George William Baker Tribute

I still think of the last day of your life
Lying there helplessly tranquil
Looking so pale, and so frail
Old, for the first time
Withering away
We held your hands like never before
I swore I felt your grasp when I shouldn’t have
They said you were waiting for me to arrive
So you could say goodbye to all of us, in your only way

And when our words were said and done
Your breathing changed
Perhaps you tried to speak
But there was just too much pain
To let us know that you heard us
That you feel the same

Each breath I feared was your last
Even though I knew the end was near
And then it happened
There was nothing more to hear

I still think of the time when I looked to the skies
Trying to hold back the tears that were flooding my eyes
While you stood by my side
Strong and alive

And even though you were dying inside
You stayed you all along
Never giving in
Never giving up

Giving us words of encouragement
To remain close, to be kind, to smile
To continue to exercise, and to be there for your child
Simple lessons of life
Yet things few can accomplish with any consistency

I still think of you
Even though you weren’t always in my life
You were my father
My mother was your wife
You made your impression in this place
And it cannot ever be erased

Dad really made an effort to be nice to Crystal. He really liked her. One of the first times he really connected with Crystal was at a Friendly's where we visited him in NH. We listened to some of his great stories and he was so animated and interesting to hear. He was an awesome storyteller. I always thought this. He never told a boring story. That night will always stand out for me.

I'll never forget our last Christmas together as a family....Daddy always taught us to work hard for what you have, material things do not matter. So that Christmas, Daddy had all of us make/build/create something for each other as gifts, rather than buying them. At 1st, we thought this was a dumb idea of course. But then we began to imagine, to invision, to create. We worked so hard, paid attention to every detail. WOW we made some beautiful gifts, things that could never be replaced. And we were together, a family. As a kid, it's hard to understand the values that your parents are trying to teach you. As an adult, you realize how much these lessons have formed you as a person. And you can finally appreciate them. That Christmas will always be one of my favorite memories EVER.

I'm Pequot
a Gypsy
Irish too
I rely on this
when I'm feeling blue

I'm resourceful and proud
I keep on the move
my writing and humour
get me through

A man of song
from days of old
a dreamer
of dreams
unlived
untold

I leave for my children
this legacy
may they keep
each one
a memory