CERTIFICATES HONORING TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS

CERTIFICATES HONORING TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS

ONE OF THE GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN

       --for Sam

Sammie of course. She comes by

Grandma’s house after cooking class

with samples that come hot

from the oven. Last week

her first meringue on top

of her lemon pie. Bakers

use the torches, too. Sammie

brings it all, her rolls, pizza,

hand pies and pasta.

When Sammie comes over

joy enters the house.

Suddenly Grandpa’s smiling.

Grandma knows Sammie’s

three-word song,

I love you, and she sings

it over and over.

Things change in the oven.

Sammie’s not just about cookies.

She’s the beauty who likes to work.

She has the eye, too, that knows

how to stand for truth and justice.

Gpa Jim

28 May 2025

 WHAT HAPPENS IN BEAUTY SCHOOL

            --for Deanna

You might ask your granddaughter

why she chose beauty school

when both of you know she already

has great hair. She knows it. And

she can work on the eyes

until they seem to be reaching for

the person she’s looking at. This

is all true, yet there’s so much more

to this story. Her love for others,

this deep compassion. And the time

she’ll spend painting butterflies

on Grandma’s toes! Grandpa

knows what she does in the garden.

He hands her his pruner’s

pointing at the pine tree out front.

He trusts her eye to shape the tree.

She will bring out what’s best

in each branch. She’ll find beauty

in the tree others would never imagine.

Gpa Jim

28 May 2025