Nostalgia – Page 6 – Word Smith Wisdom

It Really Doesn’t Matter Anymore

It Really Doesn’t Matter Anymore

When I was little, I was very shy.

I couldn’t look a person in the eye.

A few years later I didn’t like to fight.

To avoid a hassle I would take flight.

As an adult I resisted going to war.

I didn’t want to be here anymore.

Now I’m old & set in my ways.

I think back to those earlier days.

I am still set against any wars.

But,— it doesn’t matter anymore.

I got married & we had children.

Both were really strong willed then.

Now that I think, they still are now.

They could make you have a cow.

But, neither thinks much of war.

They dislike it to the core.

Now I’m old & set in my ways.

I think back to those earlier days.

I am still set against any wars.

But,—It doesn’t matter anymore.

As an adult I found the Lord.

My life changed. I’m no longer bored.

I’m looking at life with a different view.

Thinking of more than me and you.

Helping others to make the change.

Getting away from sorrow and pain.

Now I’m old & set in my ways.

I think back to those earlier days.

I am still against any wars.

But, it really doesn’t matter anymore.

Were in the end days. It will end soon.

The Lord will come outshining sun & moon.

That will be the end of strife & wars.

He’ll shake this earth to it’s very core.

The righteous will be caught up in the air.

The wicked will die in shame & despair.

Now I’m old & set in my ways.

I think back to those earlier days.

I am still set against any wars.

Soon, none of this will matter anymore.

—————————————————R.W. Johnson—-(2011)

Contemplation

Contemplation

Come what may, I just never know.

Times may come and they may go.

Good things can happen to one another.

Be it brothers, sisters, or just lovers.

Time will pass and the story will change.

But, the ending always seems the same.

I never seem to know enough.

Makes any progress really tough.

I try to keep on keeping on.

Till late at night or early dawn.

I toss and turn within the satin.

Always wondering what did happen?

Could I somehow have made it better?

Maybe I could have sent a letter.

Poor out my heart in weeping sobs.

Eat all the corn and spit out the cobs.

But, still the situation is tough.

I always feel I don’t know enough.

Life will go on and seasons change.

But, certain things remain the same.

A shattered heart takes years to heal.

Depending on who’s behind the wheel.

Still, it haunts me like a bad dream.

I wonder if I’ll ever glean

enough knowledge to finally say.

I think I know enough today.——————-R. W. Johnson—-(2012)

Ribs

Ribs

My sweet wife sent me downtown for some ribs.

She said to go ahead and she’d watch the kids.

When I arrived there were cars everywhere.

There was absolutely not a space to spare.

I began to wonder what the hell was going on.

I almost had to park up on someone’s lawn.

I finally found a spot some distance away.

Then started hoofing it all the way.

It was the annual Blues, Brews, and Barbeque.

There was people everywhere drinking their brew.

Lines were long and not moving fast.

I found my favorite rib booth at last.

After considerable time, I placed my order.

The lady asked me if I had a quarter?

It was 22 dollars to go, without the bib.

That was for a full rack of St. Lewis ribs.

I left with the ribs but, I didn’t get far.

I bumped into people which made me jar.

I came close to dropping the ribs.

One guy asked me if they were his.

Eventually I made it back to my car.

Fortunately I didn’t have to drive too far.

I arrived home safely with the ribs.

I gave them to the wife and kids.

Then it hit me like a thunderbolt.

The thought made me feel like a dope.

I got ribs for all, you see.

But, I didn’t get any ribs for me————R. W. Johnson———(2011)

50 Year Reunion

50 Year Reunion

The 50 year H S reunion has come and gone.

But, the memories will live on and on.

If you haven’t gone to one at least once in your life

you haven’t lived,—- and that ain’t right.

3 schools were involved. That’s different than most.

But, there is a reason. Just ask the host.

All went to one school for the first 3 years.

2 new schools were built for our final year.

So the seniors from all 3 schools were at the blast.

They all partied like animals without any past.

A lot of old cronies just having a ball.

Checking others name badges to know them at all.

Each badge had your senior picture on it.

Otherwise, no one would recognize your wit.

We were all friends, even after 50 years.

At times it could almost bring you to tears.

Even people you weren’t close to in school

now were your buddies, and that was cool.

You felt a bond after 50 years had passed.

You know what it took for each one to last.

I saw people I thought I would never see again.

But, when seeing them, it was worth the wait until then.

Funny, they were all old but me.

Then again, they probably felt the same, you see.

It was a wonderful time when we grew up.

Now things are getting really tough.

We will lead the way as we go on.

We’ll stand tall cause we are strong.

Several weren’t there I’d love to see.

Some passed on way too early for me.

Those who missed lost a part of their past.

It will haunt them till the last.

For those who were there

It won’t be so hard to bare.

For we know in 5 we’ll do it again.

To miss it then would be a real sin.—————-Wayne Johnson——-(2011)

Our Hometown

Our Hometown

We took a trip to our hometown.

We only stopped just to look around.

The changes there took us by surprise.

But, there it all was before our eyes.

Population 500 when we were small.

Now it was over 5,000 and that ain’t all.

They have a traffic light or two.

Many new stores and sidewalks too.

It’s not the same as it used to be.

Not like it was when you met me.

We had fun in this rural town.

Just kicking back and fooling around.

Our romance started down by the tracks

where we watched for trains with smoking stacks.

We graduated and moved away.

Off to college, work, and a lotta play.

We kept in touch & got back together.

Then we married and it was forever.

After many years we came home.

To this town where we had grown.

Yes, it’s changed a lot, but, we have too.

But, in the end, I still have you.

The town has changed. It has grown.

But, the principles it had sown

when we were young and running free

kept us together, you and me.

So we love this town for what it gave.

It helped us love & helped us stay.

Something in common to talk about.

Something to share and never pout.

We love this town the way it was.

But, changes or not, it still means love.

—————————————————-R.W. Johnson (2011)

Your Friendship

Your Friendship

Your friendship to me is like diamonds and gold to a stingy rich man.

Your friendship is the candle I go to sleep by each night.

It is the bright shining star I wake up to each morning.

The thought of existence without that friendship is bleak.

It would be like a black hole in the center of my soul,

sucking the joy and life out of everything I hold dear.

Your friendship is more than two ships passing in the night.

You have reached out and touched what makes me me.

Your cheerful, uplifting attitude raises me to a new level.

Forget cloud 9, I am elevated to infinity and beyond!!

Your love for the Lord of lords is icing on the cake.

You are a diamond in the rough but, still beautiful to behold.

All are greatly blessed by knowing you and being around you.

But, those fortunate enough to be called friend by you are

truly blessed beyond their wildest imagination.

You not only leave them with a feeling that they are loved

but, that they truly mean something to you beyond friendship.

Such a gift few are blessed to have and you excel at it.

Friendship is often defined as a good friend or friends.

This comes far short of what is involved being your friend.

You lift me up when I am down and restore my worth.

I am a living legacy of a friendship that knows no end.

I can’t put into words the connection you have made with me.

Except to thank you. Will you be my friend for eternity??

——————————————————-R. W. Johnson—-(2012)

Mustang Cure

When I’m down and feeling blue.

I know just what I need to do.

I go out to the garage & get in the car.

Then drive my red Mustang convertible afar.

I go zipping along with the top down.

I end up driving all over town.

Wind blowing through my blonde hair.

I get wolf whistles everywhere.

I am enjoying the sun on my face

as I drive from place to place.

The radio is playing my favorite songs.

I sing and tap as I roll along.

Soon my mood is so much better.

I don’t worry about the weather.

I am in a world all my own.

I even turn off my cellular phone.

After an hour or so of cruising around,

I find I am again homeward bound.

Fixing dinner in the kitchen,

I find I no longer feel like bitching.

Hubby comes home looking for food.

He says I seem to be in a good mood.

I think he’s right. I feel good.

The Mustang helped like I knew it would..—R. W. Johnson—-(2012)

Contemplating

Contemplating

Thinking back, my life is quite a story.

I’ve had lots of girls & small town glories.

I never found my soul mate.

Even though, I’ve had tons of dates.

In high school I was considered a good catch.

A football star with good looks to match.

I played the field and loved it all.

Be they tall or be they small.

In my twenty’s I was in a bar.

With my buddy, we drove his car.

We picked up two girls that night.

What a time. It was out of sight.

I’ve dated friends of friends & others.

I would’ve chosen different if I had my druthers.

A few relationships got serious & lasted awhile.

In the long run I have to smile.

They didn’t work out for this reason or that.

It wasn’t always me that was the rat.

Some have said look inward & I will see.

The problem here lies within me.

Thinking back in retrospect.

That wasn’t always true. What did they expect?

Now that I am older and set in my ways

you would think I could find a match someday.

I’m pretty much an independent guy.

I often speak up. I’m not too shy.

I am not sure I want to be tied down.

Though, I think I have both feet on the ground.

Maybe it’s a fear of giving up control?

Now, I am the man, wherever I go.

Some say I fear the commitment it takes.

Am I afraid I will make mistakes?

Whatever the cause, here I am, single.

I still get the urge to mingle.

But, I think I’m destined to be a bachelor.

Not because I couldn’t catch her.

I hate to be hurt or to hurt others.

Too much emotion smoothers.

Here lies the root of the problem.

Best to keep it casual. Don’t crowd them.

That way no one gets hurt in the end.

I don’t want a lover, I want a friend.

Too bad there wasn’t some way to have both.

Maybe there is. I can’t give up hope.———R. W. Johnson—–(2013)

Summer, The First Time

Summer, The First Time

Remember the fun you had as a kid?

Building tree houses with a trap door lid?

Building forts and secret caves?

If in the country, those were the days.

We rode bikes everywhere we went.

There were no gangs. Threats weren’t sent.

We had fun exploring in the woods.

The dog was with us, like he should.

He kept us safe and we never got lost.

He would get us home at any cost.

We had our swimming hole in the creek.

Every summer that’s where we would meet.

We didn’t have phones to call home.

Our parents weren’t scared cause we were alone.

We would ride our bikes to meet one another.

Before we left we’d tell our mother.

We knew how to stay out of trouble.

There were mostly boys in our huddle.

We didn’t have computers or games.

We would read a book when it would rain.

No i-pods, cellular phones, or x-boxes.

Yet, we kept busy finding where our sock is.

We would make up games to play.

Or, just lie around in the sun all day.

When we got older we had a summer job.

All of us found work. It wasn’t odd.

There was still swimming after work.

On weekends we’d pull on our clean shirt.

Then off to church we would go.

It was the way things were, you know.

When old enough to finally drive.

To the A & W, we would arrive.

Checking out the cute little car hops.

Playing the music that wouldn’t stop.

Dating at the drive in with your favorite girl.

The entire time was such a thrill.

But, it’s all just memories now.

If I had the chance somehow.

I would go back and live it again.

It would be good to see old friends.

Now I look forward to heaven.

That time won’t end.. No home by eleven.

——————————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2013)

The Computer Age

The Computer Age

You’ve heard it said many times before.

You’ve heard me scream it as you went out the door.

I’m a pre computer person in a post computer age.

I’ve read the book & don’t understand a single page.

When I was young we used a slide rule.

Hand calculators ‘not allowed’ was the rule.

Then, as a young adult, computers came along.

I ignored them and kept singing my song.

My son said. “Get a computer. What could go wrong?”

“Pop, you have to stop singing that song.”

After some time I gave into the pressure.

I got a computer and let it sit here.

My son came and hooked it up.

Learning the basics was really tough.

A mouse was what I set traps for.

A ‘floppy disk’ was a real horror!!

Words now seemed to mean a different thing.

learn a new language just to play with the thing.

To turn it off I have to press start.

If I pressed the delete button it could break my heart.

Very slowly, I learned most of the basic things.

It often caused nightmares in my dreams.

Cut and paste I could never get.

Kindergarten stuff, I couldn’t do on a bet.

Then came Outlook 6, 7, and 8.

I just didn’t have what it takes.

I was lost in a world of words and phrases.

The hell with this!! It can go to blazes!!

Then I was told to get a Galaxy S II phone.

I can get on the internet while gone or at home.

I can take pictures & put them on line.

Facebook would take up most of my time.

I can tweet and twitter galore.

I can text people. What is a phone for??

When I was young we used it to talk to each other.

That is all that was needed . So said my mother.

This electronic crap is driving me insane.

Pay bills on the computer. It seems so lame.

No wonder the mail service is dwindling away.

No time for mail while on the computer all day.

Get outdoors folks. Learn to have some outdoor fun.

Kids can’t ride a bike but, have calluses on their thumbs.

It’s a sign of the times you say to me.

I say get outside. Learn to be free.

I’m a pre computer person in a post computer age.

I have to use a computer some, despite the rage.

But, the pre computer life was way better for me.

At least, back then I actually felt free.

——————————————————R. W. Johnson—–(2013)