I am Joe

Son of John and Kathleen

Brother of Jack

Born in Fort Collins

Grandson of Jon

A man with eyes brown as mine

 

Eyes Brown as delicious chocolate

Soft like dog’s fur

Hair short and brown

Combed into perfect alignment

Lines straight like military formations

 

I was born to help my people

An Eagle Scout always helps others first

And to enjoy what I have been given

Making use of my skills

Enjoying my world

 

I want a purpose

A reason for being,

Something to make my life musical,

Something timeless,

Like the sands on the beach

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I believe in the American dream

The will of man

The want for the better life

The importance of hard work

The value in reward

The will to make paradise a reality,

Actuality, Truth, Being

 

But the belief that more money lies at the heart of this dream is just wrong

 

I believe money breeds greed

I believe happiness is not greed

I believe happiness is not joy

Pleasure, Jubilation, Emotion

 

And I believe happiness is finding the music of your life

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Earliest memory of the island vacation

 

Sandy Beaches

Relaxing in a chair

Peaceful bliss

White sand, Blue water

 

Happy as Happy can be

Feeling the music

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A white sail

Jutting from the ocean blue

Alone in the sea

Swiftly crossing past the cove

Elegant in its motion

It sees palm trees sway,

With the calm swift ocean breeze,

Waving at the boat

Waves crash into rough black rocks

Tall walls protecting the cove

A normal day here

On a white Hawaiian beach

The calm sky above

 

The sun smiles down

Brightening the island scene

Coloring the place

Bright beautiful greens around

Clear calm majestic blues

The light shows the life

Calm and cool yet bright; blissful

The light of the life

 

The leaves rattling,

Pushed around by sea born winds

Percussion of life

The waves are the crash cymbals

Rhythmic beats go like clockwork

Joyful melody

Children squeal with bliss and glee

Playing together

The orchestra of happy,

That reverberates today

 

Who pilots the boat?

The zooming white triangle

Where does he go now?

What got him here on this day?

Can he hear the orchestra?

 

This place is my home

My home far away from home

I don’t want to leave

I want to stay here always

I want to be here all times

Here with family

All of us here together

Happy forever

 

Can he hear the orchestra?

Can I hear the orchestra?

Can We hear the orchestra?

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The hour the sun sets on the crashing blue waves,

The hour the sun closes out the orchestral magic of this place

The hour the sky is painted orange with glowing light,

The hour the lanterns light up with glowing flame, signaling the day’s end,

The sorrowful hour that signals the end of my trip with the setting of the sun,

The hour the sun sets closing an unforgettable adventure

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I don't understand…

Why we have to leave

Why we can’t stay

Why the music has to end

But most of all…

Why I hate my hometown

Why I go to that school

Why they are mean there

What I did wrong

What I understand is…

Why this place is good

Why I will miss these days

Why I want to stay

Why I feel this way

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Beloved Pooh bear

So soft and quite cuddly

You made life better

Helped me get through the hard bits

Comfort in the worst of times

Now you are left back

Back in the resort bedspread

I will not see you again

Goodbye friend, you will be missed

Enjoy your new purpose, whatever it may become

Listening to this orchestra for the rest of your days