My dad wrote this to my mom 20+ years ago and he included it in her funeral program! I love it…except that Jamie wasn’t yet on the scene and an old boyfriend is included. 
An Ode To The Lovely Chris by Stan February 14, 1996
They met at curling, that roaring game
Stan of Fork River and Christine from Raymond she came
That Chris was a knockout, ere was no doubt But Stan was too shy to ask her out
Chris took the lead
And to dinner Stan came
And that all started the old dating game
First came love, and then “I do”
And off to Hawaii the happy couple flew
Taylor apartments was their first home
With that big Dodge Royal with which to roam
A year later Number 1 baby came
Patrick Shawn was the little guy’s name
A new home was now needed and as the story goes
Off the pair went to Mapleglade Close
A few years later, in 1972 I think
We got baby Number 2 and the color was pink
For a girl arrived at the stroke of midnight
While Stan was at home sleeping quite tight!
On summer vacations we traveled quite far
Off to B.C. or Disneyland in that faithful old car
First with a tent, then a tent trailer we went
Finally a -fist class trailer was money well spent
In 1977, the last bundle of joy came
Jade Barrett Borowski was Number 3’s name
Sports was a big thing with the kids I must say
Baseball and soccer and volleyball and hockey they play
Those were great times, a chance to go out
To cheer and to holler and let out a loud shout!
Pat finally got married and it seemed to be
That would leave Chris, Jade, Amber and me
But no – I remember utter surprise When Pat, Jane and Ashton on our doorstep arrived!
We managed quite fine but they needed something new
And after awhile, out of the nest they all flew
It was Amber’s turn next and off to Ricks she went
And the big expedition was money well spent
For she made good friends and found a boyfriend named Scott
He was No.1 whether we liked it or not
But she wasn’t prepared to just settle down
A missionary call would change things around
Geneva Switzerland, she said was the place to be
With Heavenly Father, my companion and me
That left just Jade and he was growing up fast
Enjoy him while he’s home. It wasn’t to last
Hockey was over when Jade broke his right leg
But it was on to golf with great passion instead
On crutches to school and on crutches to play
On Mapleridge course, it was the talk of the day
Two holes in one during only one year
Was cause for celebration and a loud cheer
But a golf ball came flying and much to his surprise
It caught Jade squarely between his two eyes!
Chris became a business lady under The Curiosity Shoppe name
Tea room and gifts were her new claim to fame
They came to the tea room from near and from far
And it was a great business, well above par
But the landlord and city lowered the boom
With more rent and more taxes to send them to doom
And out dear old Chevron way,
Stan was bundled up and bid a good day
After 33 years to new ventures he went
You still have to eat. You still must pay rent
And Jade has now left and so you must see
That leaves empty nesters, Christine and me
We still have our quarrels, our troubles, the lot
But I am still happy we decided to tie that OLD KNOT!
-Love, Stan
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 