The final conversation I had with Teri on April 6 was a short one:: "How are you feeling?" "I'm fine." Apparently she had no premonition that she would die in her sleep. I keep thinking there must have been something more I could have done to keep her from dying – but I have no idea what. I wrote this poem for Teri. It's titled
150 Minutes. The picture is from Christmas Day 1980.
At 4 AM you said you were fine.
At 6:30 you were gone.
It's hard for me now to find the strength
To even carry on.
Since I lost you, Teri, all I've done is grieve & hurt & weep.
If I'd known you had only 150 minutes left,
I wouldn't have gone back to sleep.
I would have told you how much I love you.
I would have kept my arms around you.
I would have made sure you knew how happy
And blessed I was to have found you.
I would have thanked God for our time together,
For your caring, your kindness and love.
I would have kissed you goodbye as you left this earth
For your heavenly home up above.
Without you, Teri, I'm totally lost.
I don't even know why I'm here.
I know I'll be with you in heaven some day.
I hope that day is near.