Please God, I'm Only 17

PLEASE GOD, I'M ONLY 17

The day I died was an ordinary school day.

How I wish I had taken the bus. But I was too

Cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled

The car out of Mom. "Special favor," I pleaded.

"All the kids drive."

When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books

In the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow

Morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the

Thought of driving a car and being my own boss.

Free!

It doesn't matter how the accident happened.

I was goofing off -- going too fast -- taking

Crazy chances. But I was enjoying my

Freedom and having fun. The last thing I

Remember was passing an old lady who

Seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard the

Deafening crash and felt a terrible jolt.

Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole

Body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard

Myself scream.

Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police

Officer was standing over me. Then I saw a

Doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated

With blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking

Out all over. Strange that I couldn't feel anything.

Hey, don't pull that sheet over my head! I can't

Be dead. I'm only 17. I've got a date tonight. I'm

Supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life.

I haven't lived yet. I can't be dead!

Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to

Identify me. Why did they have to see me like this?

Why did I have to look at Mom's eyes when she

Faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad

Suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man

In charge, "Yes, he is my son."

The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my

Relatives and friends walk toward the casket.

They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with

The saddest eyes I've ever seen. Some of my buddies

Were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand

And sobbed as they walked away.

Please -- somebody -- wake me up! Get me out

Of here! I can't bear to see my mom and dad so

Broken up. My grandparents are so racked with

Grief they can hardly walk. My brothers and

Sisters are like zombies. They move like robots.

In a daze, everybody. No one can believe this.

And I can't believe it, either.

Please don't bury me! I'm not dead! I have a lot of

Living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want

To sing and dance. Please don't put me in the

Ground. I promise if you give me one more chance,

God, I'll be the most careful driver in the whole

World. All I want is one more chance!

Please, God, I'm only 17

A Dog Named "Sex"

A Dog Named Sex

Everybody I know who has a dog 

Usually calls him "Rover" or "Boy."

I call mine "Sex." Now, Sex has been

Very embarrassing to me. 

When I went to the City Hall to renew

His dog license, I told the clerk that I

Would like a license for Sex. He said,

"I'd like to have one too." Then I said,

"You don't understand. I've had Sex

Since I was nine years old." He said,

"You must have been quite a kid!" 

When I got married and went on my

Honeymoon, I took the dog with me.

I told the hotel clerk that I wanted a

Room for my wife and me, and a special

Room for Sex. He said, "Every room in

The place is for sex." I said, "You don't

Understand. Sex keeps me awake at

Night." The clerk said, "Me too." 

One day I entered Sex in a contest,

But before the competition began, the

Dog ran away. Another contestant

Asked me why I was just looking around.

I told him I had planned to have Sex in the

Contest. He told me that I should have

Sold tickets. "But you don't understand,"

I said, "I had hoped to have Sex on T.V."

He called me a show-off. 

When my wife and I separated, we went

To court to fight for custody of the dog.

I said, "Your Honor, I had Sex before I

Was married." The judge said, "Me too."

Then I told him that after I was married,

Sex left me. He said, "Me too." 

Last night Sex ran off again. I spent

Hours looking around town for him. A

Cop came over to me and asked, "What

Are you doing in the alley at 4 o'clock in

The morning?" I said, "I'm looking for Sex." 

My case comes up Friday.

Special Friend

I wanted to share something that I came across the other day.  This is a writing a friend of mine wrote herself dedicated to me.  She wrote this back on January 6, 1991.  I was a Senior in High School and graduated in '91.  I came up with the idea of creating a notebook where I had family and friends autograph to wish me luck in my future endeavors. I have tons of friends and family who signed this book. I actually looked through the book and came across this and decided I would share this.  This blog is dedicated to my dearest friend from high school, Denise (Graybill) Gutierrez!  You were my "Cupcakes" and I was your "Sweetcakes"!

"SPECIAL FRIEND"

I have this "Special Friend"

Who is very sweet and kind.

He can brighten anyone's day,

And has enough love to fulfill

Your heart and soul.

He is always there,

Even when I treat him bad.

He never goes away.

I can always count on him

To be there for me

Night or day,

For he always show me the way.

He doesn't ask questions,

He just listens and is there.

He can always make me happy,

How? I don't know.

For he has that magic touch

That flows through and glows.

No one could mess up

The friendship we have.

It is special and true.

If we ever part,

I'll still remember

Always in my heart:

"My Special Friend"

written by:

Denise Graybill

(aka Niecey)

1-6-91 Dedicated to:

Adam K Buchanan

Texas Rangers Top 40 Countdown

Texas Rangers Top 40 Countdown

Logos will be in order followed by the years in use.

1971-1980

40 - Benji Molina hits for a cycle. July 10, 2010

39 - Bill Stein's 7 consecutive pinch hits.
       May 25, 1981 

38 - Rafael Palmeiro's HR beats Roger Clemens
       and Red Sox. April 30, 1989

37 - Toby Harrah & Bump Wills hit back-
       2-back in-the-park HR. August 22, 1977

36 - Gary Matthews Jr.'s incredible catch.
       July 1, 2006

35 - Julio Franco wins All-Star Game MVP.
       July 10, 1990

34 - Rangers score 30 runs at Baltimore.
       August 22, 2007

33 - Larry Parrish beats Yankees with 3 HR's.
       April 29, 1985

32 - Brad Corbett becomes Rangers first local
       owner. May 29, 1974

31 - Adrian Beltre's 3 HRs in ALDS Game 4 beats
       Rays. October 4, 2011

1981-1983

30 - Hank Blalock's HR wins the All- Star game
       for the American League. July 15, 2003

29 - Nolan Ryan Group wins ownership of Rangers
       in auction.  August 5, 2010

28 - Josh Hamilton hits 28 HRs in first round of
       Home Run Derby. July 16, 2008

27 - Michael Young wins All-Star MVP in
       Pittsburgh.  July 11, 2006

26 - Rangers trade for Josh Hamilton. December 21,
       2007

25 - Billy Martin leads team to 2nd place finish in
       A.L. West. 1974

24 - Rangers win 94 games under Billy Hunter. 1977

23 - Richie Zisk hits walk-off HR on opening day vs.
       Yankees. April 8, 1978

22 - Geno Petralli & Ruben Sierra HR's beat
       Roger Clemens and Red Sox. August 25, 1986

21 - Nolan Ryan's 6th No-Hitter. June 11, 1990

1984-1993

20 - George Bush investment team buys Rangers.
       March 17, 1989

19 - Mark Teixeira traded for Neftali Feliz, Elvis
       Andrus, Matt Harrison and Jared
       Saltalamacchia. July 31, 2007

18 - Rangers beat Yankees in first-ever play-off
       game. October 1, 1996

17 - Cliff Lee beats Rays in game 5 of ALDS.
       October 12, 2010

16 - Derek Holland Gem vs. St. Luis Cardinals
       in game 4 of World Series. October 12, 2010

15 - Opening of the Ballpark in Arlington.
       April 11, 1994

14 - Announcement made to build new ballpark.
       October 24, 1990

13 - David Clyde (18 ys old) makes Major League
       debut. June 27, 1973

12 - Nolan Ryan's 5,000th strike out.
       August 22, 1989

11 - Nolan Ryan's 7th No-Hitter. May 1, 1991

1994-1997

10 - Rangers first-ever game in Arlington.
       April 21, 1972

 9 - Rangers first road win in the World Series.
      October 20, 2011

 8 - Rangers beat St. Luis Cardinals to take a
      3-2 lead in World Series.  October 24, 2011

7 - Josh Hamilton hits 4 HR's at Baltimore
     Orioles. May 8, 2012

 6 - First World Series game played in Arlington.
      October 30, 2010

1998-2002

 5 - Kenny Rogers Perfect Game. July 28, 1994

 4 - Nelson Cruz Walk-Off Grand Slam beats
      Detroit Tigers. October 10, 2011

 3 - Mayer Tom Vandergriff announces Rangers
      coming to Arlington. September 23, 1971

 2 - Rangers beat Detroit Tigers to win 2nd Pennant.
      October 15, 2011

 1 - Rangers beat Yankees to win 1st Pennant.
      October 22, 2010

2003-Present

Two Nuts

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, 

Old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence.

One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts 

And sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began

Dividing the nuts.  "One for me, 

One for you.  One for me," said one boy.

Several dropped and rolled down toward

The fence.  Another boy came riding along the

Road on his bicycle.

As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery.

He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard,

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

He just knew what it was.

He jumped back on his bike and rode  off.

Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard!

Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."

When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything.

The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence

Tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all.

Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town

a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike.

Jack Of All Trades... Master Of One

My first job was working in an Orange Factory,

But I got canned. Couldn't concentrate.

Then I worked in the woods as a Lumberjack,

But just couldn't hack it,

So they gave me the axe.

After that, I tried being a Tailor,

But wasn't suited for it -- 

Mainly because it was a sew-sew job.

Next, I tried working in a Muffler Factory,

But it was too exhausting.

Then, tried being a Chef,

Figured it would add a little spice to my life,

But just didn't have the thyme.

Next, I attempted being a Deli Worker,

But any way I sliced it...

Couldn't cut the mustard.

My best job was a Musician,

But eventually found I wasn't noteworthy.

I studied a long time to become a Doctor,

But didn't have any patience.

Next, was a job in a Shoe Factory,

Tried hard but just didn't fit in.

I became a Professional Fisherman,

But discovered I couldn't live on my net income.

Managed to get a good job working for a 

Pool Maintenance Company,

But the work was just too draining.

So then I got a job in a Workout Center,

But the said I wasn't fit for the job.

After many years of trying to find steady work,

I finally got a job as a Historian

Until I realized there was no future in it.

My last job was working in Starbucks,

But had to quit because it was the same old grind.

So, I tried RETIREMENT

And I found I'm perfect for the job!

Crabby Old Man

 

 

When an old man died in the geriatric ward 

of a nursing home in GRASS VALLEY, CA.

It was believed that he had nothing left of any

value.

 

Later, when the nurses were going through

his meager possessions, they found this poem.

Its quality and content so impressed the staff

that copies were made and distributed to every

 nurse in the home.

 

One nurse took her copy to Missouri.

 

The old man's sole bequest to posterity has

since appeared in the Christmas edition of

The News Magazine of the St. Louis Association

for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also

been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

 

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to 

the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous'

poem winging across the Internet.

 

 

Crabby Old Man...

 

What do you see nurses?

What do you see?

What are you thinking

When you're looking at me?

A crabby old man

Not very wise,

Uncertain of habit

With faraway eyes?

 

Who dribbles his food

And makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice

'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice

The things that you do.

And forever is losing

A sock or shoe?

 

Who, resisting or not

Lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding

The long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?

Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse

You're not looking at me.

 

I'll tell you who I am.

As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding,

As I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of Ten

With a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters

Who love one another.

 

A young boy of Sixteen

With wings on his feet.

Dreaming that soon now

A lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty

My heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows

That I promised to keep.

 

At Twenty-Five, now

I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide

And a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty

My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other

With ties that should last.

 

At Forty, my young sons

Have grown and are gone,

But my woman's beside me

To see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more,

Babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children

My loved one and me.

 

Dark days are upon me

My wife is now dead.

I look at the future

Shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing

Young of their own.

And I think of the years

And the love that I've known.

 

I'm now an old man

And nature is cruel.

Tis jest to make old age

Look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles

Grace and vigor, depart.

There is now a stone

Where I once had a heart.

 

But inside this old carcass

A young guy still dwells,

And now and again

My battered heart swells.

I remember the joys

I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living

Life over again.

 

I think of the years, all too few

Gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact

That nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people

Open and see.

Not a crabby old man

Look closer...

See ME!!

 

 

Remember this poem when you next meet an older

person who you might brush aside, Without looking 

at the young soul within.

 

We will ALL, one day, be there, too!

 

 

The best and most beautiful things of this world 

can't be seen or touched.  They must be felt by

the heart

Daddy's Poem...

Her hair was up in a ponytail, Her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school, And she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay home ; Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that was why, once again, She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school , Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees, a dad Who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in Back, for everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their seat.

One by one the teacher called On a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, A man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?" She heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't have one," Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, She heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, As she smiled up at her Mom. And looked back at her teacher, who Told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back, Slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child, Came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here, Because he lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know All about my daddy, And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories, He taught me to ride my bike; He surprised me with pink roses, And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, And ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me, Even though we are apart; I know because he told me, He'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her daughter, Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love Of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, Doing what was a right.

And when she dropped her hand back Down, staring straight into the crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be here, But heaven's just too far.

You see he is an American Soldier And he died just this past year,, When a roadside bomb hit his convoy And taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away." And then she closed her eyes, And saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement, She witnessed with surprise, A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them; Who knows what they felt inside. Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy," To the silence she called out. And what happened next made believers, Of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, For each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk beside her, Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for A moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to send it also to the person that sent it to you.

It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends.

Take the time...to live and love.

Until eternity..

God Bless

There must be many children in the same boat as this little girl, thanks to our servicemen and their families for the sacrifice they are making to keep our country Free.

The ULTIMATE sacrifice is being left behind.

Don't forget them.

...ONLY YOU...

A lot of people know the surface side of me,

the side they see while I'm working

or just going through the day...

But there's another side of me ~ an inside ~

that people never see.

It's a part that's full of a thousand thoughts,

a part that embraces love and cherishes friendship,

a part that understands without need for words,

a part that has yearnings and desires and prayers.

The inside of me has so many moods

that the outside never shows.

For once in my life, though...

I trust someone implicitly

and I care about someone in a totally

   understanding way.

I feel like it's ok to let that someone in...

to let them see me emotionally

and physically

as naturally and as naked as I can be.

I have given my self to you

and told you things that 

I've never told another soul.

You are the one person who has seen me

trembling and as fearful as an injured bird,

you are the one person I always want

to take with me when I feel

exhilarated and my spirits are soaring.

I trust you with my secrets,

and you now know that

     you can trust me with yours.

This sharing... this special sharing...

is one of the nicest dimensions

my life has ever known.  

~Jamie Delere


This was in a card that my BESTEST FRIEND sent me.  I am so thankful that I have a wonderful friend like her.  Everyone in the world needs a Friend like her.  I love and miss my BESTEST FRIEND, Jill!!!

Adele - Rolling In The Deep"

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark
Finally, I can see you crystal clear
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare

See how I'll leave with every piece of you
Don't underestimate the things that I will do
There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark

The scars of your love remind me of us
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Baby, I have no story to be told
But I've heard one on you and I'm gonna make your head burn
Think of me in the depths of your despair
Make a home down there as mine sure won't be shared

The scars of your love remind me of us
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
I can't help feeling

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Could have had it all
Rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside of your hands
But you played it with a beating

Throw your soul through every open door
Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold
You'll pay me back in kind and reap just what you've sown

We could have had it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
It all, it all, it all
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
And you played it to the beat
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)
Rolling in the deep
(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart inside of your hands
(You're gonna wish you never had met me)

But you played it
You played it
You played it