Defining Moments

My father passed away last year... we knew the time would eventually come... it was a moment we both had planned for... a close relationship ours had truly become... We spent the last few years... recognizing our love for one another... it was truly a special gift from God... to have this time to spend with each other... We laughed at all the yelling... and all the punches that we threw... we cherished our fun times together... and winked at the secrets that only we knew... De was never an Atticus Finch... or a perfect dad by any mean... but he was the best dad a guy like me could ever want... I was so proud of my Marine... And now he’s off to Heaven... to join Madeleine and all the others... to watch over Granne and our family... to watch over the grandchildren, Stephanie and my brothers... It’s time for us to let you go... but your memory will always remain... and I promise to look after Granne... until we see you once again...  I love you, De... thank you for being my Dad......

No dad is ever perfect... Not by any means... Some dads are super cool... Some dads make us eat our greens... Some dads work all the time And don’t get home until late at night... Some dads have to work two jobs And don’t get home until morning light... Some dads come home for dinner And help us with our homework... Some dads are good with computers And know about Star Trek and Captain Kirk... Some dads are good with baseball And know how to throw a knuckleball... Some dads are good with pitching tents And take us camping in the Fall... Some dads like working on engines And can teach us to change a spare... Some dads like to act all silly But offer kind words if we’re in despair... Sometimes we have a stepdad Who takes us on fun vacation drives... Sometimes we have a granddad Who plays an important role in our lives... But it’s great to have a person Who helps us grow along the way... And it’s to this important father figure That we say “Happy Father’s Day!” © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Tick tock... Tick tock... How much time Is left on your clock? What happens when it strikes On the witching hour... When the clanging starts In the old bell tower... It’ll strike some fear When the Grim Reaper is near... Will your clock stop ticking When death starts picking... Tick tock... Tick tock... How much time Is left on your clock? You won’t hear him coming Or the song that he’s humming... He’ll catch you totally by surprise With death protruding from his eyes... Your time is finally up When the Reaper swings... It’s the end of your life When the cold alarm rings... Tick tock... Tick tock... Tick tock... Tick... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Today, I’m a simple man with simple thoughts, but this wasn’t always the case. When I was a child I attended Catholic grammar school. As a young boy, Sister Mary Marcella would tell our class that God was everywhere. I often asked her “but Sister, how can God possibly be everywhere?” And she would answer “because He just is. He’s even inside you.” To which I would curiously ask, with all the sincerity that a young boy could muster, “but where exactly is He? I don’t see Him. How could He possibly be in me?” Feeling that I was asking my genuine questions out of childish insubordination and defiance, she would order me to the front of the room where, with my back to my fellow classmates, she would sternly demand that I stare straight ahead at a beautiful picture of the Blessed Mother lovingly holding the Christ Child, as Sister Mary would begin to beat me repeatedly with her 36” wooden pointer until I finally cried into submission. While my backside was indeed feeling the pain of these al...

He was all I ever hoped for... He looked exactly like me... His eyes were blue and sparkling... He lit the world as bright could be... He learned to walk and run around... He learned to talk; what a beautiful sound... His hair was brown and full of curls... His momma loved him, so did the girls... But then one day his sparkle went dim... His feet stopped running; his hair grew thin... Our little world he made so bright... We lost our son late in the night... From that day on my tears did flow... Until I realized the sky would glow... And late at night from the stars above... My Baby Blue Angel was sending his love... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Dear Henry, I’m glad we were able to meet each other and I hope we can be friends... Being your mother’s boyfriend revolves around one word: Respect. I want you to know from the start that I respect your mom very, very much... I also respect you, as her son...  I respect the fact that you are indeed the man of the house, and you are there to make sure that your mom and your sister are safe... Please know that, in addition to being respectful, I am also a gentleman... Being a gentleman isn’t a personality quirk... it’s not something we turn on and off like a switch... it’s a choice... it’s a lifestyle... I want you to know that I, as a gentleman, will always treat your mom as the lady that she is... I’m here to open the door for her as we enter into a building... I’m here to stand up for her when she arrives late at the table... I’m here to pull the chair out for her when I take her to a nice restaurant... I’m here to hold an umbrella over her when it rains... I’m here to help put o...

As she stood in contemplation... The thoughts of ending it were abound... She could immediately stop the wretched suffering... Her anguished soul never to be found... All the agony; all the pain... That lived each moment in her head... Would finally leave forever more... No more tears would she have to shed... Why was there no one here to protect her... Why no friends in her life to care... She asked herself these puzzling questions... No one with whom she could openly share... All the torment; all the sadness... All the deep, dark secrets she hid... She could immediately stop the wretched suffering... “So long world!” said yet another hopeless kid... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

My dad was a police officer... He took a vow to faithfully serve... He protected our friends and neighbors... A man of courage and strong nerve... He left for work one morning... As he did most everyday... He said “Mind your mother...” It was just his normal way... But at school that early morning... The principal’s aide came into my class... My teacher called my name out loud... And handed me a hall pass... She couldn’t look right at me... But I noticed tears fell from her eyes... Her face was red and her hands were shaking... She seemed somewhat traumatized... She told me to follow the aide... That someone had come to call... She said my momma needed me... She said “Now, I want you to stand tall...” I didn’t quite understand... What she was saying at that time... Nothing seemed too real that moment... My thoughts were all sublime... As I entered the principal’s office... I saw my mom standing with our priest... The last time I saw that look on their faces... Was when my grandfather w...

How much time does it take for water to stand still... How long does it take for a boy to get his thrill... How much water does it take for time to stop rushing... How much confidence does it take for a girl to stop blushing... How much air does it take for a bird to take flight... How many fingers do you need to count the stars at night... How many hands does it take  for the gambler to get his flush... How many questions does a child ask before a parent says to hush... What if a parent couldn’t answer all the questions a child could ask... Should the child be forced to suffer for putting the parent to such a task... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Sometimes all we really need Are the simple pleasures in life... Like a fresh juicy red apple And grandpa’s paring knife... Sometimes all grandma wants Is for me to simply fill up her coffee mug... Sometimes all my baby brother needs Is to simply get a smile or a hug... Sometimes all my big sister wants If for me to simply leave her alone... She’s been sitting there anxiously waiting For her boyfriend to call on her phone... Sometimes all big daddy wants Is to relax in his big daddy chair... And sometimes all my big brother wants Is for me to simply stay out of his hair... Sometimes all big momma wants Is for me to simply clean up my room... And sometimes when I forget to take out the garbage at night Big momma comes after me with the broom... Sometimes all my doggy really wants Is to play fetch with his favorite red ball... And sometimes all I really have to do Is throw it... and that’s all... There’s no real complicated reason Why life has to be all confusing... Because when I apprec...

IDK why I can’t talk to my daughter... I feel AWOL from her teenage life... Our relationship has become all about texting... I’m having the same problem with my wife... So I was looking at my daughter’s 📱 ... To understand what’s going on in her head... But all I could find was gibberish... In a text, this is all it said... BF: OMG, you’re a PYT... Daughter: IDK, I have ADD, so just KISS... BF: IRL, you’re so PHAT... Daughter: LOL, that’s a BEG... BF: BTW, I ❤️ U in OT... Daughter: OK, TTYL, but NTS... I don’t want to be a nosy father... As I pride myself for being a  😎  dad... But this lack of personal communications... Is making me rather sad... I miss the hugs and kisses... From my children, and especially my wife... Instead of real, deep discussions, I get nothing more than 📱 strife... Wife: Can you make BLTs and do it ASAP! I’ll be LFD tonight. BBL!  😘 Me: But when will you be home? I can’t cook  🥓 !    It’ll turn out FUBAR! Wife:  🤣  I...

Friends are important... They are like gifts from above... And befitting Josie and Chloe... Like a hand and a glove... Sometimes they share their secrets... Other times they share their jokes... Sometimes they act mischievous... When planning a girlish hoax... Sometimes they enjoy picnics... On a bright sunny day... They share their thoughts together In a kind and caring way... Sometimes friends like to giggle... And roll around on the rug... Friends are always there for one another... With a kind word or just a hug... So the next time when your sidekick... Reaches out when they’re in need... Always be there for your girlfriend... And be a good friend, indeed... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

J'aime ma petite amie... Mais elle est bien plus qu’une petite amie pour moi... comment la décrire? elle est ma confidente... elle est mon âme soeur... elle est mon amante... elle est ma meilleure amie... elle est ma partenaire... elle me donne envie d'être le meilleur homme que je puisse vraiment être... elle me complète vraiment... Elle est ma compagne...❤️

Vesparado, will you take me for a ride... I’m young and I’m pretty... We can ride together, side by side... If you let me ride with you I’ll treat your Vespa real fine... You must be so lonely Riding by yourself all the time... I’m just kinda curious About all the thoughts in your head... There’s no reason to be alone We can ride together instead... When we’re riding and it starts raining We can snuggle under an old cypress tree... We’ll stay warm and dry together You, your Vespa and little ole me... When the sun goes down And the stars twinkle bright... I’ll keep you and your Vespa Warm and snuggly all night... And then early, tomorrow morning,  When the birds sing and the squirrels play... We can ride off together on your Vespa As we start a new and exciting day... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice Image: Anita Ekberg, as Sylvia, La Dolce Vita - Directed by Federico Fellini

They sat there on the comfortable sofa... In the quiet of her living room... That soon they would be embracing Together as one he was to assume... But that moment never materialized... As he shot glances directed her way... She was fully entranced with the telly It became clear it wasn’t his day... It was impossible to read the situation... He was no longer in control... The outcome had become unpredictable... She was resistant to his clever cajole... His irresistible charm was failing... His come hither lines were rebuked... No matter how Latin his accent became... It was apparent she couldn’t be duped... So when he suggested they kiss She finally began to scoff... He arrived at the inevitable conclusion That all chances with Betts were off... So he acted the proper gentleman  As he quietly licked his wounds... And watched the rest of the movie In kinship with broken hearted buffoons... As soon as the movie was over The thought of dessert was nowhere in sight... He made haste to e...