The Best Kind of Memories

The Best Kind of Memories
(For The World’s Best Grandma/MOM/Best Friend)
-Tyson B. Troxel
November 2009


There are all kinds of memories
Good memories
Bad memories
Made up memories
Fairy tales
Happily ever afters
And
Not so happily ever afters
If you can’t say anything nice,
Don’t say it at all.
Smile
Say at least one nice thing
Put on a happy face
No one likes a frowner
Piano lessons make happy little boys
Paper routes make you good and strong
Kringla and Potato cakes
Oh My!
Dragons and unicorns
Princes and princesses
Little boys
G.I. Joe’s and Star Wars
Basements with hidden treasures
Garages full of baseball cards
Kites flying in the sky
Bikes jumping the creek
The most wonderful smells coming from upstairs
Little boys don’t stay little boys forever
Sometimes they grow up.
Sometimes they really don’t.
Sneaking one of grandpas’ cigars or one of dads cigarettes
Maybe sneaking a sip of uncle’s beer
Or listening to those dirty rock records.
Maybe we just go to church
Yes sir, please and thank you.
Cub Scouts turning into fine little men
Or racing around in souped up cars.
F.A.C.E and A.C.E. and C.A.B.L.E
Piano chords
And I wish I could still play
My heart grows heavy
Tears all sing a sweet song
Guitar strings strumming
Drums banging loudly
Snails and whales and puppy dog tales
Or so it goes
Dragons and unicorns dancing under a full moon.
Sitting at the top of the stairs
Hurt and lonely and crying
While everyone goes off to play
Rollercoaster’s and bumper cars
Cotton candy and corn dogs on a stick
All alone
Sitting
At the top of the stairs
And now I’m looking back on it all
Little boys must grow up sometime
The toys must be all put away
The kringla are but a memory
Paper routes now leave strong muscles
Long lost days in the park are no more
Maybe we drink our beer
Smoke our cigars
Or enjoy a fine glass of wine
And buy grandma another margarita
And take her on a date
Down to Freemont Street for some prime rib.
The pictures of Oslo and Bergen
Sitting in that foreign café
Walking through the art gallery
Smelling those nasty fish heads
Taking a puddle jumper, sailing down the fjord.
Seeing the midnight sun in my dreams
Are now but a happiest happy memory.
Wedding days
Not so happy days
Long lost cups of coffee
Dinner in Mt. Charleston
Cups of hot cocoa
Sad days
Too many tears
Let’s start with one word
Next week two.
I’ll wash your clothes
Just take me on our coffee date
Let’s go grocery shopping
You want your beer, your cigarettes?
Not on my dime.
I’ll do anything for you.
I pray for you
Grandma, I love you
You are so very pretty
Long lost cups of coffee
Dreams of Trondheim
And I still see your beauty
And see your smile
Your tears
And patty cake all day long
Snails and tails and puppy dog tales
Sitting up on the summit
Drinking our morning coffee
Laughing and sharing
And thinking of long lost, long agos
Missing you
Wanting to always be with you
Drinking our coffee
And not forgetting each yesterday
Laughing and sharing
Me telling you I Love You
And you telling me it’s gonna be ok.
Each nite
I thank God for MY grandma
And every moment
I call you MOM
And my dreams all lead
Straight back home
To Norway and beyond
To the top of those stairs
Past all the garage sales
Past all the forgotten coffee dates
And all the lost moments
And
I wish you well, my dear
What of tomorrow??
If we are but miles away..
Well…
My dear,
If you wake and there is a knock on your door
And a fine young man is standing near
Dressed in a silk shirt, well ironed trousers and is smiling
Wearing Gucci shoes, smelling of fine cologne
The most expensive sunglasses and the finest rose in his hand
And…
He turns to look at the most expensive black BMW convertible
And
He takes your hand…..
We are sitting together
In Bergen
In Grieg’s house
Sipping the finest coffee
Laughing and laughing and laughing
And time will never ever end
And I call you MOM
And you kiss my cheek
And I tell you how beautiful you are
And dragons and unicorns dance and play
And time will never end
The door knocks
Up high on the summit
And it is summertime
And Yurt 13 is clean and waiting
And you open the door
Here I am gwamma
Your little boy of just two
Is here
And wants to walk with you
Tell me a story
And bake me some kringla
Yes please and thank you
Grandma
MOM
My dear friend
I love you forever
And
I ALWAYS will
You are ALWAYS beautiful to me
Forever and ever
AMEN!

***I Love you more than you’ll ever know. Words can never ever express my gratitude for you. You have made me the fine young man I am today. Let’s promise to meet in Norway for just one more cup of coffee, one more walk through the art gallery, one more treasured memory. I Love you!***