This Is My Friend Greg Wells

Greg lived his whole life, 63 years,  in the San Lorenzo Valley…a life that ended suddenly last week.

Greg was a big teddy bear of a man, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to many here in the Valley. In his life he did many jobs, including roofing and plumbing. And along the way he found Jesus!

Yes, Greg was a Christian, a good man, and, most importantly,  a good friend…we had just seen each other a few days before at Tuesday lunch, we had a nice talk and parted laughing and hugging   (Greg was a great hugger!)   and as he walked away he said “I love you” which I said back! 

It’s a wonderful memory to have!

One other word to describe Greg was homeless (and I’m afraid it will be the word most people latch onto). Sadly, in his later life, because of circumstances, bad timing and maybe a few bad decisions, he found himself on the street…most of the time it didn’t seem to phase him, but I know it’s a hard life…and the only reason I mention it now is because if it wasn’t for his homelessness, I would  never have met him and forged a very special friendship. God does work in mysterious ways!

So I will just tell people about Greg using all those other descriptions…especially good man and good friend!

It makes me cry with joy to imagine the huge hug he gave Jesus when they met!

And the hug he got back!!

There’s a lot of stunned people in the Valley missing you Greg!

Rest In Peace my brother.

And let me offer up this song from Vince Gill

Go Rest High On That Mountain

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain
 
Go rest high on that mountain
‘Cause, Son, your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
 
Oh, how we cried the day you left us
And gathered round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angels’ faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing
 
Go rest high on that mountain
‘Cause, Son, your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
 
Go rest high on that mountain
‘Cause, Son, your work on earth is done
Go to Heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Go to Heaven a shoutin’

Love for the Father and the Son

Looking Back

I walk a crooked road to get where I am going
To get where I am going I must walk a crooked road
And only when I’m looking back I see the straight and narrow
I see the straight and narrow when I walk a crooked road
 
I sing a lonesome song to anyone who’ll listen,
To anyone who’ll listen I ‘ll sing my lonesome song.
And when I hear you singing too, the sorrow sounds so hopeful
the sorrow sounds so hopeful, when I sing my lonesome song.
 
And a lonesome song will be my true companion
When all else has abandoned for singing of their own
And a lonesome song will fill my days with gladness
Make joy out of sadness when I sing this lonesome song, to you
 
I love with all my heart, there is no way of stopping,
I have no way of stopping I just love with all my heart.
Through the broken and the beautiful, the bad news and the good news,
The bad news and the good news is I love with all my heart.
 
And a loving heart will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for loving of their own.
And a loving heart will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I bring this loving heart, to you…
 
I long to be a happy man, in this life that I’ve been given
In this life that I’ve been given I long to be a happy man.
When the noise turns to stillness, I see I have the makings.
I see I have the makings to be one happy man.
 
And a happy man will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for happy of their own.
And a happy man will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I show this happy man…
 
And a happy man will be my true companion,
When all else has abandoned for happy of their own.
And a happy man will fill my days with gladness,
Make joy out of sadness when I bring this happy man, to you…
 
I walk a crooked road to get where I am going,
To get where I am going I must walk a crooked road
And only when I’m looking back I see the straight and narrow,
I see the straight and narrow when I walk a crooked road…

Darrell Scott  A Crooked Road

I Can't Stop!

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul—

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night He giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it;

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am His—

How can I keep from singing?

Robert Lowry

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been

How old am I? 

As old as my gums, and little bit older than my teeth!

Well, I was born in '57...yes, that makes me 57.

I think that means that after this birthday, I start aging backwards, getting younger again, right?....

it's called senility!







The biggest fish I never caught!

 This picture was taken the day I met my future wife!

                                                                                                                     

5 years later, the future is now!
   

15th wedding anniversary...we celebrated with a few friends!





 





















                                                               Many years stuck in the mud!

And it comes out here....



and again, my annual warning to all....

Don't Grow Up...It's A Trap!

We Love You Zeuf

                                 Zeuf, The Girl In The Curl

I saw an old friend the other day
In San Francisco by the Bay
Took me back to only yesterday
The years somehow that slip away
And after talked about the days gone by
Brushed a tear away by the side
We promised not to let it be this long
Like the old refrain from the old old song

Remember old friends we made along the way
The gifts they gave that stay with us every day

Looking back it makes me wonder
Where we’re going how long we’ll stay
I know the road brings rain and thunder
But for the journey what will we pay
I often think the times be crazier
As this whole world goes round and round
Just the memory makes it easier
As the highway goes up and down

Remember old friends we’ve made along the way
The gifts they’ve given stay with us every day

Lately words come back to me
There’s a few I will no longer see
Faces will we see no more along the road
There’ll be a few less hands to hold
But for the ones whose journey's ended
Though they started so much the same
In the hearts of those befriended
Burns a candle with a silver flame

Remember old friends we’ve made along the way
The gifts they’ve given stay with us every day
Remember old friends we’ve made along the way
The gifts they’ve given stay with us every day


Mary McCaslin - Old Friends on youtube

Still Learning To Fall

I was young and knew nothing
Now somehow I know even less
Forgive me my youth
It was all for the best
Forgive my foolishness
It's grown simpler now
Cuz I’m sure what I like
who I love
And who I'm going to fight
As long as there's time on my hands

I've had to run
I've had to crawl
Been rich as a king
Had nothin' at all
Still raising hell
And tearing down walls
I know where I stand
I'm learning to fall

Me I've tasted true glory
Had a long sweet time on the stage
I laughed til I cried
I lived what I played
Never had to act my age
And it’s beautiful how
New blessings unfold
In ways I could never have known
And I’ve still got some time on my hands

I've had to run
I've had to crawl
Been rich as a king
Had nothin' at all
Still raising hell
And tearing down walls
I know where I stand
I'm learning to fall

Eric Lowen & Preston Sturges - Learning To Fall

This Life

Just reporting in, catching you up on how I’ve been,

It’s 365 again this week

Hot and humid here, same as every other year

It’s sweat or a tear on my cheek

Another year passes, I gave up my glasses

I gave up my job and my smoke and  mirrors

Another year over, I’m still growing clover

I’m still trying to face down all my fears

But I’m living a good life, I’m living a fine life,

I’m living the sweetest roses and wine life

And I know you’re near me

I hope you can hear me

I hope you can see into this life

All the family home and happy as they can be

And I’m getting married there next week

Will you hear your name?

Nothing will ever be the same

A teardrop on every cheek

I’m older than you were, and I’m pretty darn sure

Yes, I think you help me find my way

They ask if I think of you,

Every day I do, every day I do

Every day

But I’m living a good life, I’m living a fine life,

I’m living the sweetest roses and wine life

And I know you’re near me

I hope you can hear me

I hope you can see into this life

Keeping track of time, keeping up on the climb,

Do you need me to tell and show or do you already know?

I always think of you, somehow it helps to get me through

I hope that you’re listening to this song

I’ll give you all the news, your memory will be my muse

And I’ll probably go on too long

I wish I had answers to cure all the cancers,

To give all the chancers their own say

Just know that I think of you

Everyday I do, everyday I do

Everyday

I’m living a good life, I’m living a fine life,

I’m living the sweetest roses and wine life

I found my true love, the one who I dreamed of

I hope you’re above us

I hope you can see us

Living a good life,

Living a fine life,

Living the sweetest roses and wine life

And I know you’re near me

I hope you can hear me

I hope you can see into this life

Susan Greenbaum - This Life