I remember I was about six
It was the first day of school
My mother got me out of bed
She helped me get ready
And drove me the 8 blocks from the house
We got out of the car
Walked slowly together
Went inside the building
And to the classroom
Where my education was to begin
We stood there in the doorway
For a moment
Actually several moments
Her hand in mine
Both of us holding on
Probably tighter than we should
It wasn't easy for either one of us
But we both knew what had to happen
We looked at each other one last time
Then we let go
I cried for awhile
I guess she probably did too
But somehow we made it through it
Apart but still together
And
At the end of the day
We seemed to hold each other a little differently
For we knew things had changed
There was a night
I went to see my Grandfather
Who was at home
From the hospital
Cancer had taken its toll on him
And it showed
He took my hand in his
And for awhile we just sat
Not wanting to speak
Just holding on
Probably tighter than we should
Each knowing we would have to leave
I did after a few hours
And later that night
So did he
The next day came
And I cried
Things were just a bit different then
We all held each other a bit more closely that day
For we all knew things had changed
I remember when I was barely eighteen
I had decided to start a life on my own
My father and I stood at the doorway
My things were packed
I could tell by the look on his face
He didn't agree that it was the right thing to do
But we had already argued that point
We stood for a moment
We shook hands
And held on
Probably tighter than we should
He told me never to hesitate to call
If I ever needed any help
I tried not to cry and so did he
And we let go
Things were a bit different after that
We still see each other
And our love for each other is still as strong
But it wasn't too long
Until I had children of my own
There was a different night
Not too long ago
I was sick at home
Fighting to stay awake
Because I was afraid that if I failed
I might never wake again
I saw my family around me
I held on with all I had
But it got to a point
Where I could just hold on no longer
So I let go
God caught me and held me in his arms
And told me things were going to be all right
He gave me the strength that I needed
And then He let go
I awoke
Things have been a bit different since then
We hold each other closely still
And we still know things will change
But we also know we can make it through them
Never alone but together
Ed Roberts 11/20/00
Some people say "You can judge a man by
what he chooses to hold on to."
I can not argue with that, but I feel that you also have to add "Some of the hardest lessons that we have to learn in life come from learning that sometimes we have to just let go."
