I may not be rich by financial accounts

Or own palatial estates or a ritzy penthouse

Drive exotic sports cars or sport jewelry excess

But worth more than all this I’ve been blessed with the best

That life has to offer in my marital quest.

Thirty six years back I found me a girl

We dated six years till she took the name Searles

We’ve sailed through the good times and weathered some storms

And built a love stronger still then the day it was formed.

We rarely argue and never had a big fight

Just discuss our opinions and what we would like

Then respect each other and compromise

Till both feel the winner in each other’s eyes.

We love all the same things, Arline and me

A day at the beach with the sea and the breeze

A walk through the park in the shade of the trees

Or working the soil, knelt down on our knee’s.

Croquet, Badminton, Horseshoes and more

Played out In our yard with friends to keep score

Card games and board games and dominoes too

And an occasional Scrabble to test the words that we knew.

We share a vagabond spirit and camped most of our life

In vans, tents, and trailers, all sizes and types

And shared meal time with critters from lizards and more

Squirrels, chipmunks and bunnies, raccoons and even a horse.

We may take in a morning at our gun club to shoot

Or Fast Draw cowboy style, in holster, western wear and boots

Shoot at targets, yes… but never just to hunt

Then back home where Arline whips up a nice lunch.

We would get out on our Harleys, the wind in our face

Picnic or Bar-b-que, just to our taste

Build or refinish furniture, working with wood

Or wrench on our cycle’s, or auto’s under their hood.

Take in museums with historical quotes

The fine arts and science and of a limited note

Visit historical locations and restoration sites

From colonial times to the invention of light.

We’re just as happy to relax and read a good book

Or sit outside and watch the shapes the clouds took

Sit under the stars and pick out constellations

Or watch meteor shower’s incoming invasions.

Arline writes letters, catching up with old friends

While I E-mail and Forward and Re-ply again

Or sit and quietly ponder my thoughts as they roam

Coming together to create a new poem.

We kayaked for years as my health would allow

On the rivers with gators and even sea cows

Explored islands of sea shells and deserted locations

Underwater cave’s and fresh spring habitations.

We love to miniature golf whenever we can

Or shoot pool by the hours, alone or with friends

Or just relax with good music or favorite T.V. show

Or shop thrift stores for treasures that we just can’t forgo.

But probably the most foundational part

Of this kinship we share just comes from two hearts

Knitted together in love for our Lord

Who died in our place and who we just adore.

And who’s written our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life

And who promises heaven to you, me, and my wife

Forever Together… never to part

Once we’ve invited the Savior into our heart.