SONG FOR CAROLYN
Your home a place of welcome where strangers become friends,
Where friends become the family of your heart,
Where God sits head of table and hears each quiet prayer
A place of laughter and of warmth, of counsel wise and clear.
A friend like you, to have a friend like you,
We may search the earth with all we’re worth,
There’s never another like you.
You’ve guided, taught and helped us be the people we are now.
Our words and actions echo with your love.
We learn from your example to embrace the life God gives.
With laughter, hope and gratitude as how we’re meant to live.
A mother like you, to be mothered by you.
There are so many mothers of so many others,
There’s never another like you.
You know the joy of finding love where life-long vows are shared
And the grief when death brings loving to an end.
But, when we least expect it, God shows another plan,
His gift to honour love that’s gone by loving once again.
Someone like you, to love someone like you
We have family and friends on whom we depend
There’s never another like you.
Carolyn, we celebrate your life lived long and well.
You show us that we’re not too old to dream.
We know no other person who takes her friends on a honeymoon cruise
But laughter, fun and playfulness is what we all can choose.
Age may try and tell you, “Girl, you’ve got to slow down!”
But keep the dream of riding wild on a big motorcycle
And dance on the tables tonight.
© 2012 Linda Bandelier
Copyright number 3QW9-5OJJ-N4SR-KN6Y
Your home a place of welcome where strangers become friends,
Where friends become the family of your heart,
Where God sits head of table and hears each quiet prayer
A place of laughter and of warmth, of counsel wise and clear.
A friend like you, to have a friend like you,
We may search the earth with all we’re worth,
There’s never another like you.
You’ve guided, taught and helped us be the people we are now.
Our words and actions echo with your love.
We learn from your example to embrace the life God gives.
With laughter, hope and gratitude as how we’re meant to live.
A mother like you, to be mothered by you.
There are so many mothers of so many others,
There’s never another like you.
You know the joy of finding love where life-long vows are shared
And the grief when death brings loving to an end.
But, when we least expect it, God shows another plan,
His gift to honour love that’s gone by loving once again.
Someone like you, to love someone like you
We have family and friends on whom we depend
There’s never another like you.
Carolyn, we celebrate your life lived long and well.
You show us that we’re not too old to dream.
We know no other person who takes her friends on a honeymoon cruise
But laughter, fun and playfulness is what we all can choose.
Age may try and tell you, “Girl, you’ve got to slow down!”
But keep the dream of riding wild on a big motorcycle
And dance on the tables tonight.
© 2012 Linda Bandelier
Copyright number 3QW9-5OJJ-N4SR-KN6Y
Carolyn McCollum asked me to write a song to celebrate her 80th birthday in 2013. Her stories, children, friends, and generations and globe spanning family provided the inspiration.