Some 73rd Birthday Numbers


2,700,000,000 heartbeats
At varying rates caused by love or aerobics
693,000,000 breaths - some mindful, many not
2,000,000 words in my 42 journals
26,665 days, some more alive than others
4,400 books read
500 paintings created, 400 destroyed
11 - acturially estimated years remaining (but who knows?)
Zero vegetables liked

Log In, Log Out

I logged in to the visitor list at 7:29
And exited the elevator at 7:32
Nurse: Are you here to see Mr. Graves?
Me: Yes, how did you know?
Nurse: We alerted the family a half hour ago
As I enter the room
Denny: labors to take his last breath
They: time of death 7:44
Me: "Goodbye old friend"

The Details Are In the Dash

Larry Glenn Andrews, 1944 - 20??
I've secured the first two digits of my end date
And the growing frequency of notices
Of the death or disability of contemporaries
Cause me to speculate on the remaining numbers

But I'd rather focus on the details in the dash
How then shall I live the Dash?

Christmas Snack

My face smiled and sighed
While my soul laughed and wept
My 36 year old autistic son
Still believes in Christmas

On his own initiative
He placed a glass of milk
In front of the fireplace last night
I noticed his worried look

"What's the matter Joey?"
"Fraid the milk might sour"
My little Buddha
So thoughtful and guileless

I scheduled myself to empty the glass
Before he awakened Christmas morning
But he beat me down the stairs
However, Mrs. Santa Claus saved the day
He was so pleased, and so was I
Santa got his Christmas snack