SUBJECT: IN MEMORIAM POEM REQUESTED BY SUSAN GARLINGHOUSE
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY SUSAN REQUESTED THIS INFORMATION ON RIDE CAMP, BUT I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER POSTS THAT WANTED TO GIVE SOMETHING IN RETURN. WHILE I HAVE SHARED MY THOUGHTS WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I HAVE NEVER BARED MY SOUL TO THOUSANDS OF READERS. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME, I JUST FELT SOMEONE MAY BENEFIT.
MY GRANDSON, CHRIS, WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 25, 1995, TWO MONTHS BEFORE HIS FIFTH BIRTHDAY. HE CALLED HIS MOTHER "MOMMY," ME HE CALLED "MOM." HE WAS QUITE THE LITTLE FARM HAND. HE LEARNED TO RIDE IN FRONT OF ME ON MY ENDURANCE HORSE, BASCOY+, AT THIRTEEN MONTHS. "BOSS" HAD SUCH A LONG SWINGING STRIDE, THAT WHEN I LEAD HIM AT THE WALK WITH CHRIS ABOARD, HE'D SAY "HE'S RUNNING, MOM, HE'S RUNNING!" HIS HELMENT STILL HANGS IN MY TACK ROOM ALONG WITH HIS SHOVEL AND WHEEL BARROW. ONE DAY WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS CLEANING STALLS, CHRIS RAN TO GET HIS SHOVEL SAYING "I CAN'T MISS HELPING PAPAW SHOVEL SHIT!" HE DIDN'T USUALLY USE THAT WORD, BUT THAT'S WHAT JOHN CALLED IT, "SHOVELING SHIT." CHRIS EVEN HELPED US DISMANTLE AN OLD CAMPER FOR BUILDING-IN OUR HORSE TRAILER. TWO YEARS AGO ALSO IN AUGUST, BASCOY+ JOINED MY LITTLE ANGEL - MAYBE CHRIS STARTED HIS ENDURANCE CAREER IN HEAVEN. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE CHRISTOPHER STORIES, BUT THE POINT OF MY POST IS TO SHARE THIS POEM BY CONSTANCE PARKER GRAHAM THAT HANGS ON MY REFRIGERATOR TO THIS DAY.
WE CANNOT LOSE THE ONES WE LOVE,
FOR EVEN WHEN THEY'RE GONE,
WE FEEL THEIR GENTLE PRESENCE
IN THE HUSH OF EVERY DAWN . . .
WE SEE THEM IN THE SUNSHINE
THAT MAKES THE DAY SO BRIGHT,
IN THE FLOWERS OF THE SPRINGTIME
AND IN THE STARS AT NIGHT . . .
WE CANNOT LOSE THE ONES WE LOVE,
FOR THEY WILL ALWAYS STAY
IN ALL THAT'S BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
AROUND US DAY BY DAY.
SAVOUR EVERY MOMENT YOU ARE BLESSED TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS, LOVED ONES AND OUR BELOVED HORSES. CHERISH THE MEMORIES AND RIDE ON.
PEGGY BURGESS
AERC 9060
