Ellen
You leave as you arrived -
l ooking in the rear view mirror.
Coming to us you watched the sun kiss the
Peninsula good night one more time.
Now leaving us,
the backward glance will
see morning sun waking the Valley.
The friendship drops of parting tears
paint a surrealistic memory.
Years and events blur together
and are colored the golden warm toast
of California hills.
Love giving friend you will always be
nostalgia for places.
They are the sites
of so many happy times provided
for others.
But to places you must add
persons and things -
the other nouns in love sentences.
A home is not because of place.
Halls where happiness has rung are merely
boxes to package the lovely things
friends did.
Cool paths walked through fallen leaves
and beside a stream
are remembered because
of friendship talk.
Each school where children learned
you learned and taught cooperative
parenting.
It could have been
any school any place.
Your nostalgia is
for people and happenings.
Thus we know you will miss us.
Wherever you go there will be people
for whom you can make good things happen.
Teaching friends to grow and enjoy
your warm affection is your subtle
lesson in life.
For such instruction there will
always be a special place
and plenty of eager students.
Come often and give us a
special refresher course.
You have moved so close to us
you have become part of us.
How we will miss you!
Love is without place
because it is everywhere.