Aglow

Posted on May 1, 2013 by russtowne

Aglow in gratitude
Thankful for…
…well everything
Enjoying today
And wondering
What blessings
And miracles
Tomorrow
May bring

–Russ Towne

Posted in Abundance, Gratitude, Optimism, Poetry I Wrote | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Humor On Hump Day

Posted on May 1, 2013 by russtowne

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Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Vow To A Broken Man

Posted on May 1, 2013 by russtowne

It took two bad lungs
And a broken heart
To finally tear
My world apart

Barely alive
In intensive care
Hoping friends would
Visit me there

Most were too busy
To visit at all
To send a card
Or bother to call

Barely able to breathe
Alone and in pain
I felt betrayed
And they were to blame

But the truth came suddenly
A cold and bitter wind
To have the love I wanted
I’d need to BE a better friend

I made a vow to the broken man
Who had ‘til then been me
I’d get well and then become
The best friend that I could be

I became one who could be counted on
No matter what the plight
From a shoulder to cry on
To help on a rainy night

My life is so much better
I am truly blessed
For when it comes to friends
I now have the very best

–Russ Towne

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Friendship, Illness, LIfe Lessons, Loss, Observations, Pain & Grief, Poetry I Wrote, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

When No One Else Was

Posted on April 29, 2013 by russtowne

922890_580032838687085_468258352_n(Source: Lessons Learned In Life / Love Quotes Photo)

Thank you
To all who
Were there with love
When no one else was
–Or would have been
Had you known me then.

Love,

Russ

Posted in Friendship, Gratitude, Love, Photos That Touched Me, Poetry I Wrote | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Greater Than Gold

Posted on April 28, 2013 by russtowne

The seed of this piece came to me as I read a comment from Diana earlier today describing a most kind and generous act indeed.

Diana, this poem is dedicated to your kind daughter and her wonderful mother for whom I have much respect:

Greater Than Gold

As I sat eating my meal
Alone in my thoughts and cares
I noticed a little girl
Turn her head and briefly stare

She saw a homeless man with a hopeless look
Who’d been hungry for far too long
Her eyes grew sad from what she saw
Then she whispered to her mom

I don’t know what she said
As she pointed to him
But when her mom smiled
There was joy in her eyes again

The girl’s hands held coins
She’d counted every penny
It was her allowance
And she didn’t drop any

She placed her savings on the counter
Ordered a meal for a man in need
Fidgeted a bit as she waited for it
So anxious to do the kind deed

He looked up in surprise
And when he saw what she held
His eyes moistened a bit
And his heart seemed to melt

He took her gift and gave his thanks
They smiled then she walked away
It’s a good bet I’ll never forget
The way I felt that day

My heart grew lighter
For inside I knew
That his spark of life and spirit
Had grown a bit brighter too

I learned a lot from that little girl
Who was less than nine years old
How a simple act of kindness
Can be a gift that is greater than gold.

–Russ Towne

Posted in Compassion, Kindness, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Poetry I Wrote, Uncategorized, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Life Has Carved Her Callouses

Posted on April 28, 2013 by russtowne

I love this message and the way it was so well crafted by Melody! Thank you, Melody, for creating and sharing this with the world.
Russ

melodylowes's avatarMeanwhile, Melody Muses...

bark.jpg

Life has carved her callouses

upon my tender heart,

my response was toughening

the epidermis part –

so soften me, oh Holy Son,

with springtime’s timely rays,

that roughened edges would not keep

my soul from grasping grace.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

A Wonderful Day

Posted on April 28, 2013 by russtowne

392554_10151500740287935_1766406666_nYesterday was my Grandson Thomas’ first birthday, and today about 80 relatives and a few of his parents’ friends gathered to celebrate in a large park not far from my home. The weather was perfect; agreeably warm with a slightly cool refreshing breeze.

I’m so proud of Thomas that I risk busting a button just thinking about him.

He was given a small cake all for himself, and ripped into it with both hands, quickly smashing and kneading it while stuffing great big gooey gobs of it into his mouth with the excitement of a person who is dying of thirst as they take great gulps from a cool pool of water at an oasis.

Thomas then proceeded to “share” with his mom and each of his grandmothers by extending those same sticky, messy, gooey, slimy, hands toward each of them until they came over and took a bite from them. (The two wily grandfathers and the father, seeing what was about to happen to our spouses, beat a hasty retreat and were out of sight (and thankfully out of mind) during that critical episode–though he couldn’t see us, we could see what he was doing to them. It was a LOT of fun to watch!

It was a beautiful day filled with many blessings, and ended with a sight that made me especially proud and happy. While the remaining party-goers began cleaning up after the party, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that our oldest son and his wonderful wife had slipped away with a large pizza box filled with pizza without saying a word to anyone.

They walked over to a homeless man who was sitting quietly and motionless on a park bench across a path from us and perhaps 50 feet away. He had his back to us and clearly did not wish to intrude on our festivities or perhaps even be seen by us. A few words were exchanged, and they handed the box to him and quietly returned to our busy cleanup crew. When they returned, no words were spoken about what had just happened, and I doubt if anyone else had even seen what they had done. But their kind action made a proud dad and grandfather even prouder today.

Love,
Russ

Posted in Abundance, Family "Fun", Grandparenting & Grandkids, Joy & Happiness, Kindness, Parenting, True Stories I've Written | Tagged , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Who Would Do Something Silly Like That?

Posted on April 27, 2013 by russtowne

This is a re-post to quickly give to newer readers a much better understanding as to just how much of a nut case this Russ Towne fellow really is!

russtowne's avatarRuss Towne's A Grateful Man

The experience below may have been the most embarrassing day of my life–and considering how many such moments I’ve had, that is really saying something!

Many years ago I’d volunteered to take a car load of stuff that my employer needed for the booth of a job fair to our area’s convention center. When I arrived I noticed with frustration that the road leading to the dock was long and narrow, and that there was an even longer queue of drivers waiting to unload their vehicles one by one as each eventually became the first in line at the single unloading point.

When I saw the line, I looked at my watch and sighed. Based on how slowly the line seemed to be moving I estimated that if I was lucky I’d probably just barely be able to unload, park my car, and get the booth set up in time…

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Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

The Curb

Posted on April 26, 2013 by russtowne

Dear friends:

The poem below is dedicated to all who have lost loved ones, to those who have healed, and those who still struggle with their pain, grief, and/or regret at not having said or done what they now wish they had while their loved ones were alive.

It is also written as a reminder to all whose loved ones remain alive: Cherish every moment! Make joyous memories every chance you can. Let them know you love them in countless ways. Make the most of every day. Celebrate their lives and be grateful every moment they are in yours. For life is short and precious.

Love,
Russ
P.S. As most of you know, I attempt to write mostly uplifting things. The poem below does not fall into that category. I’d rather have no one read it than to bring anyone down who needs cheering up.

The Curb

Alone again on this cold, dark, curb
Shivering in the rain
Waiting out the endless night
Engulfed by pain and shame

Soaked shoes make dams in the gutter
The stream, like life, rushes by
Indifferent to my existence
Too busy to care why I cry

Rain pounds my hatless head
A mighty sea on a broken shore
Magnifies my grief to the point
I can barely breathe anymore

Every drop an icy needle
Running down my neck to my toes
Mirrored by the tears that fall
In a never-ending flow

A searing string of questions
Taunts my tortured mind
How could this have happened?
How could life be so unkind?

It gave me all I wanted
A dear sweet family
Then ripped the lives of my sweet wife
And two young kids from me

That night a sleepy driver
Who was new to our old town
While looking for a street sign
Ran my family down

Their lives were gone in a heartbeat
While my heart beats on and on
I lost my mind the moment
My cherished ones were gone

I knelt with them in the blood and rain
Hugged them tightly to my side
With all my heart I wished they’d lived
And I was the one who’d died

If only I’d run faster
Might’ve saved my family
Or seen the danger sooner
Such regrets torture me

How can a heart so crushed
Stay alive so long
When everyone it loved
Are suddenly all gone?

So I’m alone again on this cold, dark, curb
Shivering in the rain
Waiting out the endless night
Engulfed by pain and shame.

–Russ Towne

Posted in Loneliness, Pain & Grief, Poetry I Wrote, Regret, Suffering, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fun Signs

Posted on April 26, 2013 by russtowne

Sign over a Gynecologist’s Office:
“Dr. Jones, at your cervix.”
**************************
In a Podiatrist’s office:
“Time wounds all heels.”
**************************
At an Optometrist’s Office:
“If you don’t see what you’re looking for,
you’ve come to the right place.”
**************************
On a Plumber’s truck:
“We repair what your husband fixed.”
**************************
On another Plumber’s truck:
“Don’t sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.”
**************************
At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee:
“Invite us to your next blowout.”
**************************
At a Towing company:
“We don’t charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.”
**************************
On an Electrician’s truck:
“Let us remove your shorts.”
**************************
In a Non-smoking Area:
“If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.”
**************************
On a Maternity Room door:
“Push. Push. Push.”
**************************
At a Car Dealership:
“The best way to get back on your feet -miss a car payment.”
**************************
Outside a Muffler Shop:
“No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”
**************************
In a Veterinarian’s waiting room:
“Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”
**************************
At the Electric Company
“We would be delighted if you send in your payment.
However, if you don’t, you will be.”
**************************
In a Restaurant window:
“Don’t stand there and be hungry;
come on in and get fed up.”
**************************
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
“Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”
**************************
At a Propane Filling Station:
“Thank heaven for little grills.”
**************************
CHICAGO RADIATOR SHOP:
“Best place in town to take a leak.”
**************************
Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck:
“Caution – This Truck is full of Political Promises”
————————–

Posted in Fun, Humor, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments