I was "challenged" last week with a writing prompt to write about a memory. Coincidence or not, but the timing with today's 11 anniversary brought this memory to mind... g ----------------------------------- OVER AND OVER (AGAIN AND AGAIN) (c) 2012 - G. Smith (BMI) ------------------------------------------------------------ Over and over, again and again, I see the smoke being blown by the wind. Over and over, it goes on and on; And then in an instant; everything's gone; Then in an instant; everything's gone. Clear, cloudless morning, Sunny and bright; The city wakes up And shrugs off the night. Another day dawning, New work to be done. Where there where two, Soon there will be none. And, Over and over, again and again, I see the smoke being blown by the wind. Over and over; it keeps running on; And then in an instant; everything's gone. Then in an instant; everything's gone. The same old routine. Punching the clock; Walk down the hallway, Put the key in the lock. Greeting the faces You pass every day; Without being ready To see them taken away. Yes, Over and over, again and again, I see the smoke being blown by the wind. Over and over, it runs on so long; And then in an instant; everything's gone. Then in an instant; everything's gone. Over and over; Again and again.

(to quote Neil Young...), and that time seems to've come for my 18 year old, who I helped move off to college last week. Sam... (I'M GONNA MISS YOU) WHILE YOU'RE GONE (c) 2012 - G. Smith (BMI) ------------------------------------- Your truck's not in the driveway anymore; And your fishing gear's not on the porch, leaning by the door. But I know you'll be back before too long; Still, I'm gonna miss you while you're gone. There's one less place at the table every meal; Even though that's the way it is, I don't like the way it feels. Still I know you'll be back before too long; And I'm gonna miss you while you're gone. There's a fine line between letting go, And holding on too tight; It's hard to find and yet I know, It'll all turn out alright... The closet in your room is nearly empty; Those bent and twisted hangers are hard for me to see; And while I know you'll be back before too long; Still, I'm gonna miss you while you're gone. Yeah, I really miss you since you're gone.

Sometimes you'll see something, and it'll just take off at a dead run... what follows is one such... This evening, during my after-dinner run (okay, power walk), I was passed by an SUV with a dad riding shotgun... I passed 'em twice more, inching towards an empty parking spot in an empty parking lot... and the first verse just "fell outta the sky..." So, without further ta-do... here's: LITTLE GIRL (c) 2012 - G. Smith (BMI) -------------------------------------------------------- Little girl behind the wheel, Trying not to cry, I can't believe that... this is real; Me teaching you to drive. You look so nervous; You look so scared; But I'm the one who's... Unprepared... Little girl behind the wheel; If you won't cry... neither will I. Little girl in cap and gown, Laughing with your friends; A few more weeks till... you leave town, Before the summer ends... Off to college... Off to school... I'm not sure I... Like these rules... Little girl in cap and gown; If you'll keep laughing... so will I... It seems like twenty minutes ago I was counting fingers, counting toes; Asking, "Hey - who's got your nose?" It's old but true - how fast time goes... It's old but true... how fast time goes... Little girl walking down the aisle, Tell me, what's the rush? Don't say a word, I can... see your smile... Did I make you blush...? You look so happy, As you say, "I do..." I guess that I'll get Through this, too.... Little girl walking down the aisle, If you keep smiling.... so will I... If you keep smiling... so will I... ============== As an after-note, I don't have daughters, just sons... one of which graduated this weekend, making the second verse both "easy" and "hard" at the same time... Enny hoot... holler back... g

From a challenge to take the title to a book, change one word, and then write something for that new title, I came up with the following "Woody-Guthrie-esque-Depression-Era-Folksy-Bluesy-thang," using the title of H. F. Saint's, _The Memoirs of an Invisible Man_. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE ME (c) 2012 - G. Smith (BMI) ——————————– When did I start fading a-way? When did I start fading a-way? When did I start fading a-way, Lawd, Lawd? When did I start fading a-way? When did you start looking through me, Instead of sitting down and talking to me? Sometimes it’s like you never even knew me; When did I start fading a-way? When did I start to disappear? That’s what it feels like a-round here. Don’t say you haven’t noticed it, too, Dear; When did I start fading a-way? When did I turn into a ghost? I used to feel that I could boast I was the the one you used to love the most; When did I start fading a-way? When did I start fading a-way? When did I start fading a-way? When did I start fading a-way, Sweet Baby? When did I start fading a-way?

With my 18 year old getting set to graduate, this scene from/following my own high school graduation #%*# years ago (at least through the first four lines of the second verse), came immediately to mind, and, I hope, addressed the "prompt" to write about a vacuum...: As always, lemme know, ya know... : ) Yours; g ________________________________ WHAT NOW? (c) 2012 - G. Smith (BMI) -------------------------------------- V 1. Rene and I were sitting, In the Waffle House parking lot, Celebratin' our graduation, This was as far as we got. We'd been to a party already, Now it was quarter to three; We were best of friends, afraid this was the end; I looked at her, and she looked at me... CHORUS: What now? What do we do? What's next? I don't have a clue. What now? Where do we go? How do we get there? I don't know.... V 2. She went south to Valdosta State, I went to Georgia Tech; She studied pre-med just like she'd said, I was a ramblin' wreck... I met a girl I amost married, She met a guy and she did; Ten years later I'm on my third wife, And Rene's still tryin to have kids... So... CHORUS: What now? What do we do? What's next? I don't have a clue. What now? Where do we go? How do we get there? I don't know... BRIDGE: We try... holding on... to the past... Afraid... that tomorrow... won't last... Our dreams may become memories... Of what... came true... or may never be... ________________________________ <