__________WHEN LIFE STARTS WITHOUT ME_______________

When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see;

If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today,

while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,

And each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,

that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready in heaven far above

and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,

for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for and so much yet to do,

it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you .

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,

I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday I thought just for awhile

I'd say good bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized that this could never be,

for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow,

I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gate, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiles at me, from His great golden throne,

He said, " This is eternity and all I've promised you".

Today for life on what is past but here it starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last,

and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful, so trusting, so true.

Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free.

So won't you take my hand and share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me. don't think we're far apart.

for everytime you think of me, I'm right here in your heart

Copyright © Rikin Vasani 1997

Summer's Calypso Breeze

He held his head proud and tall, showing off his beauty and grace. His knowledgeable head always lowered to anyone who offered him treats.

Little kids learned to ride on his back. He always taught them well. Never going to fast, so they'd lose their balance and fall off.

And surprisingly he always knew when his little rider had had enough and brought them safely to the middle to take a break.

He always looked out for his rider. In his own special way of doing it he taught us that "why bother going over the jump when we can simply go around!

It's a much easier way of getting to the same place". He made sure his rider never got their feet wet. He could spot puddles miles away.

That horse would go out of his way to go around the puddles. In his mind he was making sure that you wouldn't drown in that evil puddle.

I swear that horse loved to play hide and seek. He would decide to lose his halter, in the biggest field available.

And anyone who had the luck to ride him in the lesson would walk all the way out to reach his side and find him standing there looking at you without a halter.

In his eyes you could see the mischief he went through just to get that halter off so that you could play hide and seek with him.

Of course his idea of that game was. "I hide it and you seek it."

I remember my first time riding him. He was the sweetest horse I'd met in a long time. He was gentle and docile. But every time I left the stall to

go get something at the other end of the barn, he seemed to think that I was leaving him in the stall forever and would begin pawing at the door for me

to come back to his side. Once I returned he'd become calm once again. As I tacked him up everything was fine. I tightened his girth as tight as I could

not realizing that he was holding his breath. When we got to the ring his girth was checked and to my surprise it was as loose as a leaf on a windy

day. My girth was retightened and I mounted the beautiful palomino for the first time. He always held his head with pride, and tested his new rider to

see what he could and couldn't get away with. He always tried to get away from cantering by speeding up his trot, sending his mane and tail whipping

in the wind. His clever antics and lovable ways will always be remembered in everyone's heart. The wonderful joy he has brought to so many will forever be treasured.

To this wonderful horse

We bid him a fond farewell.

Forever rest in peace my old friend