{"id":48496,"date":"2025-07-19T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=48496"},"modified":"2025-07-15T14:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T18:52:36","slug":"dotting-my-teas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/dotting-my-teas\/","title":{"rendered":"Dotting my Teas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By: Marlene Oxender<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a poem I\u2019d written but never shared. It sat in the archives of my computer. Good to go. No reason to change it. But there I was, looking at it once again and wondering what to do with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my attempt to change a few words, I saw a new poem taking off on its own. A poem with no direction. A poem with no title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I\u2019d been thinking about my younger brother Stevie, who had Down syndrome, I continued writing the poem with him in mind. He seemed so perfect while he walked this earth. And now I know he\u2019s doing quality work as an angel \u2013 for I am overwhelmed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I was writing about being overwhelmed, a song by Phil Collins, \u201cYou\u2019ll Be in My Heart,\u201d came on the radio. I stopped typing, listened to the words in the song, and became overwhelmed once again. I think Stevie is paying me back for all the teasing he endured while we were together.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a year since he passed away, and I\u2019ve been amazed at the fun \u201clittle angel\u201d moments that I know were custom-made for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nudges from Above <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t see you <\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet my spirit knows you\u2019re here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t touch you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

but I feel you in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t look into your eyes <\/p>\n\n\n\n

but I know you\u2019re looking into mine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and watching over me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t hold you \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet here you are beside me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sending your love in ways
so new to me <\/p>\n\n\n\n

reminding me of sweet stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and times we were together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I didn\u2019t get to spend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 the rest of my life with you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

but you spent the rest of yours with me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and oh, there\u2019s beauty in knowing that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someday we\u2019ll meet again<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and pick up where we left off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll teach me how to do
my angel work<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as well as you\u2019ve done yours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s nothing better
than knowing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we\u2019ll be together someday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as angels on assignment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serendipitous moments we\u2019ll custom-make for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And problems \u2013 we\u2019ll send help in ways <\/p>\n\n\n\n

only they will recognize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll wipe their tears<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and make burdens disappear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll feel nudges from above <\/p>\n\n\n\n

and kisses in the wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll see our face in everything<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and wonder what\u2019s going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ll feel divinely guided              <\/p>\n\n\n\n

   by wisdom and by grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The time will come when <\/p>\n\n\n\n

their days on earth are done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll take them under our wings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and show them how to do their angel work<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as well as we\u2019ve done ours.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And oh, the happiness they\u2019ll<\/p>\n\n\n\n

discover while working<\/p>\n\n\n\n

undercover<\/p>\n\n\n\n

as angels in disguise.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marlene Oxender is a writer, speaker, and author. She writes about growing up in the small town of Edgerton, her ten siblings, the memorabilia in her parents\u2019 estate, and her late younger brother, Stevie Kimpel, who was born with Down syndrome. Her three published books, Picket Fences, Stevie and Grandma, You Already Am Old, are available on Amazon. Marlene can be reached at mpoxender@gmail.com       <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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