(*) A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Act 1, Scene 2
A Mile or More Made Manageable
In the past year I have needed help
And it has fallen on you.
.
The additional energy you have needed
The patience you have mustered.
In the past year I have needed understanding
And it has fallen on you.
.
The added vigilance you have shown
Protecting me in my limitations.
In the past year I have needed advocacy
And it has fallen on you.
.
Clearing the way to appease my limitations
Securing concessions to ease the demands on me.
In the past year I have needed encouragement
And it has fallen on you.
.
Carrying me through frustrating times
Providing companionship when isolation loomed.
In the past year I have needed protecting
And it has fallen on you.
.
Cautioning me when I failed to see risk
Not wanting to stifle my urge to strive forward.
In the past year I have slowed you down
trimming your plans to my limitations
waiting, hoping, longing, anticipating
You unable to predict my vague timeline
.
In the past year you have given generously
Eveqn when I could not reciprocate
Even when words of appreciation escaped me
Even when my setback alarmed you
When you could have given up
.
You persisted, living your love in action
Unconditional, unrelenting, uncompromising.
My treasure, my gem.
Jasper Hoogendam (c) February 2017
Living in God's Pocket with ABI 
Oh that is beautiful.
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Reblogged this on Let me give YOU the Moe-down and commented:
This is a beautiful ode.
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You are fortunate in this sense . For me no wife, no brothers or sisters, living in a new city with no close friends, only a son and daughter that are very limited in ability to give me help or support and sole caretaker of my 93 year old father. Real love and a marriage(twice divorced and thanking God) were not in the cards for me. I am often afraid. But it seems I do wake up every morning and am resolving challenges.
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Wow, a father who is 93. I imagine that what you are able to savour of that also comes with it’s demands. The past two years has deepened my appreciation of family and of the community that I have been an active part of for the past 30 years.
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Beautiful, Jasper!!! Hugs to you and Jane!
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Awesome! Is that Savannah? Love that town!
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That’s Stratford Ontario, on the Avon River. Lived there for 4 years at the start of my career.
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I think you’d be blown away by Stratford. Great venues and home to The Perth County Conspiracy Does Not Exist and other more classical kind of culture.
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