Category Archives: therapeutic

MODELING MEMORIES

His memories of New England various,

Were by and large vicarious…

Mostly pictures he saw

with interest and awe,

His chances of a visit–hilarious!

Point of fact he was too young,

Couldn’t drive himself even some…

The eight-hour ride

Once a summer left wide,

Window for relevant magazines to come!

Still his interest grew,

Past the time when he knew…

This paint scheme was gone,

these ALCOs moved on.

But the history he wanted to view.

Found an N scale engine thus,

Painted just like this—a plus–

To re-enact

Historical fact,

Without too much fuss!

–Jonathan Caswell

 

HANDS-ON…MY HISTORY

HANDS-ON…MY HISTORY

I took a fabled RS-1* into the living room

On a tray to try doing some work…

I wanted to replace that body shell with one bought new,

Then progress was caught up with a jerk.

It was the Two-Fourteen I had in my hands,

Numbered for our first letter exchange…

February Second completed the first round

As our relationship grew strong and aged.

The “214” is painted silver with red-white-and blue

Stripe around both hoods (old AMTRAK stock)…

Maybe I’ll just finish changing this one’s couplers’

Putting one of three “NEW HAVENs” on the body shell changing block!

–Jonathan Caswell

*NOTE:

All of these locomotives are N scale models of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) model RS-1…in the author’s collection.  Some of his units are lettered and numbered for important life events….like when he and his wife exchanged their first letters (#214)  or the date they were engaged (#5388…for the date 5/3/1988).

DO YOU THINK I HAVE ENOUGH???

DO YOU THINK I HAVE ENOUGH???

Finding room is getting rough,

Do you think I have enough…

One more dream

Fulfilled as schemed,

Engines that run but don’t puff.

Can’t run more than two at a time,

Embodying memories sublime…

Reaching the end

Of finances, friend,

Over-spending is a crime.

–Jonathan Caswell

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU.

THE LORD CLEANED MY COMPUTER.

THE LORD CLEANED MY COMPUTER

(or arranged it!)

To say that God cleaned it

Is to say He arranged the act…

There is no doubt that without His clout

I once again would have been smacked.

The on-line guy never called back

So I was left in the lurch…

I asked Pastor for prayer and

He and others prayed right in church.

My neighbor introduced me to the man who

Had been fixing computers a while…

He didn’t upload what I wanted,

But left me with a smile.

He did as he’d normally done,

Cleaned and set things up right…

So now I’m safer with protection besides

And the cost was much less of a fright!

The Lord in His mercy sent someone along,

Of that I am entirely convinced…

If I had gone with my original plan,

The bank account would have winced!

–Jonathan Caswell

FUR-BRAINED FELINES

FUR-BRAINED FELINES

You Tube compilations

Of cat concentrations…

Mirrors and jumps

And into bath dumps,

Expose tintinnabulations!

–Jonathan Caswell

PAIN-STABBED PIGGIES

PAIN-STABBED PIGGIES

Up at this hour to foil

Pain with aromatic oil…

In between piggies

Sharp ones and biggies,

Throbbing but not from toil.

Putting it on in the dark,

I feel it drip down to park…

On the other leg,

I sure would beg

It to stay where put, though in the dark.

As pain slowly fades away

Took insulin early today…

At four AM

I’ll say an amen

If this pain goes away!

–Jonathan Caswell

SALAD AND BROCCOLI–RAW, RAW, RAW!

SALAD AND BROCCOLI–RAW,RAW,RAW!

(or nearly so)

I ordered Broccoli and Beef,

The broccoli part was chief…

Ingredient

And chewing went

Well considering my teeth!

Reminded me of my Dad

And the chopped-up salad he had…

Which he barely chewed,

His puree’ he viewed

With words that sounded so sad!

–Jonathan Caswell

FANCY WELCOME

(http://amiclubwear.com/)

FANCY WELCOME!

After six months got a snort

Of real nice perfume (good sport)…

In a fluffy red sweater

She never looked better,

At least that’s what he’ll report.

‘Twas  great seeing Irena K,.

Who missed him when he was away…

She happily cried

Seeing him inside,

I think she’d like him to stay!

Too bad cameras weren’t allowed,

She did herself up really proud…

Flowing blonde hair,

A good figure there,

And she said, “WELCOME BACK 😀  ” out loud.

–Jonathan Caswell

*Picture is the closest example the author could find…right down to the smile on her face!

A CORDUROY SKIRT & JACKET

A  CORDUROY SKIRT AND JACKET

(sing to THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS)

A corduroy jacket

And skirt are going to be

The next sewing project

My love does, you see…

She’ll make it from material

That cost a lot of “dough”

But I do like the pattern

And will love her in it so!

Oh, the patterned blue fabric,

A fancy corduroy…

Is worth the glow in her eyes

When I paid for this joy;

She’ll have her new sewing machine

Which I guess I’ll set up too,

And help her with the making of

Until the set is through!

We can’t afford to hire help

Except for a tip or two,

This pattern cost a lot to get

But she’s not feeling blue…

Except to say my illness brought

Her project to a halt,

Just taking over for her love

She did not find me fault.

My BLUE SAPPHIRE OF JOHNSBURG (see Archives!)

Is the best one for me,

She takes up the slack I bore

And responsibility…

The least I can do for my love

Is allow a corduroy bolt,

To help her smile a good long while

And scamper like a colt!  😀

–Jonathan Caswell