Read an article about Bernice's poems in the Sullivan Daily Times!

New Poems!

Poem
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree
But trees grow old and lose their limbs
Often uprooted by strong winds
The printed poem may fade and turn yellow
But the words remain soft and mellow

2010 Earthquakes
Are our children and grandchildren are safe as they once were
Are we just waiting for another quake to occur
I am going to my grandsons for ham and beans and fried potatoes---wow
You just cannot beat that for now

Keeping in Touch
It is hard to keep in touch
When you have not been doing much
We haven't seen the ground this year
I have not been anywhere
We are safe from wars and earthquakes 
Not too many pains and aches

Hospital Visit
Had a few things go wrong
Went to the ER but not for long
The nurses had fun
But I had none
I'll be right back
Doesn't mean exactly that
But they had their instructions
And I got plenty of attention
It wasn't meant to be a vacation
I am ready once more for some recreation

The Wood Family
Casually reviewing the Adron Wood family tree
There are some recurring themes
The boys like striving for a hole in one
The girls like music and books when the day is done
All are good natured and enjoy good health
History may repeat as an interesting fact
I played trombone in the IU Girls band in 1936
Multitalented Great Grandson Hunter plays first chair trombone at his school without a hitch
I may never attend a concert
But wouldn't that  be great

New Year at Assisted Living
The reveling started at seven and was over at eight
For me at least it was getting late
We had hats and horns to set the mood
A variety of delicious snack food
Cocktails of bubbly apple cider
For all of us it could not have been nicer
Happy New Year

No Fly List
I am not hearing much from my email list
When I don't send a poem that may be one of the risks
I had to think hard for a subject but here goes
This is for fun and not for the prose
If Debbie and I fly to see Little Debbie
We probably should do it promptly
Rumor has it all passengers may be asked to fly nude
That could change our attitude

Rehab
It's midnight and I am wide awake
I turn on public radio and the music is great
It is like a refresher course in music appreciation
The only credit is the satisfaction
Seldom heard symphonies by the master
musicians of long ago
I love the public station on my Bose radio

Food for Thought
Now that Thanksgiving is just a memory
Are you cutting your turkey sandwiches straight across or diagonally
A turkey sandwich is still just a turkey sandwich
No matter how you cut it will do in a pinch

I am sure you have not the slightest doubt
I have really run out of things to write poems about!

Facing the Facts
Another message that another friend had died
I sat on the edge of my bed and cried
Just as families are gathering
To enjoy another Thanksgiving
Seems a little sadder and harder to bear
But we never know when or where

My Ship
My ship came in a longtime ago
Bringing treasures beyond measure to all my household
A few misfortunes seem like minor distractions today
Life was great that is all I can say
My ship sailed away
I am here now to stay
If I am not in my room
I will be there soon

Retirement
As long as you gave a mother
You will always be a kid to her
You may be retired and ready to rest
Just enjoy the empty nest
It does not always work that way
May find it hard to find time for play
Happy retirement Brent
Time will fly by no matter how it is spent

Modeling
I have another style show assignment
Winter styles from the Dress Barn is the event
Since I am now more experienced I thought I should get more pay
But the boss said no way
It will be week after next in our dining hall
If you want reservations you may call

Years and Years
I like to hear a gasp of disbelief
When I say I am 91 and a half
That doesn't really happen as often as I like
As I get older and older maybe it might

Trivia
Trivia is a game we play
Just to pass the time of day
Some are easy and make us laugh
Like how many legs does a horse have
Some are hard and make us ponder hard and long
Like who was president when you were born
No one knows if we are right or wrong

Bad Day Bad Joke
The Dr. finally came with the test results
Seemed nervous as he took his pulse
You only have 24 hours to live I am sorry to say
And I should have told you yesterday

Gossip
Overheard while shopping
"I have a policy of never saying anything
about anyone unless it is something good.
And boy is this good!"

Hilary Hurst Memorial
Birds of a feather all flocked together
Said goodbye to their leader
We were not one of them but hey always let us in
Ann's review of his faithfulness in her eulogy
Is now a part of history done so perfectly

Wellness Fair
I went to the Wellness Fair
About a dozen Home Health agents were there
They passed out literature about how to stay well as we get older
Home Health workers help us stay in touch with our doctor
Lots of door prizes made it more fun
I won two big baskets of mums
Which I gave to each of my sons

Statistics
There are facts and there is faction
Then there are reports by statisticians
People are healthier during hard times
No money to spend on unhealthy excesses
It should come as no surprise
Suicides are on the rise

Designer Babies
I have heard about designer clothes
What is this I hear about designer babies
The birds and bees method worked fine for me
I loved the character of all three
Hair color also suited me just fine
I might have designed for the boys to hold on to their hairline

Childhood
I just visited with my only sister for two days
We are so alike in so many ways
Neither are able to travel anymore
Even the simplest things are now a chore
We are both now in Assisted Living Homes
We talk often on our phones
Face to face is so much better
We were both full of memories of our mother
How she was always helping some neighbor
Times were tough
But she managed to have enough

Lesson in Grammar
My little boy who is now retired
Came in from the yard
"I seen I seen," he stammered
"I saw  I saw," I corrected his grammar
"Where was you when you seen it?"  He wanted to know

Oops
I wrote a poem about grammar
And actually misspelled grammar
Now I am wondering
Have I misspelled misspell
My smart granddaughter is my editor
I will leave it up to her

Cicada Mania
I sit on the patio in the evening
Listen to the cicada sing
My curiosity got the best of me
I turned to my faithful Web TV
Found eight pages of FAQ  (frequently asked questions)
The cicada is very unusual
Especially if you are a curious individual
The answers  to the questions
Were sometimes true and some were legends

Family Albums
One thing about divorce
Never ever considered of course
Only a grandma really knows
How it messes up her family photos

Things Not To Do at 91
Don't be stingy with thank you and love you
Just thinking them will not do
Don't put off sending your seldom worn clothes to Goodwill today
That is where they will no doubt go any way
Don't forget to look around
Someone lonesome can be easily found
Don't buy bananas that are not ripe
Or fix more than one slice of toast at a time
Don't put off until tomorrow that poem in your head
That may be your best one yet

Old Age
All the people my age are older than I
At least that is worth a try
I find it so hard to believe it is true
All the things I have lived through

Hyphens and Apostrophes
When emailing I can never see
Where to find a hyphen or apostrophe
I do not use contractions for that reason
And I just leave out the hyphens
Laura corrects my mistakes for me
She does it all for free

Mystery Mouse
There is excitement at Assisted Living every night
A mouse comes into sight
Going under the doors everywhere
Traps are set that are ignored with care
Not one one calling card has been sighted by anyone
The night shift workers are kept on the run
Maintenance man is pulling out his hair
He has never seen anything to compare

Capital Gains
I got a check from ISTA today
Now I can go to CVS and IGA
First I will check my emails on MSN TV
Hear the news on NBC
Tonight I will listen to PRI and Prairie Home
Sunday I will go to FCC to give me hope
Monday when I have nothing else to do but cry
I can always go to the Y

Ants in My Pantry
If it is not one thing it's another
Now I have ants in my cupboard
Not just one or two but a lot
Invisible to me I see them not
They seem to be after the crumbs in my toaster
I'll have to watch that a little closer
So they won't completely take over
Not nearly as bad as a mouse
But not something you really like in the house

Of Mice and Women
It is bad enough to see a mouse in the garden
But worse to see one dart across the bedroom carpet
All kind of visions dance in your head
What if that darn thing would get in your bed
That actually happened to Nellouse today
I can safely say
She will not sleep well tonight

Computer Problems
Often when I have trouble with my Web TV
All my family get an SOS from me
They get together and solve the problem
I am so lucky to have them
I am lost without those emails every day
I usually have a lot I want to say

Pickles in my Pocket
Bread and Butter pickles go well with almost any meal
So much better than the usual dill
So I take a few in a zip-lock bag
This plan becomes a bit of a drag
And actually has a bit of a snag
I small a lot like pickle juice
Not the fragrance most would choose

Senior Living
The biggest problem here is staying well
Whether we are or not is hard to tell
A good doctor comes whenever we call
If we run a fever or happen to fall
A home health nurse makes weekly visits
Makes her report on what she finds may exist
Care givers check us out and gives us medicine as needed
I do my own eye drops three times each day
Check my sugar level so it doesn't run away
I can also now check my own blood pressure
Take a walk at my own pleasure
By the time we eat three times each day
Not much time is left for play
We wear a locket with a call bell n it
If a sudden stroke or something worse should hit
All in all we could note ask for more
Bingo and other activities keeps life from being too much of a bore

The Empty Chair
Last Sunday we sat on folding chairs in the Fellowship Hall
While the auditorium was undergoing an overhaul
There were two empty chairs on the end of a row
The one beside me stayed vacant---why I do not know
That empty chair shook my composure
That I try so desperately to wear
My life seemed suddenly to have no purpose
As when there was two of us

My TIA
I'm giving myself an A on my Transient Ischemic Attack
Almost all of my energy is back
No, more slurring to slow down my speech
thank goodness
I can walk a straight line more or less
My short-term memory may be a little shorter
Remembering what I was just
told is a little harder
You may need to write down important things
Maybe I'll get back in full swing

Now I Know
Woman's work is about done
When she reaches 91
Cooking, cleaning and babysitting
Are now a part of your history
I can take care of myself barely
Family gatherings are fun especially since not cooked by me
My great grand children are already about as smart as me
What a future theirs can be

All About Me
     I write a poem about every day
Gives me a chance to say what I want to say
It cheers mp and maybe some of you too
Otherwise we may get a little blue

The Way Life Is
No two people are exactly alike
Even if they are both named Mike
So to be original just be yourself
No one has your features, your wealth or your health
Only you can control the future
But you cannot change the past that is for sure

Fathers Day
Fathers Day will be very sad
We will all miss good ole Dad
Since I lost my mate
Makes me wonder about my fate
Which of my ailments will be final
What existing disease may prove to be fatal
Then my short term memory comes in handy
And I think of all the little things that still make me happy

Wind Chimes
The beautiful chimes are on the gazebo among the flowers and birds
Thanks to the coworkers where Josh works
What a really nice thing to do
Just to say say they were thinking of you

Generations
Those were the days my family and friends
We foolishly thought they would never end
But generations just come and go
How or when we seem not to ever really know

My Birthday
I am 91 today
I woke up early with some new aches I didn't have yesterday
My right wrist hurts and I have a limp in my right foot
My cough is better but still not so good
I could say I am doing great
At any rate I can still walk and talk

  Josh
Thanks for your great job at the memorial
It was a bright spot in the ceremonial
I am giving you your grandpa's two dollar bill
You may never find another one
Nor a grandpa who was so much fun

Widows
Widows can be found everywhere
Wherever you go they are there
At church or at the mall
Most are old but some are young some are short and some are tall
They have a built in smile
While hurting inside all the while
Some are left with children  in their care
In today's world that is quite a dare
They can tell you exactly how long their husband has been gone
Life just keeps on gong on

VIVIE and NADIA
The twins are now four months old
We wouldn't trade them for silver or gold
Right now they both have a problem it is plain to see
There are two babies but only one mommy
Soon they will love having a playmate all day long
Bit now sharing mommy is just plain wrong

Home
I tried to walk through my house today
Without stepping on a talking toy or a baby napping
The babies are different and so are the toys
Little Debbie wanted Dave to draw her a bear
Taking a look, she said   That's not a bear!
The women were laughing and telling kid jokes
There is nothing like being at home with home folks

Summertime in Indiana
Frosty the Snowman has been melted away
Replaced by wildflowers in finest array
Sounds of the snow plows replaced by lawn mowers everywhere
Farmers at roadside stands to sell their wares
Children are playing free at last
Grades and homework are a thing of the past
Snow suits stored and replaces by t-shirts and shorts and shorts
Baseball is always the favorite sport
No more worry about frostbite
Sunburn can happen with the sun so bright
Grandparents house is a popular place to go
They are back from the warm south and out of the winter snow
Covered Bridge Festivals where crowds flock in
Eat the food and probably go back again

Table Talk
According to my casual survey
Doctors are quoted more than anyone today
What my doctor said  is oft repeated
Maybe a little more than needed
MY DOCTOR said I was in very good condition
And I didn't tell a single one!!

Thought for Today
Maybe it is because I am such a ham
I love the daily cryptogram
Thomas Edison once said he had never failed his whole life long
He had just found ten thousand ways to be wrong

Our Plans
You can live a clean and wholesome life
Free of sin and emotional strife
See your doctor and take your pills
Enjoy living with very few ills
Have a family that you love dearly
And a hobby makes your days go by quickly
Alzheimer's can strike without warning
Your life stops but you are still breathing
There is still that promise we believe is true
Everything old ill be made new

Cycles
In the beginning
It is our parents on which we depend
In the end our children jump in
In between we do our own adlibbing
Often we just follow our peers and do whatever they're doing
Very few enter the Hall of Fame
Be happy with your life is the name of the game

Morning Paper
I have a friend who often reads my paper
When he hands it back the pages are always in the right order
Now that's the kind of friend I need
I am not so good at being neat

My Role
Now that I am older and stricken with age
I think of the earth and sky as a stage
We each have a role to perform
Maybe a purpose for which we were born
Our choice is whether to follow the script
That can be found in a book called a Bible

My Wardrobe
Every morning it takes me a long time to dress
I guess I have too many clothes I confess
I usually change at least one or twice
I may just decide that just doesn't look nice
Or I may have something on backwards or inside out
The colors are wrong no doubt
I notice a food stain on my blouse
Whatever it is it won't come out
I like to get up early so I can take my time
What ever I wear the choice is mine

    8 Easy Ways I Can Get In Trouble
1. Clean my own carpet
2. Cut my own hair
2. Give my daughter a perm
4. Hunt golf balls
5. Alter my own clothes
6. Try a new recipe on special guests
7. Trimming neighbors vines on our eaves
8. Ignoring the no bleach label

WebTV
I can hardly ever explain anything I do
I have no idea how I ever started sending emails to all of you
When I was 82 I bought myself a WebTV
It seemed to be the very thing for me and my poor vision
All I needed was some supervision
Laura corrected all my mistakes
Encouraged me in lots of ways
Now I have a new large digital screen
I'm seeing things I have never seen
If I don't run out of things to write about
Emails will keep coming so look out

Self Pity
Lately I've been doing a lot of feeling sorry for myself
That's really not good for anyone's health
I shall try hard not to do that any more
And lessen my chances of becoming a big bore

Thought for the Day
The daily cryptogram give me something to start each day
Joyce Brothers was the author today
Marriage is not just spiritual communion
Remembering to take out the trash always strengthens the union

Skin Care
I have some skin care products
Which cost my daughter a few bucks
It says right there in the directions
For a fresh youthful complexion
By now I should be seeing a big change in me
But I did note there was no guarantee

Editorial Cartoons
My reading has been curtailed by my vision
I get the news in a nutshell in the morning edition
On one side was college student flipping hamburgers to pay his way
He was shown on the other frame as a college grad still flipping away

Facing the Facts
How easy it is to take a good life for granted
How quickly it may all be ended
A Nursing Home was just a place to make
a courtesy call
On a friend made bedfast by a fall
Suddenly it is a part of our existence
Nothing really makes much sense
We can just put our trust in the Lord
And depend solely on His Word

  Connecting
I work the daily cryptogram
To see how connected I still am
And if my connectors are still connecting
How out of touch I may be getting
This morning I passed the test
Even though my short term memory might
not be the best
After all the years of wear and tear
I enjoy the emails that we share

Our Texas Trip
Our trip to Texas
Was a great success
Dave ,Debbie, dog Daisy and me
Got along together famously
We all took turns rocking the twins
Our first stop was in Austin to see them
Laura and Little Debbie were waiting in San Antonio for us
Along with other family and friends
We have lots of pictures and stories to tell
Through it all we all stayed well

My Valentine
Saw my husband in high school
I thought he was really cool
He really struck my fancy
He soon became my fiancé
I thank God forever after
We lived and loved long years together

Guest Poem by Eleanor Bottorff

A Memory by Eleanor

It seems like just yesterday
Not very far away
The Day that my feet wouldn’t stay on the ground

Running down Center Street
Dancing and prancing feet
Skipping and tripping feet
Feet that just barely were touching the ground.

Slamming the old screen door
Of Young’s well-stocked grocery store
Mom’s gentle smile before
Trying to calm me and settle me down

People turning and staring
But I was not caring
The news I was sharing
Could not be held in

What’s the very best thing
Yes the grooviest thing
The most exciting thing
That ever could be?

It may sound absurd
But I just got the word
That someone has heard
Guess who’s moving back?

It’s Bernice and Adron
And my buddy Adra Ann
It’s Brent and it’s Dave and
They’re moving back here!

It seems like just yesterday
Not very far away
The day that my feet would not stay on the ground

  Decades
As I look back on our long life together
I think in decades instead of one year after another
Our kids always remembered every birthday and anniversary every ten years
The end of another decade will soon be here
My book is finished and my scrapbook is full
That has kept my life from being dull
So many of our family and friends are not here any more
Discontent can make a rich man poor
I can not say I am happy but there must be some purpose
So why cry and fuss

Choices
You can pick your friends and the clothes you wear
You can pick the way you wear your hair
You can pick an apple or a rose
But never never pick your nose

2009
Year 2009 may be the year of the great decline
The biggest depression for a long time
The poor will get poorer and the rich will too
New problems to watch out for will come into view
Watch out for stalkers and identity thieves
All kinds of new ways to cheat and deceive
My peers say the last depression was a good experience in a lot of ways
Happy New Year come what may

Small Town USA
Adron and I came from the small town Winslow
Their team was called the Eskimos
Most of them had nicknames
Big crowds came to all their games
There was Hoggie, Froggie and Weepy John
The more ridiculous the more they stuck on
Adron was once called Hadicol
How that happened I simply do not recall
He was the captain of the team
Those are fond memories to redeem

Happy Day
We have twin boys that are now four
Now twin girls who could ask for more
They arrived today safe and sound
Each one weighed a little over four pounds
Marni said it was a piece of cake
Not the usual remark for a new mother to make
Two great grandmothers are as happy as can be
To have their names added to the family tree
Beto now has a little girl for each knee
You both probably knew you would get a poem from me