WHO WE ARE

Somewhere in the 40's down in L.A.
A young man named Charles met Daphne
They didn't know then what they'd find along the way
It took sixty years now they've got it

Daphne left home in ‘43
for a Christmas goodbye rendezvous
And she came home married as Charles shipped out
Another war bride starting her own family

and morning at the Osborns was something to behold
everyone preparing for their day
and Mom and Dad's kisses with the passionate dip
educated the children in a way no parental speeches ever could say

Dad always loved reading more than did his wife
He's a fountain of knowledge and lessons for life
even at dinner he'd teach the children new words
and they'd roll off his tongue like the songs of the birds

He'd offer ten cents for a word he didn't know
he knew them all of course, the kids would find it so
He was sesquipedalic with a game to help them grow
they'd find out the long way, they couldn't beat the host of the show

Family vacations without fail
Plymouth station wagon stuffed to the gills
camping out on Barton flats or maybe Dinky Creek
Lake Powell the new tradition for these gatherings of the family

Mom and her cooking, I'll spare the details
though her peach cake and tacos will always prevail
her focus on health throughout all the years
brought us cod liver oil that would curl our ears

always the anchor, the port in the storm
raising 8 children and the garden to be grown
She fought for her children, sad, sick or wrong
It's no wonder her prayers were so long

Great words of advice the children would hear
like the hard is the good, take your vitamins dear
And when we'd leave home no matter how far
we'd hear the reminder, remember who you are

The Osborn family tied together in life
by childhood lessons that money can't buy
it's the legacy of our family tree
and yes we all remember who we are

written by Michael Frazier © November 28, 2005