WHEN I THINK OF YOU
in loving memory of my dearest brother-in-law Fishel (Gadi) Wolf
August, 2010
When I think of you Gadi I’ll always see
The fisherman - tan and strong as can be
Confident - sure in every way
Never a doubt it will be okay
Repairing and fixing
knowing just what to do
When something breaks
Gadi......I’ll be thinking of you
The casino
the sounds the tables the lights
the way the days flow into the nights
As I sit there and play and the machine comes through
Gadi I’ll be thinking of you
As a white knuckle flyer
When I’m feeling the fear
I’ll think of you saying
Don’t worry - I’m here
As I walk through the airport
and smell the Cinnabun
my instinct will tell me to buy Gadi one
When I think of you Gadi I’ll always know
How you loved to argue and infuriate me so
Stubborn and cocky but laughing inside
taking us all along for the ride
I can still hear you say
“this is my little brother”
I can still see your eyes when they looked at your mother
I can still feel your joy with your grandkids at play
and a father’s devotion is with us today
When I think of you Gadi - I’ll see Hava too
I promise we’ll be there to help her get through
Where ever I go and whatever I do
I’ll miss you - I loved you
I’ll be thinking of you
The fisherman - tan and strong as can be
Confident - sure in every way
Never a doubt it will be okay
Repairing and fixing
knowing just what to do
When something breaks
Gadi......I’ll be thinking of you
The casino
the sounds the tables the lights
the way the days flow into the nights
As I sit there and play and the machine comes through
Gadi I’ll be thinking of you
As a white knuckle flyer
When I’m feeling the fear
I’ll think of you saying
Don’t worry - I’m here
As I walk through the airport
and smell the Cinnabun
my instinct will tell me to buy Gadi one
When I think of you Gadi I’ll always know
How you loved to argue and infuriate me so
Stubborn and cocky but laughing inside
taking us all along for the ride
I can still hear you say
“this is my little brother”
I can still see your eyes when they looked at your mother
I can still feel your joy with your grandkids at play
and a father’s devotion is with us today
When I think of you Gadi - I’ll see Hava too
I promise we’ll be there to help her get through
Where ever I go and whatever I do
I’ll miss you - I loved you
I’ll be thinking of you
Alaska - The Edge of the WorldWe cruised along to the edge of the world
As far as you can go Till the waters all around us Were filled with ice and snow We sailed up to a glacier To mountains made of glass To a place untouched by time itself Through all the years that pass We looked with awe and wonder At the icebergs in the sea At the little seals upon them At the eagles flying free We saw the land of the midnight sun And the eerie light of day The hour grew later and later Till the sun finally slipped away As we stared into the mist of night It was suddenly quite clear That this place was at the edge of the world And G-d was living here. July 18, 2002 |
A Fish Called Manny - An Anniversary StoryOnce there was a little fish that lived with his family
and the only waters he ever swam was the deep Mediterranean Sea His brother was a "Fish-el" too Life was simple and serene Till our little fish got a wanderlust for places he'd never seen and so he swam for many days till fate reached out a hand and led him to a new home in a far and distant land It was there he met a girl fish They knew it was destiny That brought them both together with a love that was meant to be And so began their journey They had children of their own that started out as tadpoles and soon were fully grown There's been some choppy waters and rough seas along the way But they've come through together and wouldn't trade a single day This isn't just a "fish tale" Every word is true I know because I caught that fish The day I married you! February 1992 |
A long time ago – there was a girl Who wanted a sister – So she asked Shirl Shirl kept trying; she was a good mother But each new baby - was always a brother Now the brothers were swell, and the girl loved them too But they were not sisters…still, somehow she knew That if she kept wishing, someday her heart Would find its true sister, and they’d never part. One day she grew up, met a "Manny" of her own Had a son and a daughter, who now are all grown. Then “lo and behold” on the family tree Up high on a branch all these years, she could see The sister she wanted was there after all When they married two brothers – she answered the call The sis who would cry and would laugh with her too Share the wonder of children and watch as they grew The sis who remembers the early years The struggles, the triumphs, the laughter, the tears. The impossible distance they would fuse From delivering papers to an Alaskan cruise. And now the girl at last can see hat this is the way it was meant to be Destiny and fate made my wish come true The sister I always wanted was you. Happy Birthday Hava January 16, 2003 |
I wrote the following as a tribute to my sister-in-law Hava when she received the Houston Bureau of Jewish Education's
"Teacher of the Year" Award Dear Morah Hava – I’m a child of three It’s the first day of school and it’s scary for me But you greet me with smiles and hugs of delight You make me feel special and I know I’m alright Dear Morah Hava I learn more each day And school is such fun cause you make it that way When I get older – I’ll often recall The things that you taught me when I was so small Dear Morah Hava we don’t always know How the hands there to guide us will help us to grow Although we are young we can tell you’re sincere So we blossom like flowers whenever you’re near Dear Morah Hava now pre-school is past And whenever you see me you say I’m growing fast I’m busy, I hurry – I’ll be grown in a while But sometimes I look back and catch a glimpse of your smile Dear Morah Hava graduation is here You’re been quietly watching us year after year On the brink of adulthood – we’re children no more Our future is waiting…as we run out the door Dear Morah Hava – remember me? This is my son and now that he’s three He’ll be starting pre-school - He’s a bit scared, it’s true But I know he’ll be fine – because he’ll be with you. Dear Morah Hava – the truth is quite clear To so many you’ve always been…. The Teacher of the Year! Lovingly and proudly written by Judi Wolf May 17, 2004 |