Anthony Eugene Pendola
And TEARS Fall
DEAREST DADDY,
Every time someone ...
Shares a story,
A percentage of pain turns to ache,
and a Chest of Borrowed Memories,
and ... TEARS FALL ... .
Every time I ...
read your letters ...
A percentage of pain turns to ache,
and "I Know I Am Loved",
and ... TEARS FALL ...
Every time I ...
research your battle ...
A percentage of pain turns to ache,
and Knowledge to Share,
and TEARS FALL ...
Every time I hear ...
how You were so ornery, always smiling, do anything
for your friends, kind of guy, and that you were
(Imperfect),
A percentage of pain turns to ache,
and I want you to be ....(MY FRIEND)
even more,
and TEARS FALL ...
Every time I listen to your High School Friends,also
now (VIETNAM VETERANS) ...
a percentage of Pain turns to ache,
I grow to care about them more ,
and more,
and over time LESS TEARS FALL ...
Every time I would try to talk....
But nobody wanted to hear,
I started to think,
"DOES ANYONE CARE"???
And then came the FORCE of a SOUL ...
FOOTSTEPS of an ANGEL,
My Minister said it's....
"YOU"!!!
You brought with you a familiar voice,
One that used to coddle and hold me tight,
A truly unconditional LOVE,
Her presence brought a path of events,
to ultimately bring friendship and
healing to SHE and I and YES...
"PRINCESS" too ... .
"MY MOMMY", "YOUR PRINCESS" - your Love was sooo
incredibly true!!
Her SOULMATE, her DREAMS, and with your 2 month
old Baby Girl too!!!
The reports, the medals, but they weren't you
All put in boxes and stored, what else could
she do????
52 years. FINALLY a love that's true!
She hands me some boxes,says here these are for you,
Medals, newspapers, and pictures too, and best of all ...
the PRINCESS LETTERS those to TAMMY LYNN are
"YOU"!!
The familiar voice shared stories with me about you,
She suffered the pain all over for you..
She's taught me how to UNDERSTAND.
It's not that they don't care, it's simply too painful
... and we have to let go!!!
SHE I LOVE so deep and true ...
"I KNOW YOU ARE PROUD"
(She is your SISTER...SHE'S MY AUNT TINA TOO...)
Now that the pain and anger are gone, I think the ache will always hold on. After 10 years of walking my halls I let your force go, during the visit to Peoria by the Traveling Wall. On September 8th, 2001, I was drawn to the Wall to give you my gifts. Aunt Tina brought me at 2:00 A.M., in the pouring down rain. WE said our goodbyes. Word has it you'd been there in disguise!
A Vietnam Veteran and friend named DANNY said he was expecting me? He brought me a gift, he says you share with your buddy when you really care.
He handed me a small metal tool told me to open the can, and it was "C" rations ... a CHOCOLATE NUT ROLL!
YES .... I ate it! not too bad I guess?
I'm following your "LOUD FOOTSTEPS" ...
YES - I am here. I will speak my LOVE and Honor you, and I will do these presentations too.
Be patient with me, it takes time to put 36 years in a proper design. OUR Vietnam Veterans are still at war with visions that will haunt them forever more.
I LOVE them so much just the way they are.
STAND UP, SPEAK LOUD, DISPLAY THOSE MEDALS, tell the world
what they're ... FOR ... FOR ...
that's what the visit from DADDY was for.
