Who is there"? I asked. "Paul is that you"? Nothing happened, and I looked back at the road, but when I looked at the drivers seat again, He was there. "Why couldn't I see you before?" I asked. He replied "You can't see me until you identify me by name". He told me he saw me fall asleep and took over driving so I would be safe. Thank you for watching over me Paul. (Photo: Nelson D. Flickr)