'An old mans walk"

WALKING ALONG THE ROAD ONE DAY I NOTICED AN OLD MAN SITTING ON THE A STUMP UNDER THE SHADE OF A OAK TREE HE LOOKED VERY TIRED AND OUT OF BREATH AND SWEAT WAS RUNNING DOWN HIS BROW. I ASK HIM IF HE NEEDED HELP AND IF HE WAS OK. HE SAID TO ME CAN I ASK ONE FAVOR OF YOU YOUNG MAN? THE YOUNG MAN SAID SURE WHAT MIGHT THAT BE THE OLD MAN SAID CAN YOU TAKE SOMETIME TO LISTEN TO A STORY THAT I MUST TELL SOMEONE BEFORE I DIE BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO STAY ALIVE EVEN WHEN I'M GONE.THE YOUNG MAN WAS PUZZLED BY THIS AND WASN'T SURE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE BUT FEELING SORRY FOR THE OLD MAN HE SAID SURE TELL ME. IT WILL GIVE YOU TIME TO REST. THE OLD MAN WIPPED THE SWEAT FROM HIS BROW AND WHEN HE LOOKED INTO THE YOUNG MANS EYES HE SAID WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN LIKE YOU I MARRIED A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL AND WAS SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER AND TOLD HER IF SHE MARRIED ME THAT I WOULD TAKE CARE OF HER AND ALWAYS BE THERE FOR HER. SHE TOLD ME SHE LOVED ME AND THAT SHE WOULD MARRY ME. I WORKED HARD TO MAKE A LIFE FOR HER AND GAVE HER MANY THINGS AND TOOK CARE OF HER AND MADE A HOME FOR HER BUT WHILE WORKING SO HARD FOR MANY YEARS I NEVER SPENT THE TIME WITH HER THAT I SHOULD HAVE. WE HAD A SON TOGETHER AND I NEVER KNEW HIM BECAUSE I WAS NEVER THERE BUT I MADE SURE HE LIVED A GOOD LIFE. THEN ONE DAY I REALIZED THAT I WAS OLD AND NEVER ENJOYED THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE LIKE BEING THERE FOR HER AND MY SON SO I NEEDED TO FIND THEM AND TELL THEM I WAS SORRY BUT WHEN I STARTED WALKING DOWN THIS ROAD I FORGOT WHERE I LIVED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GONE SO LONG I NEED TO FIND THEM AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM. THEN THE YOUNG MAN REALIZED THAT HE WAS TALKING TO HIS FATHER AND SMILED AND SAID EVERY DAY MOM MAKES ME WALK DOWN THIS ROAD SHE TOLD ME ONE DAY I WOULD FIND SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE YOU ARE MY FATHER COME HOME AND SPEND WHAT TIME YOU HAVE LEFT WITH US SO THE OLD MAN TOOK HIS SON'S HAND AND WALKED HOME AND WHEN HE SEEN HIS WIFE HE FELT LIKE A YOUNG MAN AGAIN. HE TOLD HER HOW SORRY HE WAS FOR NEVER BEING THERE BUT SHE TOLD HIM YOUR HERE NOW AND WHAT EVER TIME WE HAVE IS WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US .SO THE THE YOUNG MAN MET HIS FATHER THAT DAY AND PROMISED BOTH OF THEM THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE THE TIME TO SMEEL THE ROSES  THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE WITH SOMEONE ALWAYS MAKE IT SPECIAL

"Mistical Magical Land of Dreams"

MISTICAL MAGICAL LAND OF DREAMS WHERE I GO TO FIND PEACE. THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS THE WAY I WANT IT TO BE. HAPPY OR SAD I OFTEN GO TO THIS PLACE TO DREAM AND THINK OF HOW MANY TIMES REALITY BRINGS ME HERE. I CAN BE WHO I WANT TO BE SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY AND SMILE WHEN I WANT TO. AND CRY WHEN I WANT TO. AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HURTING SOMEONE OR THEM HURTING ME. CAN I REMAIN HERE? CAN I BE HAPPY AND LIVE MY LIFE HERE? NO! I CANNOT I MUST FACE REALITY AND WORK MY WAY THROUGH IT UNTIL AGAIN I CAN COME TO THIS PLACE. I FIND PEACE IN WRITING THESE WORDS AND EXPRESSING MYSELF AND SHOWING OTHERS THAT WHAT I FEEL I CAN WRITE DOWN AND NOT HOLD INSIDE OF ME. IS THIS A GOOD THING ? OR IS THIS A BAD THING? I ONLY KNOW THAT AS THE WORDS COME FROM MY HEART AND ON TO THIS PAPER I AM FREE I HAVE NO ONE TO ANSWER TO OR WORRY ABOUT I CAN WRITE OF ADVENTURES I CAN WRITE OF PEACE OR WAR I CAN WRITE OF DEATH OR BIRTH WHATEVER I CHOOSE TO DO IN THIS PLACE I CAN DO. MY HEART LONGS TO BE HERE ALWAYS BUT I MUST GO BACK TO REALITY AND LIVE MY LIFE. BUT AS LONG AS MY FINGERS CAN TYPE AND MY HEART AND MY MIND ARE CLEAR I WILL COME BACK TO THIS PLACE I LOVE SO MUCH AND LET IT BRING ME PEACE!!!!!!

"Little boy where have you gone?"(Dedicated to my son )

LITTLE BOY WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?
SOMETIMES I MISS YOU SO.
ALL GROWN UP AND FAR AWAY.
PICTURES LINED UP IN A ROW.
DADDY'S BOY AT BASEBALL GAMES.
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN.
I'LL NEVER HAVE THAT TIME AGAIN.
JUST MEMORIES OF YOU SON.
A YOUNG MAN STARTING HIS OWN LIFE.
A MILLON MILES FROM ME.
BUT LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES.
A LITTLE BOY I SEE.
MY HAIR IS GRAY I'M GROWING OLD.
AND TIME JUST FLEW ON BY.
SOMETIMES IT MAKES ME FEEL SO SAD.
SOMETIMES IT MAKES ME CRY.
BUT WHEN I SEE THESE PICTURES.
AND THAT SMILE UPON YOUR FACE.
I WOULD NOT TRADE THEM FOR THE WORLD.
AND NOTHING CAN REPLACE.
ALL OF THESE PICTURES OF YOU.
LINED NEATLY IN A ROW. FOR A MINUTE YOU COME BACK TO ME.
BUT SON I MISS YOU SO.

"Do you think your life was worth living?"

One day a man came to the end of his life. And he stood before God. And God ask him do you think your life was worth living? The man said to God I have had many hardships in my life but I have also had many joys and happy times. God said to the man that is not what I ask you. I ask you if you think your life was worth living. God also said to the man I want you to take my hand we are going to go back to the very beginning of your life and you are going to see everyday day you spent here on earth . So the man sat there with God and watched his entire life play before him like a movie. There were many happy childhood moments in his life but also many moments of pain. As he watched his teenage years go by he was embarrassed at some of things he done sitting there with God watching these things. As he watched his adult life play before him he smiled at the days of his children and the joy they had brought to his life. But he was also saddened watching love ones pass away. There were so many things he done wrong but also so many things he done right and as he watched his final days of life play out he looked at God and said please forgive me father for all those bad things I done but thank you for all the great times of my life. So God said to the man again. Do you think your life was worth living? And the man stood there before God and said yes I do father but the thing I'm worried most about is if I'm worthy of you and worthy of heaven. God looked at him and said I left something out of your life that I just played for you. And the man said to God I think I know what you left out. And God said to the man what's that? And the man said to God you left out all the times I prayed and ask for you to show me the way and all the times I ask you for forgiveness for my sins. And God said to the man do you think I answered your prayers? And the man said the path my life has taken has always included you in it so yes I always felt comfort in prayer. So God ask the man for the final time do you think your life was worth living? And the man said to him yes father I do. And God looked at the man and smiled and took his hand once more and said let's go home!!!!!! ~Dan Greene~

"The middle of No where"

What does the middle of no where mean? Is that the place we go to dream? Pondering thoughts of yesterday. Places we were but could not stay? Times gone by ...days of old...warm summer days....and winters cold....lost in a dream of mystic wonder gray skies wind and rolling thunder. Rainbows, sunsets, mountain peaks. Being strong and very weak stuck in the middle of a cold dark night...not knowing what's wrong....not knowing what's right....lost in the ocean in a sea of emotion...Noisy crowds full of commotion. Wishes of things that never came true. Being happy or feeling blue....What does the middle of no where mean ? Looking for reality but chasing a dream !!!!!!!  ~Dan Greene~

"Have you ever got pooped on by a bird?"

Have you ever got pooped on by a bird? It's not fun all it's not even a turd. It's white and it's runny and has berry seeds too. It's the worst bunch of crap...It's the worst bunch poo. I was  just walking along singing a song. And something hit my arm ....it was all kinds of wrong!!! You may think its funny...It might make you laugh but it grossed me out......I just wanted a bath. I yelled up at that bird....what's a wrong with you? Can't you wait till you land on the ground to Poo? He chirped at me as he flew by......your lucky it didn't land in your eye. I yelled back to him your a dirty bird with your white runny crap that's not even a turd. As I looked up.....and watched him fly ....Yeah you guessed it...that bird pooped in my eye... And all I could say was why,why,why????? ~Dan Greene~

"Primrose Lane"

One day I was walking down Primrose Lane. The sky was so sunny. There was no signs of rain. It was the kind of day you just wanted to smile. And soak it all in for a long little while. I said hello to Pete Peterson as he passed me by and his brother Fred who had a black eye. I said Fred may I ask what happened to you? Your eye is so black! With big rings of blue...Fred said its a long story but I will try to explain. It happened right here on Primrose Lane. You know that big hill at the end of Lane? Near that old house with  those big Window panes? I was waiting for Sam Stiffel to meet me there his dad got us tickets to the County Fair. I was  just bouncing my ball off that big yellow wall waiting for Sam and I took a fall. I fell on my face in a very wrong place ..I hit my my eye and I started to cry and that's the story of my black eye...Then Pete said to Fred come on let's go. We are going to be late for the big clown show. I said my goodbyes and I continued to walk down Primrose Lane to the end of the block. The next person I seen was Betty Jo Hanson she lives on Elm Street in a great big mansion. People say she is snotty but I disagree she always takes time to talk to me. I said hi Betty Jo how are you? She said I'm fine now but I had flu. I had a temperature of 103 and my mother made me drink this gross herbal tea. But I'm feeling much better now so I'm taking a walk. I am glad you stopped and I'm glad we could talk. I smiled and I said I'm glad we talked too. And I'm glad your feeling better and over the flu. I said Betty Jo are busy or free? Would like to come have a ice cream with me? Betty Jo smiled and said yes I am free and ice cream is much better then gross herbal tea. So we walked and we talked and we laughed and had fun on that beautiful warm day in the summer sun. I love when it's sunny and there is no rain. And I love taking walks down Primrose Lane! ~Dan Greene~

"The Sun will shine"

 Once upon a time a little boy was lost in the deep dark forest..He shook with fear..He cried real tears..so he ask God to guide him home..He was affraid and all alone..God spoke to him in a soothing tone..I love you son and your not alone...Take my hand and follow me..And I will help to make you see..I'm with you always and you'll be fine..The darkness will fade and the sun will shine.....~Dan Greene~

"A Son"

A SON IS LIKE A MIRROR...THAT YOU LOOK IN TO...HIS LIFE IS SHAPED AND MOLDED...FROM THE THINGS HIS PARENTS DO...WHEN HE'S YOUNG THERE'S BASEBALL....RIDING BIKES AND PLAY..AS HE GROWS THROUGH HIS YOUTH..THEN COMES THE JUDGEMENT DAY...WILL HE BE KIND AND CARING? WILL GOD BE IN HIS LIFE?....OR WILL HE BE FULL OF HATERED,SORROW FEAR AND STRIFE? THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS....IS REALLY UP TO YOU...BECAUSE A SON IS LIKE A MIRROR THAT YOU LOOK INTO...~Dan Greene~

"A Daughter"

A DAUGHTER IS LIKE A CANVAS...THAT AN ARTIST PAINTS...SHE STARTS OUT FAIRLY SIMPLE...AND ENDS UP VERY QUAINT....HER PARENTS ARE THE COLOR'S USED TO PAINT HER LIFE...GOD IS THE ARTIST...THAT BLENDS THEM ALL JUST RIGHT...COLOR'S ARE MOST IMPORTANT...IN ANY ARTIST'S PLAN..ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PAINTING....IS DONE BY GOD'S HAND...SO CHOOSE YOUR COLOR'S CAREFULLY...AS YOUR DAUGHTER GROW'S...THE END RESULT "AN ANGEL" IS WHAT THE CANVAS SHOWS......~Dan Greene~

"Your Never Alone"

BOXES OF DREAMS.... BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS....LAUGHTER OF CHILDREN....A SOFT SUMMER HAZE....TOMBSTONES OF LOVED ONES....LINED UP IN A ROW.....I WISH THEY WERE HERE....I MISS THEM SO....BLOOMING SPRING FLOWERS HELP EASE THE PAIN....ONE DAY OF SUNSHINE....AND MANY WITH RAIN.....THE SONG OF A ROBIN....A BLUE BUTTERFLY....I SEEN THESE TODAY AND I ASK MYSELF WHY........GOD MAKES ME HAPPY WHEN THESE THINGS I SEE....I KNOW IN MY HEART HE'S RIGHT HERE WITH ME....MY BODY IS WEARY.....AND MY SOUL TRIES TO SEE.....JUST WHO I AM...AND WHO I NEED TO BE.....I TRY TO KEEP WALKING BUT I STUMBLE AND FALL...BUT GOD PICKS ME UP....AND HELPS ME STAND TALL....LIFE IS A JOURNEY....ON A LONG WINDING ROAD...WITH BURDENS AND HARDSHIPS AND HEAVY LOADS.....BUT IF YOU WALK WITH HIM..... AND GIVE PRAISE TO HIS NAME....HE WILL HELP YOU TO SEE THAT YOUR NOT TO BLAME.....FOR THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE....IS ALWAYS UNKNOWN BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR NEVER ALONE.... ~Dan Greene~

"Be at peace with yourself"

Be at peace with yourself......Be the one who makes you smile.......Laugh at you...Cry with you.....Pray that your own insecureties don't overwhelm you.....Be understood speak plainly and clearly and always make what your trying say come across to other's crystal clear.....Unhappy people make everyone around them unhappy.....When you feel all alone.....Pray......There is always someone there to listen that will never judge you......So if you must walk alone....Find things to do that keep you from being lonley......And even at your lowest point......Find something that makes you smile......~Dan Greene~

These words I speak"

I wonder lost sometimes with no apparent direction to take. Lost in a sea of emotions. Thinking of the past thinking of the present and thinking of the future. Hoping I can find a road that leads me to my destiny. Holding on to faith. Trying to find my voices in the wind. Shaking and shivering from the ice cold grasp of loneliness. Wanting to be like others but wanting to be myself. Looking for a dream like a needle in a hay stack. Break me away from the pouring rain of depression and let me find the rainbow of love. Remove all that is uncaring and unsharing and the selfish souls that dwell within the boundaries of my life.Take no pity on me for I am the only one who walks in my shoes. I am the only one who can find my destiny. Fear not these words I speak because they are me they are the life I have chosen and most of all I walk with them everyday. My writing is my destiny and these words I write bring pleasure to a tired soul.... ~Dan Greene~

"Love is All"

You whispered something in my ear last night while I was sleeping.....You told me how amazing this place is.....Better then you ever imagined it could be.....You told me all your pain is gone.....You had a big smile on your face.....You said... I ask if I could come and see you.....I wanted to say thank you.....I said what are you thanking me for???...You told me "LOVE"....."LOVE" is what I'm thanking you for.....Some people live there lives full of anger and hate....And they never take the time to "LOVE".......In my darkest hour you where there and you where not ashamed to show your "LOVE" for me......This is what I'm thanking you for.....So smile and continue to "LOVE" because..."LOVE IS ALL".....And you said I want you to know one more thing.....and I said what's that??? And you said "there is beer in Heaven!!!!! ".....I woke up smiling this morning the first time in a very long time.....Thanks for the visit my dear friend I miss you.....

"Listen to the Wind"

Listen to the sound of the wind....Listen to the rain hitting the roof....Listen to the waves crashing to shore when you are near the Ocean.....Listen to the thunder after the lightning flashes....Listen to the birds as they sing there song......Nature will let it's voice be heard....It will speak to you.....If you just have time to Listen...These are all the voices of God saying hey I'm here....I can help you if you just Listen to me....Next time you hear the rain Listen to it's rhythm it will comfort you.....And when you hear the wind whistling through the tree's it will let you know it's there and it's singing it's song.....The waves crashing and the thunder rolling will make you see just how majestic and how powerful there words are....And as the birds sing there song how can you not hear what God has to say....And when you have taken the time to hear all the things that nature is trying to say to you....Sit in a field of wild flowers and top it off with a Sunset....And I think you will pretty much know someone always walks beside us......~Dan Greene~

"Days are like Snowflakes"

Days are like snowflakes......Everyone is different.... Everyone can be as beautiful as you make it.....But you must take the time to look at them.....And when your days melt into a river of years......They can flow into a ocean of beautiful memories.......But only if you let them........~Dan Greene~

"Everything you Do"

In everything I say or do.....I am nothing without you.....In my times of despiration....You give me hope and inspiration.....You suffered for me on Calvary Hill....You let no one break your will.....You showed me what I'm living for.....And how do get to Heavens door....I turn to you when I am weak....When I am sad....When things look bleak.....You hung there on that cross for me....In all that pain...And Misery....You forgave the one's that caused your pain.....As you hung there in the rain...When I think of this my troubles seem small....With your love I will stand tall...That crown of thorns upon your head....The scars and the tourture....And the blood you shed.....And when you spoke those words so true....."Forgive them Father they don't know what they do"........~Dan Greene~

"Last Night in my Dreams"

You were there last night....In my dreams....We talked....We laughed...The sun was brite....Last night in my dreams....No gray skies...No rain....No suffering...No pain...Last night in my dreams...I seen your face....I seen your smile...You stayed with me for awhile....Last night in my dreams...Before you left you said to me.....Hold on to precious memories....They never die....There always there....And when your burdens are hard to bare...Close your eye's and say a prayer....Each night before you dream....I wish I could make your dreams come true...And always make your sky brite blue.....These are the things I wish for you....So please stay strong...And I'll stay true....When you close your eye's to dream.....And when you close those eye's for the final time.....And when you have no words left to rhyme....And there are no mountains left to climb...You will dream your final dream...~Dan Greene~

"Master Key'

Weak of heart....And weak of mind.....Somtimes you search.....And never find.....The thing that you are looking for......Is a master key.....To every door.....You've looked here....And you've looked there.....Searching and hunting everywhere......Don't waste your time turning every rock......The door you want is never locked.....You don't need a master key.......Just kneel down to your knee's.....Fold your hands.....And say a prayer.....And doors will open everywhere....Just have faith....And believe.....That Jesus is your "Master" key.......:).....~Dan Greene~

"NIGHT OF A THOUSAND DREAMS" (Chapter One)

         
Chapter 1.....Cody

There is a place.....a secret place......Where I go to find me.... And all the people I used to be and all the people I have yet to become.........A pond of water hidden  deep in the middle of a black forest....A magic place I stumbled across that no one else knows about......One day while walking I got lost in  the middle of the forest.......And fell into a hole in the ground that was 6 feet deep or so.......At the bottom of this hole was a small tunnel that lead to another dimension......As I entered into this magic place there in front of me was a pond......I was thirsty and reached down  and I took a drink of the water........Then when I looked at the reflection staring back at me it was me.... but not as a 54 year old man .....It was me... but from another lifetime... it was me... but as a boy around the age of 11.......suddenly I felt dizzy and sat there on the edge of the pond and feel asleep and began to dream.....I dreamt of being in this same  place but as a child and me running all through this forest....Feeling afraid.... Hearing voices of small children .......Seeing a glimpse of them here and there.......Finally I caught up to one of them....It was a small boy around the age of 5... I grabbed him by the arm and said why are you running? Why are you crying? Why are you so afraid? What is your name?....My name is Cody replied the small boy.......I came to this place to hide......It was a safe place.....But then he came here.....He found me.....so I run from him.......I ask him who?......Who are you running from??The boy replied my father......This use to be a safe place for all of us to come and hide and be with each other but somehow they found us.... Who are they I ask?.....All of the father's he replied.......They try to catch us and take us to the circle......What circle I ask?....The circle of the evil tree's he replied......Stay with me I told him... Hold my hand I will protect you.....and I hugged him.....But when I did he cried in pain......And then I noticed marks and scars that covered his back.....What is your name he ask?...I said my name is Daniel.....Please Daniel Don't leave.... Stay with me.....I said I will stay with you Cody.....And then all of a sudden something started to pull me away and Cody cried and said please stay but I could not stop this force pulling me and then all of a sudden I was back at the edge of the pond and I had awaken from my dream.........I felt over whelmed with what I had just dreamt about......And could not stop thinking about it......I made my way back through the small tunnel and climbed from the hole and headed back home but I marked my way as I left so that I would be able to find the hole again......As I got back home and entered my house my wife said to me where have you been??...You have been gone a long time and I was becoming worried about you.......I told her I took a long walk in the woods but I did not mention the hole or the tunnel or the dream to her.......As I lay in bed that night I could not stop thinking about that magic place...The pond ......And most of all about meeting Cody and thinking about how he is alone once more running through that place.....Or did his father catch him and take him to the circle of the evil tree's? I again began to dream.....But I was not there at that magic place... This dream was of when I was young and I was Cody's age ......I could see the time and the era but it was the early 1800'S and was not this century that I was born in....I dreamt of oil lantern's.....cobble stone street's......I dreamt of horse's  pulling buggie's in those street's and the click clacking of there holves and how it echoed through that town.......I remember a shop there and a pot belly stove that I would sit near playing with a kitten and listening to all the people in this shop talking and laughing....... I remember a man.....A tall man....A dirty man covered in black soot I think he may have been a chimney sweep......I remember feeling safe in this place....sitting there with that kitten on my lap.......But when that man looked into my eye's an overwhelming fear came over me and I felt afraid and alone........I remember this man grabbing my hand and telling me to put the kitten down it's time to go......As he pulled me towards the door of that shop.... It's That point in my dream that I awoke to my alarm clock going off.......It was Monday morning and time for work........As I made my way to the bathroom to shower and get ready for work I thought about the dream that I just had and I compared it to the dream I had of Cody at that Magic Place.....And one thing that struck me strange was that in the dream of Cody I could not see his face..It was blurred...And also in the dream I had of myself I could not see my own face the only face I seen was that of the dirty scary man that grabbed my hand...... As I drove myself to work I thought about going back to the magic place but I would not be able to do that until Sunday.....I also thought of why at this point in my life is this happening to me? When I got to work I decided that I would start a journal of everything that has happened so far so that I don't forget any of it.....So at lunchtime I wrote down all the events that had happened so far.....And I would record any other dream I may have.......My day was a normal day at work I became very busy and the thoughts of the dreams left me for awhile....As it approached quitting time and I finished up some last minute things.....I again began thinking of my two dreams.....I got in my car and was driving home and I got stuck in rush hour traffic....So I started listening to some music to kill the time.....Right in the middle of one of my favorite songs the music stopped.....All of a sudden I heard a voice calling my name......"Daniel please help me".....It was Cody's voice.....It came across my radio but only for that short sentence that he had spoken......It gave me chills....I thought I was hearing things and I brushed it off as thinking to much about the dreams......Traffic finally started to move at a better pace and soon I was pulling into my driveway.....Just as I hit my garage door opener I heard his voice once more....."Daniel please help me"........I pulled my car into the garage and went into the house.....I said hello to my wife.....And she looked at me and said what's wrong?....You look like you just seen a ghost.......I told her I was thinking of a dream I had on the way home and thought I heard a voice of the person that was in my dream.....She looked at me with a odd expression on her face and jokingly said to me....Did you stop at the bar on the way home???? I looked at her and said very funny and we both laughed and then we started to make dinner.......As my wife and I finished making dinner my daughter Jessica came home from work….we have two children both grown our Daniel lives in Texas and him and his wife are expecting their first child in about 6 months or so. My daughter is just out of college and still living with us at home she is an elementary school teacher and teaches 1^st grade. As we three sat down to eat we talked about each other’s day and when we got to mine my wife joked with Jesse about the voice I thought I heard. I told her very few details about my dream but I did mention the name Cody and she told me that’s real funny dad because I just got a new student today in my class named Cody…She told me she felt sorry for him because he seemed afraid and shy and withdrawn and didn’t talk much. After dinner my wife and daughter decided to go shopping for awhile so I decided to sit in my chair and take it easy for awhile and finish up a little bit of paper work I had left to do from my day at work. I needed to find some old documents I had to finish my work which I knew I had stored in the attic. I went up to the attic to look for the papers I needed and while going through a box or two I happened to notice and old trunk that I had forgotten about that was in my Mother’s house when she passed away. I never really had the time to go through that old trunk so I decided to open it and take a look. When I was small around 4 years old my mom and dad got a divorce because my dad was very abusive to my mom and me. I remember him hitting me and my mother when he was in one of his drunken rages and I thought maybe this is why I had that dream about me and the scary man from the early 1800’s because I was thinking about Cody and the cuts and scars on his back and how I had that on my mind. As I started to go through that old trunk I found some real old black and white photographs of people that I never knew. And when I looked at one of the pictures it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was the very same shop that I dreamt about. I seen the pot belly stove and I seen people gathered around something and I realized that it was not a shop at all but a saloon or bar. But I also seen other children sitting around that pot belly stove playing and the thing that struck me the most was a boy sitting there with a kitten on his lap. The very kitten that I seen in my dream. I looked at some other photographs my mom had placed in that trunk and there was one of her and my father on their wedding day. They seemed so much in love in that photo it was hard to believe how someone that looked so happy could be so mean and abusive. As I was staring at the wedding photo all of a sudden the image of my dad turned into that dirty scary man in my dream. And then I heard a voice say “Stay out of this Daniel if you know what’s good for you”. And then the wedding photo felt like it was pulled from my hands back into that old trunk and then the lid of the trunk slammed shut. The next thing you know I heard the garage door opening and my wife and daughter was returning from their shopping trip. I found the paper’s I was looking for and came down from the attic with them. I went to my chair and was finishing the work I needed to do and my wife and daughter came into the room and ask me what I have been doing while they were gone? I told them I have been doing some work and didn’t mention anything else. When I married my wife we talked somewhat about the abuse that took place when I was a child and I told her I grew up without a father and if we would ever have children they would never live without a father or a father’s love. And I was true to my word and both my children grown up with love and I am very proud of both of them. And I have also been very protective of both of them. So I didn’t want my wife or daughter worrying about me or thinking I’m going crazy. So I finished my work and went upstairs to get ready for bed and the phone rang. It was my son Daniel and he sounded like he had been drinking and he seemed kind of stressed out and I ask him what was wrong. He told me things have been really hectic at work and his wife has been getting on his nerves and he needed to calm himself so he went to the bar after work. I told him to try and relax and not let things get to him so much and drinking is no solution it will only make things worse. We talked for awhile and I told him to get some rest and try to calm down. I told him I loved him and we would come and visit soon. After talking to Daniel I told my wife I was worried about him and I explained to her what we talked about. So now it was time for bed and I wondered if Monday night would be another night of dreaming. As I laid there in bed my mind was full of so many thoughts…I tossed and I turned and tried very hard to sleep but it was not coming right away. I thought about how I needed to write everything down in the journal I started at work the next day. Finally after several hours of just laying there I did fall asleep and I dreamt I was flying and I could see below me the small town I dreamt about the night before. I seen the roof tops of houses and buildings as I flew over them. I seen the people walking in the streets and as I flew over the saloon where me and the other children were in my dream there on the roof top was the dirty scary man cleaning out the chimney and as I flew above him he looked up at me and shook his broom at me. I began to descend closer to him and I could not stop myself he grabbed me by my hand like he did in the first dream and laughed at me with a evil grin but somehow I broke free. I then flew over the black forest where I fell in the hole. I looked down and I could see the hole that I had fallen into and I began to descend once more. I was now on the ground standing beside the hole I was just ready to jump down into the hole and my alarm went off and it was Tuesday morning. As I got up and got ready for work I tried to remember all of the events I needed to remember to write in the journal at work. I thought it might be much easier to bring the journal home each day but I didn’t want my wife or daughter seeing it and think I completely lost my mind. I decided to call my son before I left for work because he is usually up by now and I was worried about him. I called his cell phone but he didn’t answer so I left him a message to call me when he got a chance. I said goodbye to my wife and daughter and headed out to my car. Again I thought about the dream I had and the scary dirty man grabbing my hand and seeing him in the wedding picture. As I drove along to work I tried to focus on my day and what I needed to accomplish that day at work. I work for an aerospace company that makes parts for commercial and military planes and helicopters. I am the tooling manager there and my job consists of buying machine tools for making those parts. It was the time of year when I was becoming very busy at my job and when I was there my focus needed to be there. So all this craziness that has been going on lately had to be put aside for now. I got to work and I took the first 15 minutes of my day to write all the things down in that journal before I had forgotten them. So I did that and then I began my day. The morning was very busy for me making phone calls and doing cost control reports. I looked at the clock and the next thing you know it was 11:50. So I finished up what I was doing and got ready to eat my lunch I figured at lunch time I would go over what I had written in my journal so far and see if I missed anything or maybe needed to add something. I knew after lunch would be busy also because there was a goals and objectives meeting scheduled for all department heads at 1:00 pm. I ate my lunch and reread all my journal entries and added a few things and the next thing you know it was time for my meeting and lunch was over. As we all gathered in the conference room for our meeting I noticed one the department heads whose name is Emily having a hard time breathing. She was pregnant and pretty well along but still had a few months before she was to due to have her baby. I ask her if she was ok and she said she thinks so. She also told me that she went out for lunch to a local fast food restaurant in the area and when she was done eating and walking back to her car she happened to look in the car parked beside her and she saw a small boy huddled up in the back seat crying. She was just about to say something to the child when she heard a man’s voice yell hey what are you doing looking in my car? And it startled her. She replied to the man who she described as being very dirty and scary looking that the child was crying and I wanted to see if I could help him. The man replied back to her that he is just a whiny brat who always cries. I see you’re going to have one soon. See what you have to look forward to. And she said he laughed this evil kind of laugh and all his teeth were rotten and he got into his car and started to drive off and she said the little boy stared at her as the car drove away with his hands on the window and his face against the glass as if to say help me please take me away from him. Emily said that it upset her so badly that now she is not feeling well. We all agreed that Emily should go to the emergency room so we called an ambulance to take her there. I agreed to sit with Emily in another room while we waited for the ambulance to come so that the rest of the department heads could continue their meeting and I told them I would catch up later. As I sat there with Emily we talked a little more and she told me she would never forget that little boy staring at her as that car drove off I wanted to tell her so badly about my dream and the scary man and about Cody but I didn’t want to upset her anymore then she already was. Then she said something to me that was just unbelievable. She told me there was a small kitten in the back seat with the little boy and he was holding it while he was crying. My face must have lost all expression because she said to me what’s wrong Dan? Are you ok? You look like you have just seen a ghost. Just before I had to try and explain to Emily why I looked that way I glanced out the window and the ambulance was pulling into the parking lot. As I got Emily out the door and into the ambulance her cell phone rang and it was her husband returning her call. She let him know she was on her way to the hospital. I returned to what was left of our meeting and tried to catch up on what I had missed. Soon the meeting was over and I returned to my office. And again I wrote in my journal how what happened to Emily seemed to coincide with what has been going on in my life. I finished up my work day and was driving home once more traffic was light for a Tuesday and I made it home quicker than the day before. I beat my wife and daughter home so I decided to start dinner. As they arrived home that evening I was just finishing up cooking. We sat down to dinner once more and talked about our days. My wife told me about her day and then it was my daughter’s turn she told me of a new lesson plan that they had to implement for her students regarding math and in the middle of telling me she stopped and said oh by the way Dad that little Cody boy never showed up for school today. It was his second day of a new school and he missed already. As she finished talking about her day it was my turn. I told them the whole story about Emily and the little boy and how it upset her to the point of making her go to the hospital. My daughter said to me I wonder why that little boy was not in school today? Maybe that was Cody. I never even gave that a thought. But the way things have been happening I wouldn’t doubt if that was him. Then my wife began telling me about a patient she had at work today and this lady was 93 and was telling her all the stories about when she was young. My wife is a nurse at our local hospital and she works in a department that gets people ready for surgeries. She was telling my daughter and I about this lady telling her a story of how her grandmother would sit her on her lap and tell her stories of a town that used to be near to here and the name of that that town was “Circletree” and how it burnt down many years ago and how many children lost their lives in that fire. My wife said she commented the old lady how sad that was that so many children had lost their lives and she said the seemed like a funny name for a town “Circletree”. The old lady said the town got its name because it was surrounded by a big circle of trees. As we cleaned up the dinner dishes I thought a lot about that town and wondered with everything else seeming so odd if that could be the town I dreamt about. I had so many things going through my mind this day between what happened a work with Emily and what she seen and all the dreams I have been having I began to get a headache and just needed to relax for awhile. I sat in my chair after dinner and closed my eyes and fell asleep. I did have a dream but this dream was of my children when they were young and my boy was playing little league baseball and I coached his team my daughter was maybe 3 years old and my wife use to dress her in a little cheerleader outfit and they would come to the game and watch Daniel play. It was good dream and a welcome break from what I had been dreaming. I remember in the dream all of us going for ice cream after the game and smiling and laughing and having a good time. I woke up around 7:00pm so my nap lasted about an hour and it felt good to forget about all the things that have been on my mind. I spent the rest of the evening going over what I had missed in that meeting we had today at work and I decided to call it a night around 10:00 pm. As I got in bed that evening I ask my wife if she had talked to Daniel today? She said no I haven’t why do you ask? I told her I called and left a message on his cell phone but he never returned my call. I didn’t want to call him now because it was getting late and I didn’t want to bother him. My wife told me not to worry he probably had a busy day and just didn’t have time or forgot to call. I’m sure he will call soon she said. I told her your probably right and we turned the light out and went to sleep. I was in a deep sleep and not dreaming at all tonight then all of a sudden the phone rang. I immediately looked at the clock by my bed and it 3:45 am the phone was on my wife’s side of the bed so she picked it up. It was my son’s wife Pam calling from Texas. My wife put the phone on speaker so I could hear also. Pam said that Daniel was in a accident on the way home from work and she said don’t worry he is ok we have been sitting in the emergency room most of the night waiting for him to be seen by a doctor he finally just got taken in to see one and I thought I would call and let you guys know she said. He didn’t want me to call because he didn’t want to worry you but I thought I would call while they are checking him out. I ask her how the accident happened and if anyone else was hurt. She said there was no one else involved. She said Daniel told her he was driving home and it was dark and he was on an old country road returning from a customer he was seeing when all of a sudden a man jumped into the center of the road. Daniel said he was really creepy looking and had what he thought was a witch’s type broom in his hand. Daniel said he swerved to miss him and went off the road into a ditch and nearly hit a big rock but was able to stop his truck before he did. Daniel said he bumped his head on the steering wheel and it knocked him out for a minute or two. He said when he finally got out of the truck he looked around to see if he hit that man and he said all he could see was the outline of a person running into the tall grass laughing. Pam said she better get back there and see how he is but she wanted to let us know that he was ok. We thanked Pam for telling us and she hung up. And then my wife and I talked for awhile about it and then we tried to go back to sleep. Just as I began to fall asleep I heard a voice yell “Daniel stay out of this if you know what’s good for you” It made me jump and my wife said are you ok what’s wrong? I said did you hear that? She said I heard a dog barking that’s all I heard. You must have been dreaming she replied. Again I looked at my alarm and it was 4:45 am I had to get up in 15 minutes so instead of laying there I told my wife I’m going to go ahead and get up and start my day. So I turned the alarm off and went into the bathroom and jumped in the shower. I took a long hot shower this morning and tried to get my thoughts together it was Wednesday and I knew it would be another bust day at work. As I drove into work that morning I thought since I got a head start on my day I would stop and get some donuts for the people in the office. As I pulled into the parking lot of the donut shop I was thinking about my son and how he was feeling. I was thinking about calling him but I thought he might not have gotten a lot of sleep and may not have even went to work today. Just then my cell phone rang and it was him calling. I said hello son how are you this morning? He said good morning dad I just wanted to tell you I was in a accident last night on the way home from work but I’m ok I acted like this was the first I heard of this and I ask him about it so that he wouldn’t think Pam had already talked to us about it. He proceeded to tell me that he was driving home it was kind of late and he was leaving one of his customer’s warehouse’s and he was on a old country road that was very dark. And what he told me next I could hardly believe. He said as he was driving along he was thinking about when he was young and he was playing baseball and how I coached his team and he thought about the times of going for ice cream after the games. He said then all of a sudden out of nowhere this creepy looking dude as he called him was standing in the middle of the road with a witches broom in his hand. He said dad it really freaked me out so I swerved to miss him and wound up in a ditch and I bumped my head. I messed my truck up pretty bad and my company is giving me another one until mine is fixed. He told me he didn’t go to work today and he’s going to take it easy and rest I told him that was a good idea and I will keep in touch. We said our goodbyes and I went into the donut shop to get those donuts I wanted to bring to work. As I arrived at work I took the donuts into the lunchroom and set them on the table. I took a donut for myself and poured a cup of coffee and was just getting ready to walk to my office when one of the department heads whose name is Tom stopped me and said did you hear about Emily? I said no I haven’t heard anything since the ambulance took her to the hospital yesterday. Tom said Emily went into labor last night and they could not stop it and she had her baby 2 months early. It was in an incubator and it may not survive because they’re worried about its lungs not being fully developed. I told Tom if he heard any other news about her to please let me know. He told me he would. I headed to my office and got my journal out and wrote down all of the strange things that happened the night before and also what happen to Emily. Soon after I got settled in and started my day my boss came into my office and said there was a tool show going on the next two days in Dallas and he ask me if I could to fly down and check it out. I told him I didn’t see a problem with it and I would see if I could stay with my son while I was there. His home is just a half hour out of Dallas and it would give me time to see him. The show would be Thursday and Friday and I would have to leave this afternoon. He told me to head home around lunchtime and get packed and he would have someone pick me up at my house and take me to the airport. He said there is a flight out of Pittsburgh around 6:00 pm and he would make sure he got me on that flight. After my boss left I called my wife and told her about the show and that I was going to try and stay at Daniel and Pam’s house. I was going to call Daniel as soon as I hung up with her to see if that was possible. I told her I would let her know later what happens. I called Daniel and told him about the show and he said sure dad you can stay with us and he was excited that I was coming down. So I got my some things together I needed to take with me from work and was ready to head home but before I left I stopped by Tom’s office and told him to call my cell phone if he heard any more news about Emily. On my way home I was thinking about the journal. I packed it in my briefcase because I wanted to make sure if anything strange happened I would have it with me. But I wanted to make sure no one other than me seen it. So I tucked it back into the last compartment of my briefcase. When I arrived home I had some lunch and then headed upstairs to pack for my trip. After packing I decided to take a shower. When I finally made it back downstairs I still had sometime before my wife and daughter got home and before the car arrived to take me to the airport so I read about the tool show I was going to on my laptop. Soon my wife and daughter arrived home and I had about a half hour with them before the car would come to take me to the airport. I ask them how there day was and I told them about Emily. My wife said her day was pretty busy but it went pretty quickly. I ask my daughter about her day and she told me that it was ok and then she said oh yea dad I almost forgot that little Cody boy came to school today and I noticed some bruises on his arms I ask him how he got them and he told me he fell down at home when riding his bike. I went and talked to a few other teachers and the principal about it. We all agreed that maybe we could get one of his parents to come in so that I could talk to them and maybe they could explain these bruises. So I called his home and the principal and I are going to meet with his father tomorrow after school. I said to Jessica be careful how you handle that situation and make sure you don’t accuse anyone of anything without proof. She said don’t worry dad I will handle it the right way. I also ask her to let me know how that goes I will call from Texas tomorrow evening and we can talk about it. After we finished talking I heard a horn blowing and it was my ride to the airport. I kissed my wife and daughter goodbye and grabbed my bag and laptop and headed out the door. I put bags in the trunk of the car and got in and it was Pete a young guy that works at the plant where I work. I said hi Pete how are you? I haven’t seen you in awhile. He said hello Dan I’m doing well I’ve been working the afternoon shift for awhile that’s why I haven’t seen you much. As we drove to the airport I ask Pete about his wife and I knew he had a son around the age of two or so. He replied that his wife is doing well and he told me there is never a dull moment with my son. He keeps me on my toes. I told him I could believe that I remember Daniel and Jessica at that age and you have to keep your eye on them every minute. He laughed and said you got that right. We talked a little more about work and how busy it was getting there I told him I was going to a tool show for a couple of days and he said wow that sounds interesting. Soon we arrived at the airport I grabbed my stuff and told Pete to take it easy and maybe some time will have a beer and talk awhile. He told me that sounds like a plan. After checking my bag and going through security I sat in the gate area waiting to board my plane. I started talking to an older gentlemen I introduced myself I said hi my name is Daniel he said it’s a pleasure meeting you Daniel my name is Samuel. It just so happened Samuel grew up near me. I ask him if he ever head of a town called Circletree? He said it’s funny you should ask question I’ve done a lot of research on that town. I said wow I would love to hear about it. Just then it was time to board the plane and as luck would have it I looked at Samuels boarding pass and he was in the seat next to me on the plane. It turns out Samuel is a retired school teacher and local historian. He was heading to Texas to visit his grandson who lives in Dallas. After we were settled on the plane and we were airborne Samuel started telling me about Circletree. It was a small town in the 1800’s that was founded by a group of people who came to Pennsylvania from the south trying to find a better life and they  became coal miners and farmers. They worked very hard on their small town and paved the mud streets with cobblestones and they all worked together to build a nice town with a general store, a bank, a nice gathering place it was a bar but it was more like a community center where everyone would meet and relax. I stopped Samuel right there before he continued on with his story. I ask him if he had any pictures of this town or of this gathering place. He told me yes I have several pictures of Circletree before and after the fire. I ask him if he had a picture of the inside of the community centre or bar as he described it and if he could tell me what it looked like inside. He started describing the potbelly stove and how the children would gather around it to keep warm and play games. He also described the bar to me and he also told me of a piano and a table where the men would gather to play cards. I told Samuel I think I have a picture of Circletree and I will have to show it to him sometime. I didn’t tell him of my dreams or of Cody. He said I would love to see that picture sometime. He proceeded to tell me more about the town and the people who lived there. He spoke of a troubled man a chimney sweep by trade who was a heavy drinker and a child abuser and a wife beater his name was Nathaniel. He had two children a son and a daughter he would leave the wife and daughter at home to clean the house and do the chores and he would take the small boy with him to the bar while he would drink. He would leave the boy with the other children and let him play until it was time to go home. The story goes that Nathaniel would get really mean when he drank people back then would see things but they would turn their heads and pretty much keep to themselves. It is said that when Nathaniel would leave the bar he would take a bottle of liquor with him and on their walk home he would take his small son to a grove of trees near the edge of town and he beat him and take his daily aggressions out on this small boy. This part of Samuels’s story made me cringe because it took me back to my own abusive father and how he would hit my mother and me. Nathaniel was a big man. A strong man. And a very mean man. And most of the town’s people were afraid of him. Nathaniel would stumble home most nights after beating his small son he would either pass out in bed or take more of his aggressions out on his wife and daughter. There was one person who was not afraid of Nathaniel and that was a fellow by the name of Cody Smith. You can only imagine my surprise when I heard the name Cody but I let Samuel continue on with his story and did not make an issue out of it. Samuel said Cody was big man a lumber jack. He came to Circletree from North Dakota after the town was established. He settled on a farm near Circletree and he worked for a lumber company in the area. It is said that one day Nathaniel came to town with his wife and his son and daughter. Nathaniel was drinking heavily that day. He began beating his wife and children near the general store where Cody was buying supplies that day. Cody seen Nathaniel was beating his wife and he seen Nathaniel’s son trying to help his mother. Nathaniel hit the small boy and threw him in a ditch. The boy was bloody and crying and then Nathaniel picked a cobblestone from the street and was about to hit his wife with it. Cody was shocked and surprised that no one tried to help so he dropped his supplies and ran over to Nathaniel and grabbed his hand just before he hit his wife with that cobblestone. Nathaniel then turned his drunken anger and rage to Cody. He and Cody began fighting. Two very strong men in a fierce battle of good and evil. At one point in their fight Nathaniel managed to grab that cobblestone again and he hit Cody on the side of the face with it and knocked him to the ground. He jumped on Cody and began hitting him in the face with his fists. In Cody’s whole life he could never remember ever being this angry at someone and something snapped inside of Cody and he somehow managed to pull Nathaniel off of him. Cody hit Nathaniel with a crushing blow and now Nathaniel laid there on the ground motionless. Cody kept hitting him in an angry rage but somehow managed to control his anger before he ended up killing Nathaniel. Cody ran over to Nathaniel’s wife and son to see if they were ok and what he could do to help them. After that day Nathaniel left Circletree and Cody fell in love with Nathaniel’s wife whose name was Elizabeth. Everything was going well in Circletree after Nathaniel left it seemed like the whole town felt more at ease and life was good for everyone. Cody and Elizabeth decided to get married and they also decided to change the name of their son whose name was Nathaniel to Cody their daughter’s name was Emily. Again when Samuel mentioned the name Emily I was surprised at how much of my life today was involved in this story from another time. Samuel said many months had passed since Nathaniel left Circletree and one day in late fall of the year 1821 the town folk gathered for the annual harvest celebration in the community center for food and fun. The community center was packed that night and everyone was having a good time. Elizabeth and the two children were there but Cody was not there yet. He had some last minute things to do at the farm before he could come so he sent Elizabeth and the children into town before him. Some of the town folk decided to build a fire in the potbelly stove that evening because it was getting chilly that time of year. There also was a big fireplace in the community center which they also started a fire in. Just as everything started to warm up smoke began to fill the room and a great down draft in that fire place blew the fire and hot coals out onto the wooden floor of the community center. Everyone headed for the door but someone had jammed it shut from the outside and they could not get it open. There was one other door towards the back of the building that was also jammed shut from the outside. The fire started spreading quickly and the smoke became unbearable. There was one window in the community center and some of the people busted it out and began to get out of the building. The children were near the potbelly stove and the fire had lined itself up and became a wall between the adults and the children. The fire was overtaking the whole building and only about 10 adults made it out of the building through the window. There were terrible screams of the children coming from inside but no one could help them. The adults that did make it out looked around and the whole town was on fire. They seen the image of a man running from building to building with a broom that was on fire and he was setting them on fire. Cody had just left the farm and was riding in his horse drawn wagon. He seen a big orange glow ahead of him and he knew the town was on fire. He raced there as fast as he could and just before he got to town he saw the shadow of a man in the road ahead of him with a burning broom. It started Cody’s horse and the wagon ran off of the mud road into the ditch and Cody bumped his head as he was thrown from the wagon. When Cody managed to get to his feet he seen that man running into a field laughing and he heard him say you should have minded your own business Cody. As Cody got to town everything there was gone. Many lives were lost including his wife and two children. Legend has it that Cody left Circletree that next day and vowed to find Nathaniel and make him pay for what he done. Just as Samuel finished telling me this the pilot of the plane said we will be landing in Dallas/Fort Worth airport in ten minutes. I told Samuel thanks for telling me this story and I hope to see him when I got back home. We exchanged phone numbers and prepared to land and exit the plane. After the plane had landed and we were starting to get up and exit the plane Samuel grabbed me by the arm and said to me. Are you ok? I saw that a couple of times during the story I was telling you that you seemed upset. I hope I didn’t upset you. I told Samuel oh no it’s ok I’m glad you told me that story it’s just that I was abused as a child and some of that story hit home with me. I didn’t want to mention about the dreams or the magic place to him but he felt like someone who would understand about all that for some reason. I told him I looked forward to calling him soon and getting together so I could show him the pictures I had and he could show me his pictures of Circletree. I told Samuel to have a great time visiting his grandson and he told me the same. We exited the plane and said our goodbyes. I called Daniel and told him I getting my luggage and was picking up my rent a car at the airport and I would be at his house in about an hour or so. He ask me if I had eaten anything and I told him I thought about grabbing something on the way. He told me not to do that because Pam made dinner they had already eaten but Pam had a plate of food for me that she would heat up when I got there. I told him that sounds great see you in about an hour if traffic is good. When I was done talking to Daniel I called home to let my wife and daughter know I had landed and was picking up my rent a car and heading to Daniel’s. I told them I loved them and would see them late Friday night. I got my rent a car put my bags in the trunk and started driving to Daniel’s house. As I drove along I started thinking a lot about the story Samuel had told me about Circletree. It made my heartbreak to think of all the lives that were lost their especially all the children. I arrived at Daniel and Pam’s around 8:45 that evening. Daniel greeted me at the door with a big smile and a hug. He took my bag and laptop up to the spare bedroom and while he was doing that I went into the kitchen to see Pam. I gave her a hug and ask her how she was feeling because she looked kind of tired. She said she has not been getting much sleep lately but other than that she was fine. She told me to sit down and she made me a plate of food and gave me a cold beer to go with it. As I was eating Daniel came into the kitchen and ask me how I was and how things have been going. I told him we are starting to get busy at work and things are starting to get a little hectic there at times. I ask him how things were going with his job and he told me he was also getting very busy. As I finished up my meal I went into the living room with Daniel we had another beer together and he ask me how mom and Jessica were doing and I told him they were doing well and everything was good at home. He told me about the accident he had and he said they are coming to pick his truck up tomorrow for repairs. He took me out into his garage and showed me the damage. I told him he was very lucky he did not get hurt any worse then what he did. After that we went back into the house and I told him if he doesn’t mind I’m going to call it a night it’s been a long day and I have to get up early get a shower and head to the tool show. I gave him and Pam a hug and headed up to my room. I unpacked my bag and got my clothes ready for the morning brushed my teeth and headed to bed. As I climbed into bed I heard Daniel and Pam arguing downstairs I could not make out what they were arguing about but they were getting louder. Then I heard Pam say to him be quit your dad will hear us. Then the arguing stopped. It seemed kind of strange to me because Daniel and Pam always got along so well together. Maybe it was the stress he has been under lately and the accident. I was very tired and feel to sleep soon after the stopped. I began to dream. I dreamt of my daughter Jessica when she was small about 3 or 4 years old and she was standing on a small bench singing a song and all of a sudden the bench just gave out and she fell to the floor and broke her arm. I remember that day so well because it scared me to death. We took her to the hospital and they set her arm and cast it. Nothing was unusual about that part of my dream because that’s something the really did happen. But then as we were leaving the hospital in my dream her life fast forwarded to her getting in her car after school and starting to drive home. I could see her driving along and all of a sudden the wheel on her car fell off as she rounded a bend. Her car went over an embankment rolled over several times and she was trapped in her car. And she was yelling for me to come and help her. Then I felt like I was her trying to free herself but could not. Then I seen Nathaniel look into the window of her car and laugh and he said to her. You and your dad need to mind your own business and stay out of mine. Then he laughed again and walked away without helping her. I started screaming I’m coming Jesse just hold on. I’m coming. Just then Daniel came into my room and woke me. He said dad you must be having a bad dream you’re screaming in your sleep. I looked at him and said wow son sorry I was having a bad dream. Sorry for waking you. He told me it was ok and ask me if I was alright and I told him yes go back to bed. We both went back to sleep and I had no more dreams and I awoke to phone alarm. It was time to get up and get moving. I got up and jumped in the shower and let the hot water hit my face and I stood there for awhile thinking about the dream I had and I started to worry about Jessica and decided when I got out of the shower I would call her before she left for school that day. Once I got out of the shower I shaved and got dressed and before I went downstairs I called home and my wife answered. I ask her to let me talk to Jessica and she said she had to leave early and get prepared for that parent and teacher’s conference she had that day. I had completely forgot about that and told my wife to tell Jesse I would talk to her later after I got home from the tool show. My wife said to me tell Daniel and Pam I said hello and I told her I will. I said goodbye to her. I went downstairs and Pam had made some breakfast for me and told me Daniel had already left and said he would call you and maybe have lunch with you. He said that he will be near the tool show today. I ate the breakfast Pam had made me and headed out the door and to the tool show. As I arrived at the show there many booths set up of different cutting tool manufactures from all across the United States and everyone is trying to sell you there tool and tell you theirs is the best on the market. I looked around but ended up at the ones I trusted most and have used in the past. There is always something new and technology is improving all the time. I watched a few demos and soon it was lunch time. I called Daniel to see where he was at and if he could still meet me or if he would be tied up. Daniel said sure dad we can meet as long as you don’t mind one of my customer’s tagging along. I am doing a job for him and I wanted to buy him lunch. I told him sure no problem. He told me where he would be so I started over there. As I was walking out of the tool show I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and it was one of tool reps that I deal with all the time his name is Bob West and he ask me if he could buy me lunch? I told him I was meeting my son if he wanted to tag along he was more than welcome. He said sure it would be great to meet your son. I told Bob we will take my car and we got in it and drove over to a place called the “Texas Diner” it was a nice place and Daniel and his customer met us at the door. He introduced his customer to me and Bob he said dad I would like you to meet John Stevens. I shook his hand and introduced Bob to them and then we ask for a table for four. Having lunch with my son those guys was a welcome break and took my mind off of things for awhile. We all joked and laughed had a great lunch and drank a couple of beers and then Bob and I headed back to the tool show. And Daniel and John headed back to John’s place of business. Bob ask me on the way back what my plans were for the next day (Friday) and I told him I thought I would spend a half of day at the tool show and then I wasn’t real sure. He ask me if I might be interested in seeing a new manufacturing plant that his company had just opened that manufactures cutting tools near here. I told him that would be great and a welcome break from all those tool vendors. He laughed and said ok I will pick you up at your son’s house tomorrow. Give me his address so I can punch it into my GPS. We got back to the tool show and I talked to a few more vendors looked at a few more booths and then started back to Daniels house. As I drove back I looked at the time and I knew when I got back it would be around the time Jessica usually gets home from school. I thought about that dream again and I remembered Nathaniel saying you and your dad need to mind your own business. Then I got to thinking about the little boy and his name being Cody and the first thing that came to my mind was I wonder what his dad’s name is? When I got back to Daniel’s I did a few things and then called home. My wife answered the phone and I ask her if Jessica was home yet and she said no she isn’t. I’m starting to get worried because she is not answering her cell phone. I told my wife to let me know when she heard from her and she told me she would call when she heard something. I went up to my room and looked over some information I got from the tool show. Then I heard Daniel come in and I heard him arguing with Pam again. I decided to go downstairs and see what was going on. When I walked into the kitchen neither one of them seen me. Daniel was yelling at Pam and she was crying. She said to him I will just leave because I can’t take this anymore. Daniel grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him and he made a fist and I yelled hey what’s going on here son? Daniel immediately let go of Pam’s arm and looked at me and I think he was about to try and explain what was going here but just then my cell phone rang. It was my wife calling. I said hello and she was crying hysterically. I told her to calm down and tell me what was wrong. She told me Jessica was in a accident and her car went over an embankment and there rushing her to the hospital. I told my wife I would get the first available flight back home and to keep me posted. When I was done talking to her I told Daniel and Pam what had happened and I then went up to my room and looked online for the first flight that I could get back home. It turned if I could make it to the airport in an hour I could get a flight back. I booked that flight and packed and went downstairs. I hugged Daniel and Pam and told them I had to go and Daniel told me he would keep checking with mom and to let him know when I made it to the hospital. I told him I would and I also told him I’m not sure what I walked into there but I didn’t like it. And I want an explanation as some point soon. He looked at me and I could tell he was embarrassed by his actions. They both walked me out to my car I threw my bag in the trunk and headed for the airport. I ask Daniel if he could call Bob and tell him I won’t be here tomorrow and explain to him why. He told me he would do that for me. I said goodbye one more time and got in my car and started for the airport.

"Let the Children Play"

In this crazy world we live in there's one thing that I know....Children our are future ...So please let them grow....Let them have a childhood....Let them have a dream....Let them have a chance to love...And enjoy the simple things ....Don't take them from the ones they love... Don't take their lives away...God put them on this earth to love....So let the children play....Some people grow up in this world with anger hurt and fear...Their memories of childhood...Our bruises pain and tears if they'd only realize the hell that they've been through...Our children would not suffer for the things that they might do. If you have any love in your heart you would just walk away. Help yourself to help a child  and let the children play....Let the children laugh and play...Let the children sing.....Let the children ride their bikes...Let their school bells ring.....Don't take them from the ones they love...don't take their lives away. God put them on this earth to love...Let the children play...When the stress and tension build up and you can't take it anymore...Look down into those big bright eyes and start walking towards the door. The pain and fear that you will cause will never go away....Punch the walls or kick the floor but let the children play....God put them on this earth to love please.....LET THE CHILDREN PLAY!!!!!

"I am me and you are you"

 I am me...And you are you....If we could trade places for a day or two.....I would do everything that you normally do.....Except for those things I don't like about you....And if you were me I think you would see....Some of things you don't like about me....But I think it would be interesting with out a doubt.....To find out those things....That your are all about.....But wait a second I'm not sure if I want you to see.....All the things I am..... And those things that are me......So lets just forget it....I'm asking you to.....I'll just stay me...And you just stay you......:)....~Dan Greene~

"Life on a Dish"

What's your wish?.....Life on a dish?....Served on a silver platter?....Your dreams....Your hopes.....Your expectations....Aren't these the things that matter?....For most of us we live each day....Just trying to make ends meet.....Rushing here and rushing there...Trying to compete.....If I started my life with a million dollars and a silver spoon in my hand....Would I be who I am today?.....And would I understand?...Life is Life....So live it...For your short time on this earth....Take every breath God gives you...For what it may be worth......So thank you lord for the million dollars that you did not give to me.....And thank you lord for who I am.....And who I'll always be.....~Dan Greene~

"That Fateful Day"

Will I be like you?...When the trumpets play......Will I walk with you?.....On that fateful day......Will you take my hand?....And open up that gate......So I can finally be.... Where all my loved one's wait......I can only wish....And I can only pray......That I will be like you....On that fateful day.......But if by chance you feel the need to leave me here alone......Could you turn me into a Mountain???....With many stepping stones....So when other's climb to meet you.....Up through the sky so blue.....I will have done all I can......To be a part of you......~Dan Greene~

"Tattered and Torn"

Come to me when your tattered and torn.....And seeking shelter from the storm....When your lost on the mountain.....And your afraid you'll fall....When things seem pointless and your life feels small......When your river is high...And your water is deep.....When you just want to rest....But you can't seem to sleep.....When you feel like you've reached the end or your rope......When your heart is breaking and you can't seem to cope......Just close your eye's...Call out for me.....I will guide your ship...On the stormy sea......I will share your burden's.....I will ease your pain.....I will keep your warm.....In the pouring rain......My love is strong....My love is true.....Like day I hung on that cross for you.....~Dan Greene~

"Blind and Deaf"

If I was a blind man....Would I hear with my ears all the things I would long to see with my dead eye's?.....If I was a deaf man...... Would I wonder what it's like to hear a song being sung when I all I could do is read the words but not hear the sweet music?....I think people with these handicaps think about these very things every single day of there lives.....I thank God for my eye's to see all the beauty that he has given us....I thank him for all the sounds of sweet music and the sweet relaxing call of a morning Dove....I feel blessed that I was given all my sense's......But it's funny how some people with the ability to see can be blind to the beauty that surrounds them....And it's funny how some people with the ability to hear are deaf to certain things...And only hear what they want to hear......I say to these people....Look hard with your eye's and see the beauty of everything....Because a blind man prays for that everyday....And listen to everything not just what you want to hear....A deaf man prays for that everyday.....Moral of the story is this....Simple things that we take for granted should never be overlooked....Why?....Because tomorrow these things could be gone....Life is that way....Always changing....So take the best of what God has given you....And smile.....And pray for the one's that can see but are blind.....And the ones that can hear but choose not too.....~Dan Greene~

"The book of life"

In the book of life how do you turn a page that you never want to leave???? Its the best part of the book and you keep reading that page over and over again....But the wind rushes in and quickley blows past many pages of that book without warning.....You quickley try turn back to that page because it made you smile and brought comfort to your life but you lost your place and you forgot your book mark......Time will not let you turn back to that page......So you try and read the page you are on now.....But it's just not the same.....And it never will be......And you look at the pages ahead and it's bitter sweet.....Because you are through the thickest part of your book.....And there are not many pages left.....And if the wind comes rushing in again.....Your book could end tomorrow.......When the bindings crack and the pages start to yellow and you reach that page that says "The End" .....Make sure your faith is strong.....And believe that you have another book to read that's never ending......But try to make sure that when someone picks up that old book of yours and blows the dust off....And opens it up......It will go straight to that page that you never wanted to leave.....And they will smile knowing that they are the reason you stayed so long on that page......~Dan Greene~

"This poem I dedicate to those fighting cancer"

As I face tomorrow....With the fear of the unknown.....I will not let myself feel sorrow....Nor will I feel alone.....I will do this......I will fight......And in the darkness I won't dwell....I will look to heaven....As I face this hell.....I won't look back....I won't lose track.....Of what I need to do.....And in the end there will be no fear....Faith will come shining through....My mind is set to beat you....My wings are set to fly.....My soul I place in heaven.....If I must say goodbye......~Dan Greene~

"Falling Stars"

Falling stars....In the nightime sky.......Like a tear drop when heaven cries......Each star in the sky has it's own story....And when it dies in all it's glory......It races and sparkles with a tail so brite.....Saying goodbye.....To the dark lonely night....Make a wish....Close your eye's.......Then tell each shooting star goodbye.....It's kind of sad in away......They had to leave and they could not stay.......Just like loved one's from our past.....This life really does.... Go way to fast.......So before you race across the sky.....And you have to say goodbye.......Leave some memories that sparkle and shine.....For the loved ones that are left behind.....~Dan Greene~

"Billy Crumrine"

Billy Crumrine was feeling mighty fine..... So he took a walk one day......He walked through a meadow....He walked through the woods....And he walked through a field of hay.....He saw Farmer Blake with a big hoe and rake.... Near the edge of the meadow right next to the lake.....Then he walked through the woods and he happened to see......A rusty red rabbit.....And a big hive of bee's......He heard a hoot hooter and the songs that it sung.....And he walked out a round so he wouldn't get stung....And he saw a grunge bug marching there on the ground.....It had 25 legs and a face like a clown......When he came to the edge of the woods that fine day......He walked very fast through that field of hay.....Because he heard the squack of red spotted cack....They like to bite ankles and work up to your back....So Billy ran fast throught the hay field for sure......And he realized just what all this walking was for......Farmer Blake's wife made Billy's eye's gleam.....She worked at a stand full of real cold Ice cream.....Billy had 7 scoops of ice cream that day.....And then he walked back home the very same way.......~Dan Greene~

"The Gift of Kindness"

Give of yourself the gift of kindness......Give of yourself the gift of understanding.....Give of yourself your time......Not only at Christmas but the whole year through......God Bless all who are dealing with things in there lives that are hardships and may not seem that important to you and me.....Listen to those people and what there really trying to say.....And to what their dealing with......I give thanks everyday..... For each day.... And for the chance to have one more day......Today was awesome and I hope tomorrow is too.....But if it isn't I will still give thanks for that day......Help people around you enjoy there lives....Smile at them.....Talk to them....Let them cry on your shoulder.......Be someone they can count on.....If tomorrow dosen't come for me.....Then I know I have been blessed and I know I can be thankful for every single day that I have been given on this earth.....And I have learned you don't take any of those days for granted....If I could place time in a bottle......The first thing that I'd like to do.....Is to save everyday like a treasure and then.... Again I would spend them with you....And old Jim Croche song that means so very much to me......Merry Christmas everyone and if I'm here to write again tomorrow I hope I can write something that will make you smile.........:).....~Dan Greene~

"You Never talk Much"

You never talk much.....But you always listen......The brightest star that always glistens.....I turn to you when I am low.......You answer me with the things you show....A brite blue sky......A summer day.....The brillant sun with it's golden rays...A Christmas Carol.....Of peace and joy.....Away in a manger.....A baby boy....Hopes.....And prayer's....And dreams.....Come true.......These are all the things you do.....It never took much for me to see....What Christmas really means to me......~DanGreene~ ....Happy Holidays......!!!!!

"Grab a Smile"

Grab a smile from a bucket of frowns.....A smile is really a frown upside down.....Maybe grab 3...Or maybe grab 4.....Grab one for the fella who lives next door.....Grab one for your family....Grab one for you friends....Maybe grab 8......Or maybe grab 10....Pass out a million....or a trillion and one......But just remember when it's all said and done....Be very careful....What ever you do.....Please make sure they return them to you.......:)....~Dan Greene~

"Dream of Reality"?

Were you just a dream?....A passing thought?.....A shooting star?.....Out beyond the galaxies of Jupiter and Mars?....A fleeting moment?....A day gone by?....A lonley tear drop in my eye?.....A wish?....A prayer?....A song to sing?....The first blooming flower in the spring......Were you reality?.....Or just an illusion.....Help me end all this confusion.....A vibrant rainbow.......A bright blue sky.....A soaring eagle flying high....Why did you leave?.....Why did you go?.....These answer's I may never know....As I sit and ponder..... And dry my tears....It makes me wonder.....Were you really here?.......Life is never how it seems.....Were you reality?.....Or a passing dream.......~Dan Greene~

"Johnny McGee"

I know this fellow named Johnny McGee..... He hates green beans, carrots, and pea's.....He loves Ice cream...And whipped cream....And carbinated coffee.....He loves hard tack.....Soft tack....And sticky black Toffee...He had a bad itch that was so hard to scratch....He got it from walking thru a a brum brissell patch.....He is really quite odd....But a nice kind of fellow....He wears brite red shorts....And high socks that are yellow....If you would happen to run into Johnny McGee......Could you ask him for my Biddle Ball Bat that he borrowed from me??........Sometimes you will see him at the edge of town....Yelling and screaming and running around.....You might even see him on 55th street....Rubbing some lotion on the tops of his feet....He has a good friend named Andy Jo Hanson....Who lives  up on Crow Hill in a very big mansion.....Just know when them two start hanging around they will play there big horns in the center of town.......And Mayor McDoogle will tell them to go...And play there big horns....in the Twinkel star show.....So that's it...That's all I know about Johnny McGee.....And I can't possiably know what you would want more from me.............~Dan Greene~

"My Christmas List"

1.Put "Christ" back in "xmas"
2.Give only of yourself...The gift of love...
3.End Cancer in this world.....
4.Try to tell other's everyday how you feel about them and what they mean to you
5.Smiles are free....Share them with everyone....
6.See the beauty of the world..The sky...A sunset..A rainbow...Take time to smell the roses...
7.Be a child again...Bring back a childhood memory of your favorite Christmas and the people who shared those times...
8.Pray for peace....
9.Sing a song....Write a poem....Draw a picture..
10. When your sad and you feel all alone....With no one to talk to....And things seem hopeless....Look to the sky...At the North Star...Fold your hands...And refer to #1..........

"My House"

If you walk in my house.....I want you to see....All the great thing's that house's can be....Look up to the ceiling....Look down to the floor...I'm 99% certain and 100% sure.....If you look in the kitchen....If you walk down the hall....And you look at my pictures...Hanging there on the wall...There are mom's and there are dad's....there are daughter's and son's.....Laughing and smiling...Having all sorts of fun....You can look down below...You can look way above....My house is filled with all kinds of love...So make yourself at home...And take the grand tour...There are house's that just house's....But mine is much more...And I really sure hope you can stay for awhile....And I really sure hope you can leave with a smile....I'm so glad you could come...And I'm so glad you could see....That I am my house....And my house is all me.......~Dan Greene~

"Sitting under the Stars"

Once upon a time there was a man who decided to go for a walk in the woods. He wanted to clear his head because his life was troubled and he was dealing with alot of pain. His wife of many years was just killed in a automobile accident and he struggled with that loss. He had two grown children and he tried to reach out to them and talk to them about what he has been going through. But they did not have time for him. As he walked he thought of many things. He thought of all the years he shared with his wife and all the special times they had together. He thought of his children and all the special memories he had of them. As he walked he didn't even realize how far he was away from home and he was not even sure where he was. The sun was starting to go down and he was walking on a narrow path that was at the top of a steep hillside. All of a sudden he tripped over some loose rocks and began rolling down the steep hill side. As he rolled he felt his arm snap and was in tremendous pain his fall was stopped when his leg became wedged between two gigantic boulders on the steep hill side. He tried to free his leg from between the rocks but he couldn't his arm was broken and he felt the bone pushing through the skin. He passed out for several hours and when he awoke it was dark and the sky was full of stars. As he lay there in tremendous pain he stared at all the stars in the sky and he remembered how his wife loved the stars and sky on a clear night. He remembered holding her and watching the stars together. He began to cry because he knew he would never see her again and he missed her so badly. Just then an angel appeared before him and said fear not the stars are here with you and they will protect you from the darkness. Then the angel disappeared. And then the man fell asleep once more. He was awaken by the sound of thunder and the rain began to pour down on him he could not free his leg from between the rocks as hard as he tried he could not do it. He began to cry once more because he realized that the only chance he had of getting free was to cut off his own leg just below the knee. All of a sudden the rain stopped and he seen a beautiful rainbow in the sky and once more the angel appeared before him. She said fear not God will guide your hand. He looked at the angel and said what's the use I have nothing left to live for. The angel spoke once more and said it is not your time God needs you here on earth. Then the angel disappeared once more. The man fell asleep once more and when he awoke again he realized it has been several days and it was time for him to make a decision. Either lay there and die or take the knife he carried with him from his pocket and cut off his leg.
He began to think of the most happiest time of his life and that was the day he met his wife. As he began to cut through hid flesh he thought of the first time he kissed her. As he felt the knife starting to hit the bone he thought about the first time he made love to her. All of a sudden he looked down and he was free from the rocks but the pain was unbearable. He ripped a piece of his pants and tied it around his stub to stop the bleeding. He hopped on one leg to the top of the hill and made it another mile or so and he seen a road. And he also seen a car broke down on that road. And he seen a young mother holding her child. He also seen a truck speeding around the bend towards the young mother and her child he jumped onto the roadway and pushed her out of the way just in time but he could not save himself the truck hit him and threw him several feet into a ditch as he felt his last breath of life leaving his body the angel came to him once more. She said now your time on earth is done take my hand I will lead you home. Your wife is waiting for you and you have a date with her sitting under the night time sky and watching the stars.

"Gramma's Magic Pumpkin Pie"

When I was small (around 6 years old) I remember one Thanksgiving I was over my Gramma's house the day before...It was just me and her that day...And she was making Pumpkin Pie...She had a glob of dough for her pie crust on the table...She looked at me and ask me..."are you ready to make a magic Pumpkin Pie?" I said sure Gramma but how do you make a magic Pumpkin Pie?? She said just do what I tell you to do and you will see how magic it will be...She told me first you grab a handful of magic flour and throw it on the table...and she showed me...and when that flour hit the table a cloud of flour dust filled the air..being a small boy I thought that was so cool so I did the same...Next she handed me her old wooden rolling pin...it felt like it weighted a 100 pounds!!! she said now you must flatten the dough with the rolling pin...I tried my hardest but I was having all kinds of trouble...So Gramma stood behind me and she placed her hands on the roliing pin and she told me to put my hands on top of her's...As we rolled the dough Gramma sang Amazing Grace she had such a beautiful voice....After the dough was flattened I helped her place it in the pie pan....She cut away the extra dough that hung over the edge of the pan and she handed it to me...She said hold on to this extra dough because it's the magic part...I said why Gramma??? Why is it the magic part??? she said you just hold your horse's and you will see...Next she pinched me on the cheek and said she how I pinched you?? I want you to pinch the top of the dough all around the pan...so I did and she smiled at me when I was done and then she poured her pumpkin mixture in to the pie pan...Then she said to me "are you ready for the magic part?" I said yes I'm ready Gramma...She said but first we must say a prayer...So we said a prayer of Thanksgiving...We thanked God for all the people in our lives and all the things we would have to eat that Thanksgiving day...After that prayer Gramma helped me mold a small heart out of that extra piece of dough she had given me to hold...And we placed it in the middle of the pie...She kissed me on the cheek and gave me a great big Gramma hug and said to me "We just made a Magic Pumpkin Pie"..Everyone loved me and Gramma's Magic Pumpkin Pie that Thanksgiving Day....And of course I got that little Golden brown heart on my piece of pie...I treasure all those precious memories I have of my Grandmother and I will never forget them. Even though Gramma has been gone for many years the kindness and love she showed me has never died. Make a memory like that with someone you love and when your gone you an still be right there with them....:)

"A true story for Christmas"

  
A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty 
apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob's wife, 
Evelyn, was dying of cancer Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy 
could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why 
isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes 
welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It 
had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little 
at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not 
remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did 
complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a 
copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed 
with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer 
stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to 
live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before 
Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy 
a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - 
a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the 
animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again 
Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the 
character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own 
autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like 
he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big 
shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on 
Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and 
offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards 
went on to print,_ Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to 
children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and 
distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major 
publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version 
of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights 
back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals 
followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from 
the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end 
there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though 
the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah 
Shore , it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the 
Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, 
selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of"White
Christmas."

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on 
returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, 
just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, 
being different can be a blessing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
2012