My dad is 71 years old and retired. He was a fitter and turner by trade and preached in his spare time. He has been happily married for 39 years this year and has been my hero all my life. Nobody builds things like him either. If my dad made a shelf, you could swing it and it wouldn’t break. He is also an inventor and is always working to make life easier.

His first invention was a cake pan that he made more than 30 years ago. He was in the process of patenting it when his cape stole the idea and made money off of my dad’s concept. It is a sad story, but what can be done.

Back to the reason I wrote this article. My dad, tough as he is, has a real sense of life and its mishaps. I’m sure he could have been a comedian if he wanted to because he picks up on the little things that most people miss. My dad wrote a poem to his mom when he was with us and it went like this

Today Lord I am eighty

Lord, today I am eighty years old and although I am almost finished

I would like to do the comrades before eighty-one

Of course I’d need a little start that old ladies always do

Who cares if I’m done when I’m eighty-two

Also Lord, there’s this longing deep inside of me

Bungee jump off a bridge when I’m eighty-three

After this Lord, there is this little task

I’d like to repaint my ceiling when I’m eighty-four

And on my birthday while I’m still alive

I want to do limbo when I’m eighty-five

After this Lord when I’m eighty-six

I want to train seriously to be able to do the splits.

And if at eighty-seven, before the year is up

I want to do aerobics in a class of teenagers.

Another thing Lord, before it’s too late

I’d like to do some hang gliding when I’m eighty eight.

Should you Lord still forgive me, and if I feel alright?

I want to join the paratroopers when I’m eighty-nine

And if Lord I do, dear Lord I ask you

I’d like to dance all night when I’m ninety-one

By Gerald Reinke

My mom saw a competition in the newspaper and my dad entered without him knowing. We were not surprised that he won first prize. Although my dad was surprised. The poem was included in a poetry anthology and published with other poets.

I guess I just want to show how proud I am of my dad. So, if you like her poems, comment in the comments section of my blog. It would really make your day.