My dear friend Nancze has introduced us to a most delightful gentleman, Tim Brennan. Although he has been long diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, it would be a misnomer to state that he "suffers" from it....for he has chosen instead to use his wonderful way with words to offer the rest of us some invaluable insight about the feelings and frustrations of this insiduous disease. I share with you here two recent emails from Tim. At the bottom of the page is a Thank You from him and Nancze. Clicking on it will take you to the site Nancze has put up for Tim. This is a journey well worth the travel; you won't want to miss it!!! Live For Today Background by Unicorn Princess
Tim's Thoughts
Dear Miss Peggy,
Thank you for such a lovely picture and saying. I will print it out and put it on the wall by my computer.
This is for you. Maybe it is a rose in your mailbox.
My Special Friend
You're a shape in a cloud,
A bird on the wing.
You're a warm summer breeze,
A favorite song to sing.
You're the best kind of dream,
The most beautiful day.
You're a star-filled sky
And children at play.
You're a hand holding mine,
A pleasant talk for awhile.
You're a hug now and then
And a laugh and a smile.
You're caring and giving,
The pot of gold at rainbow's end.
You're the answer to a prayer
And my special new friend.
So, never let any doubt
Blur your vision, you see,
You are seen in everything
That is important to me.
For the time I'm permitted
To keep Alzheimer's at bay,
I'll be with you in spirit,
To love you, each day.
- Tim Brennan
***********
Dear Miss Peggy,
Thank you for writing to me and for the very nice things you said.
Miss Nancze is so very nice to me. She is putting up more of what I have written at "Our" site.
This little thing following my signoff is something I wrote that isn't as yet at her site. It mentions "Peg" in it and so I think I want to send it to you. I tried to write it as an "old time Irish singalong" kind of thing.
Have a great day and God Bless you, Tim
I'd rather write poor and edit some more
Than to be a George Byron.
I'd rather be known as the idiot man,
Than to rest with Edison.
I'd rather run rum from Cuba for scum
Than to be John Paul Jones.
I'd rather be beat and stay up on me feet,
Than to lie with Joe Lewis's bones.
For there's life in me hand and a little money, man
And so many choices to choose.
There's a kiss for Miss Peg and a drink from a keg,
And other options to endless to use.
I'd rather be hazed, tortured and enslaved
Than reside in Grant's Tomb.
And eat rotted fish, if that be your wish,
Than be a Pope in a catacomb.
I'd rather the jail without any bail
For crimes I have not done.
Spend life in the slam for another man,
Than share worms with Napoleon.
For the mite that I am, runs on the lam,
Tomorrow's too soon for me.
Me lives for today in an exuberant way
For life is fleeting, you see...
- Tim Brennan
*****SPECIAL NOTE*****
After I put this page up for Tim, we were delighted with the early arrival of twin Greatgranddaughters! I took pen in hand, with this result:
To Hannah and Hailey
from Great-Grandmother Swycaffer
Dear Hannah and Hailey, so precious and small,
We regard you with wonder, and gently recall
The love that we felt (you can’t believe)
When first we held your Daddy Steve!
He was four days old, and the sweetest Grandbabe
That the Lord above had ever made!
We fell in love, and knew from the start
He’d always hold a big piece of our heart!
The years flew so quickly, Steve became a fine man;
He continues to do the best that he can.
He met and he married the best Mommy for you,
Then he and Jamie made sure that our family grew!
We thought there could never be such joy
As on the day we first held that tiny boy.
The happiness he’s brought has been beyond measure,
And even today he is our special treasure.
But just today, he has proven us wrong;
There CAN be another love that strong!
For Great-Grandpa and I felt it so surely,
When you two entered our world so early.
Our hearts swelled with pride, and happy tears fell,
Though you are so tiny, you’ve filled our lives well.
As you look out and see this great world around you,
Never forget love and prayers surround you.
You’ll remain in the hospital a little bit longer,
And while you grow, our love grows, all getting stronger.
When we grow impatient, help us remember
You weren’t even expected until December.
So each day until then is one extra day
You’ve gladdened our lives since coming our way.
Your Mommy and Daddy deserve all life’s best,
And you’ve given them that, and made them twice-blest.
In no time at all, you’ll be homeward-bound,
Soaking up all this new deep love that we’ve found.
And you’ve each a special tie to help you through life;
A twin sister beside you, in gladness or strife.
Oh, there will be battles! But also a love like no other;
If you don’t believe this just ask your Grandmother.
For Susie is a twin like you, and knows these things, you see;
And she and Aunt Di brought lots of both to our family!
And one was blonde, and one brunette; just like the two of you;
And they’ve doubled our pleasure (most of the time!) all life through.
And though they’re twins, they’re each unique - a person all their own,
But with a special added touch, two hearts so closely grown.
So as we wait to hold you, loves, our joy transcends the miles.
You lie in blissful ignorance of our giggles and our smiles.
But surely you can FEEL this love, and you’ll not forget
The love and prayers coming to you, in your isolette.
Your hands are very tiny yet, you cannot grasp or hold.
But oh! your little souls reach out and surely do enfold
All of us - you have us now, and your whole lives through;
We know the meaning of fulfillment .... and it’s surely YOU!
~*~ ~*~ ^i^ ~*~ ^i^ ~*~ ~*~
I humbly shared a copy with Tim.
And THIS, dear readers, was Tim's immediate and gracious reply:
Dear Miss Peggy,
Your poem is terrific! I absolutely love it! And it is so wonderful
that you are great grandparents now.
Sometimes we become very close to a grandchild. So close that we almost
seem to breathe when they
breathe and hurt when they hurt and love when they love. I read your
words. I see this in you for your
grandson Steve.
I remember the movie, "On Golden Pond". Henry Fonda is frightened when
he gets lost in the woods. In this
part of the movie I think to myself that he is showing signs of having
Alzheimer's disease. I felt his anger
about getting old. He was separated somehow from his daughter. They no
longer had a bond. Then, his
grandson came into Fonda's life. They became very close.
I wrote something for a granddaughter once to the music from "On Golden
Pond". If you change a few words it would make it as if it was from you to Steve. Maybe it would be something a
grandmother would sing to her
grandchild. Maybe it would be the last time you knew you would hold them
in your lap or rock them to sleep.
This was the thought in my mind when I wrote it. I hope you like it,
Miss Peggy.
Take care. It was great to hear from you. Keep on writing. It is a good
form of mental exercise and what
you make with words often is a reflection of what is in your heart. I
see the love within you. Others see it as well.
tim
Love Without End
Prologue: Close your eyes.....
Go to sleep....
And dream of long ago.
Close your eyes....
Go to sleep....
And recall the past.
I remember the special moment we first met.
You were a babe in your Mother's caring, cuddling arms, and yet,
Just a few hours since birth and so anxious to grow,
Such a magnetic attraction. I was so old.
All the days, the passing days, then went by, so very fast.
Soon, you were crawling and then walking and then running past
My line of sight, and out of the room, and much too soon,
For, like a flower, in its hour, of precious bloom,
You blossomed into my little earth angel. I was so old.
Then, in an instant, far too quickly, you were a child now going to school.
Starting new friendships, learning how time ticks,
Gaining some knowledge, wearing what's cool.
Oh, my heart, what a start,
You've given the life and happiness we've come to share.
And, when you grow into a man and marry someday,
Know that this feeling will last between us, my friend.
A bundle of sunshine,
Love of a lifetime; love without end.
- Papa Tim
Thank you, Tim! I love you! Peg
Don't forget to click above for more of Tim's words!!
