Arlington
music and lyrics by: Trace Adkins
God Bless Our Troops
May 25, 2008
May 11, 2008
…4 years have passed since you left.
…4 years for me to ponder “what would Mom do?”
…4 years to figure out what I could’ve done to make you better.
…4 years since I touched your lovely face.
It all seems so long ago, but only 4 years since you left.
I Miss You So Much.
I miss how you stuffed your socks in the chair cushion.
I miss the way you drove your car. (yikes)
I miss your calls.
I miss the many hair pieces you wore.
I miss the way you wore “babushkas”
I miss the twinkle in your eyes.
I Miss You.
I miss your stuffed cabbage.
I miss you hollering ….BINGO!
I miss seeing you at the fish fry.
I miss your hugs when I get sad.
I miss you telling me you hit the lottery….again.
I miss you saying….Dale Leonard ! when I done wrong.
I Miss You.
I miss the doilies you had on all your tables.
I miss your love for the family.
I miss your visits for the hell of it.
I miss the way you walked.
I miss going to church with you.
I miss watching “Wheel of Fortune” with you.
I Miss You.
I miss your stories when I was too young to remember.
I miss coming over and fixing your meds.
I miss how you worried about me.
I miss our visits to the cemetary to see Dad.
I miss the way your short-little legs moved like a catepillar.
I miss the way we argued, even when you knew you were wrong.
I Miss You.
I miss your keepsakes.
I miss your smile.
I miss your colorful wardrobe.
I miss the bus trips to ball games.
I miss you yelling at Dad when he came home a bit tipsy.
I miss how you loved God.
I Miss You.
I miss the family reunions.
I miss how you hid things at Christmas.
I miss how you gave to others.
I miss your trips to Atlantic City.
I miss how you pampered me, your baby.
I miss you doing my laundry when I was single.
I Miss You
I miss going to dinner with you.
I miss seeing you with your friends.
I miss your strength when times were tough.
I miss the “care” packages you would send.
I miss your stubborness, just like mine.
I miss your voice.
I Miss You. Oh God……I Miss You So Much.
Happy Mothers Day, Mom. I Love You.
May 4, 2008
The events of May 4, 1970 can be viewed here
William K Schroeder
July 20, 1950 – May 4, 1070
Sandra Lee Scheuer
August 11, 1949 – May 4, 1970
Jeffrey G Miller
March 28, 1950 – May 4, 1970
Allison Krause
April 21, 1951 – May 4, 1970
Who Killed Allison? Why? What has she done? Read by Barry Levine in honor of Allison Krause during the 30th Commemoration ceremonies. Not us says the KENT TOWNSFOLK Those stinkin’ kids-don’t appreciate what they’ve got You can say what you want, and say what you must WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not us says the UNIVERSITY It wasn’t her place to demonstrate – against the State And no one can hear, and no one can hear. Sure she was an honor student, but she should have known better There is a time and a place for freedom of speech WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says the MAYOR OF KENT I feel bad, I do, but I didn’t pull that trigger WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says TRICKY DICK It wasn’t’ me that made her fall WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says GOVERNOR RHODES But that was my job, to incite the Guard, and I did it OK There will be no riots in the State of Ohio, not on my watch, not on this date Its a shame it had to be that way, but who’s to know and who’s to say So what are you going to do? Sue me? I’m not the one that made the call WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not us says the NATIONAL GUARD We had no choice, we had to act – it was her life or ours WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE? |
April 29, 2008
I’ve been a fan of Nascar since my days in North Carolina back in the late 70’s, about the same time a young, reckless Dale Earnhardt started making a name for himself, starting with capturing the “Rookie of the Year” award at the conclusion of the 1979 Winston Cup season, and culminating in 7 Winston Cup championships, equalling the King, Richard Petty for the most ever in Nascar history. As a brash, young driver back in the 70’s, young Dale idolized his father, Ralph Dale Earnhardt, also a former champion driver in Nascar.
……But I’m not going to tell you all the history and feel good stories of Dale’s life and career. No, I want to tell you about the “phenomenon” of Dale Earnhardt after his death, how the legend grows from year to year.
I’ve attended many Nascar races, most were at Darlington, South Carolina, for The Southern 500. As Dale was always, and forever, my favorite driver, I was amazed at the long lines of fans that were at his souvenir trailers to buy anything “Earnhardt”. These lines would be 5 or 6 rows deep, compared to other trailers, where you might see 5 or 6 fans mingling around.
Year after year, these lines at Earnhardt’s trailers would continue to grow, to the point now, there are 2 or 3 Earnhardt trailers at just about every race on the Nascar schedule. Before his death, Earnhardt garnered 40 to 50% of all Nascar souvenir sales. One driver…..amongst 42 others. Even today, 8 years after his death, Earnhardt is still in the top 5 in souvenir sales.
Another thing that amazes me, and sorry it doesn’t continue, is this fact. Without any promotion, encouragement whats so ever, at the beginning of every race following Earnhardts tragic death at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 18th, 2001, on the third lap, most fans would hold up three fingers in a salute to their hero. Again, nobody came out with an announcement, “hey, this is what we want to do”. They just did it. And if you didn’t get to go to races, and just stayed home and watched on T.V., the broadcast announcers would remain silent during the 3rd lap, week after week, race after race for the whole season. I was honored by partaking in this activity, at home and the race track.
Well, today would’ve been Dale’s 57th birthday, and for the 7th year in a row, “Dale Earnhadt” day will be celebrated from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Dale Earnhadt headquarters in Mooresville, N.C. and the thousands of folks that will trek to that little hamlet, otherwise known as Race City, U.S.A. is simply amazing.
Happy Birthday, Dale
You left us way too soon.