English Essay
By: Tom Milbrandt
In the summer of 1997, my father was suddenly taken ill. It
seemed to me that he was very healthy, and then, BOOM he was in
the hospital. At first, the doctors did not know what was wrong or
what they could do to help him. Then, after running what seemed to
be every test possible, they discovered what the culprit was causing all
of the pain. It was Pancreatitis! The doctors did not think that my
father would survive. As sick as he was, both my family and I never
expected him to make it. After spending over 6 months in the
hospital, and having everything ok’d, my dad was allowed to come
home. Even though it took some time for him to get his strength
back, he was very happy to be home. Some don’t understand what it
is like having someone you care about make the change from healthy
to almost dead. Never take life for granted or put off telling someone
you care about that you love them, because you never know when
that someone isn’t going to be here anymore. I would like to share a
poem with you that a friend of my family’s wrote when we went
through this troubling time. This poem, which is entitled “Walking
Hand and Hand”, is a very good poem. It is a very touching poem that
really makes you think about life and how you should never take
anything for granted. It also tells how you should treat everyday like
it is your last on God’s green Earth. In life, you have to cherish
everything you have, for you never know when something or someone
very special to you will be gone. So please read this poem with an
open mind, and if you do get something out of it- remember it always.
Walking Hand-In-Hand
Together, they were walking, the two of them hand-in-hand.
Just like two little boys going out to play in the sand.
A cool breeze was flowing that beautiful afternoon.
The summer season almost over with fall beginning soon.
I was visiting a friend nearby down the street,
When they came walking my way, slowly moving their feet.
I had to go and greet them, simply to say “Hi!”
And ask how they were doing, before they walked on by.
I told them how nice it was to see them walking hand-in-hand.
But what is the reason behind it?
It’s hard to understand?
Why someone so well known, a friend to everyone, I recall.
Is fighting for the strength to even walk at all.
The two of them are brothers, one suddenly taken ill.
The other, guiding him to walk at his own free will.
They said something to me that day, as we talked awhile,
I hoped they didn’t see my tears as I tried to smile.
“You know, until now, I never told my brother “I love you.”
Maybe this is a message for everyone from God above:
Never wait until tomorrow to say what you are thinking of.
I know I will never understand whatever the reason is –
Why one should suffer in pain; only God knows the answer to this.
As those two went along, walking hand-in-hand,
I watched them for a while, as they left me stand.
I knew they have the faith that God is with them, too.
Walking hand-in-hand, giving them the strength to carry through.
As they walked on further, I received a message clearly:
Walking hand-in-hand, they love each other dearly
Written for Larry and Wally Milbrandt, well like friends of all.
By: Bonnie Jean Hubrig, ©August 1997
One thing that I ask is to never take anything for granted—if you have
something you need to say—say it, for it may be too late!