Just a growing boy from Oklahoma [Modified on May 11, 2022 for celebration of life]

I’m just a growing boy from Oklahoma

Happy 87^th to our favorite neighbor - Jim Herdon
A birthday ditty [Modified on May 11, 2022 for celebration of life]

Well, smell

I remember when

I started these things

like this . . .

Lordy, Lordy

Look whose forty

Feeling good

And rather sporty

And then those ten years

They flew by

Like a blink of an eye

and we said . . .

Nifty, nifty

My friends, they are all

turning fifty

Some are thrifty

And some are shifty

But what in the hell

Is going on now

Some of my buddies are

tuning sixty

And a few others I know

They are pushing

the big seven - o

But this is even more amazing

All guns a-blazin'

Cause my favorite neighbor

His head is shiny

And he’s damn near ninety!

Actually, it is officially eighty-seven

But he’s not ready for heaven

Because like the Grand Canyon in Arizona

“I’m just a growing boy from Oklahoma!”

We found our way

To 3901 A

Back in November of 2016

And my good friend Doug Duke

Double D

He tells me

there might be

Some serendipity

And sure enough

Low and behold

In 3901 B

On the other side of the brick wall

Lives a gal named Mikey

Amongst the very tall

Just one of those times

Like a beautiful rhyme

When the sun and the moon and the stars

All aligned

Page and Cathy and our three

Lucy, Emily, and Sal

We all quickly found out

That the Herndons

Were great pals!

You need something fixed

Something in need of repair

Jim has got just the flair

For that kind of care

Fridge not working

He knows the man

Grass not growing

He’s got a plan

Out of space

When companies arriving

Mikey and Jim's Bed & Breakfast

It is a thriving!

Toilet backed up

Nothings too tough

He’s got the plunger and the snake

And the hoe and the rake

And that particular situation

Is NOT for a fake!

Cause, “I’m just a growing boy from Oklahoma!”

If you think you are having a bad day

Stop by Jim’s on your way

And he will remind you

of this simple fact

“Was anybody shooting at you?”

No, not really

Then button it up

and stop acting silly

“Do the BIG boys get to go first?”

Is another good line

Or what about the time

When the freezer was empty

Cause

“If you are out of ice cream

You are literally

Out of groceries!”

31 years of military duty

A proud warrior

And married a beauty
Met Mikey in Stuttgart, Germany

And knew she was special

Right out of the gate

I can only imagine

On that first date . . .

“I’m just a growing boy from Oklahoma!”

Married in the Ludwigsburg Castle

Not too much of a hassle

It has been 44 years

The test of time has stood

And it was our good fortune

To land in their hood

So now we bid you adieu.

Our growing boy who knew

So much about this thing

Called life

How to live through

Trials and strife

Thank you, Jim

For just being you

“Just a growing boy from Oklahoma!”