I Chose You -- Personal Challenge

I Chose You

I parked my motorcycle on that day
Day when I chose you, all the time hoping
Hoping you'd smile, say to me, "I choose you."

Left the highway's lure the day I chose you
Crawfish fest, other fun, still calling me
Wishing still you'd say "I'll go there with you"

Leave my riding group?  They'll miss me a lot
Never did have a biker chick to stay
One you wouldn't be. I could stay with you

Thank you Sweet, I love you so much. You see,
my motorcycle's parked by your front door
From the day you said to me, "I chose you"

So goodbye High Rollers, been a nice ride
I've began a new life, minding my clan
.

......[click once, then twice on picture to enlarge, 'Back' to return]
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _

Photo and poem copyright, © Jimmiehov 2014, all rights reserved

Today I'm linked with Marian at The Toads, The Valley (link)

Marian posted a YouTube video of David Hidalgo giving his rendition of the older song, "The Valley (Los Lobos)," (Link) .  Below I reproduced the lyrics to this wonderful song of a people, probably men, who settled down in the California Valley area, working, to raise and feed their families.  The song tells me of a sacrifice made for the sake of family.

Her Challenge, " ... I hope you will be inspired by David Hidalgo, Los Lobos, "just another band from East LA," the Barrio, wolves, National Geographic magazine, putting food on the table, hard work, making a home, making a life, finding light from darkness or whatever moves you to write a new poem and share it with us today. "
_ _ _ _ _ _

My poem after listening to David and reading the lyrics several times is partly true, some of it is from Mrs. Jim's and my life.  Before I met Mrs. Jim I did ride a motorcycle, and continued to ride it until our daughter was born.  The 'High Rollers' is a motorcycle club I rode with on occasion, the "Pasadena High Rollers."  Our proposal and marriage didn't' quite go the way of the poem, but it took, lasting so far 41 years.

The picture is of me with my 'clan' of the women resulting from our marriage, four grandchildren, our daughter, and Mrs. Jim.  From left to right, three grand-daughters front row, Megan, KP, BP, second row, grand-daughter Jenna, Mrs. Jim, and daughter Karen. 
_ _ _ _ _ _

LOS LOBOS
"The Valley"

In ancient times
To a place so far away
Across the land
Where the earth was
As tough as clay

Looked at their hands
Looked all around
And they seemed pleased
At what they had found

Here in the valley
Bread on the table
Work through the day
For as long as we are able
Green is the valley
Blue is the night
Out of the shadows
Into the light

They could have gone
But instead they chose to stay
To watch the clouds way up high
As they turned to gray
And through the dark
Broke a crimson sun
And at that moment
Knew their lives had just begun

Here in the valley
Bread on the table
Work through the day
For as long as we are able
Green is the valley
Blue is the night
Out of the darkness
Into the light

Here in the valley
Bread on the table
Work through the day
For as long as we are able

Green is the valley
Blue is the night
Out of the darkness
Into the light

from:
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/los_lobos/the_valley.html