"Lifetime Moments"
by Pamela L. Dow


Once I was a waitress, at our local ice cream shop,
Sundaes, milkshakes, double dips, the orders never stopped.
Trying hard to do a great job, I dropped a banana split.
The boss came over to say good-bye, I told him I would quit.

Once I was a sales clerk, at the old town five and dime,
Curtains, shades, and mini-blinds would help to pass the time.
So many weeks of losing sales, the customers grew thin,
That “Super Mega Retail Complex” destroyed it’s competition.

Once I was a Therapy Tech. at the local nursing home,
Helping patients to exercise, so many moans and groans.
Working with these residents held great importance to me,
None of them were strangers, they all became my family.

Once I was a MailLady at the Post Office here in town.
Biting dogs and nasty weather, would never get me down.
The volume of mail kept rising, my truck was always packed,
All these years have taken their toll, and finally broke my back.

Now I’m stuck at home here, it’s hard to get around,
I wear a smile to hide the pain, my tears don’t make a sound.
Although my life spun upside down, no time for feeling blue,
There’s many things I need to say, and a few I still can do.

The damage locked inside my spine, has been so hard to face,
Don’t look for me in marathons, but keep me in the race.
Back and leg brace, metal canes are fashions I must wear,
People feel very uneasy and try hard not to stare.

Too many thoughts of worry on what will lie ahead,
The doctors always try new things, including lots of meds.
My days of working 9 to 5, now gone for something new,
I’ve found the skill of authorship, my next story may be about you.


(C) 2000 P.L. Dow










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"We live a lifetime of moments, each one with the potential to throw us off course."