Write Away Magazine Dec 2019

Grandma’s Got A N
The old tree was withered from years of use,
but grandma couldn’t bear to let it go.
Through 27 Christmases the tree has survived.
With love and tinsel the age hardly shows.
This year, as she was getting it from the box,
the limbs were tattered and falling apart.
First she got mad, then she was sad,
as all the memories swelled in her heart.
The kids suggested, it’s time to get a new tree.
Grandma went to Wally’s to find one that’s just right.
So easy to assemble, granny couldn’t believe,
It came in three pieces, even built in lights
Grandma’s got a new Christmas tree
and she’s showing it off.
She lights it brightly every night.
She opens the curtains so everyone will see,
this shiny new tree with glimmering lights.
She’s as thrilled as she can be.
She’s called her friends on the phone
and her grand-babies too.
This Christmas will be the best ever.
Granny’s spreading the news.
Every day of the week even before dark,
granny lights the tree and it gives her a spark.
Cloudy days, rainy days, it doesn’t matter to her.
That tree will be glistening and she’ll get a stir.
The kids all love it, especially what’s underneath.
Grandma went crazy this year way beyond belief.
Presents for the kids, grand-kids,
neighbors and friends.
Granny maxed her credit cards right to the end.
Grandma’s got a new Christmas tree
and she’s showing it off.
She lights it brightly every night.
She opens the curtains so everyone will see,
this shiny new tree with glimmering lights.
She’s as thrilled as she can be.
She’s called her friends on the phone
and her grand-babies too.
This Christmas will be the best ever.
Granny’s spreading the news.
Oh no, it’s almost the 25th this can’t be the end.
She might roll back the calendar and do it again.
With all the happiness that the old gal has found,
it might be the 4th of July
before the tree comes down.
Grandma’s got a new Christmas tree
and she’s showing it off !
To view this lyric on Songbay...
Growing up in East Tennessee in the 1970’s I had a lot
of friends in bands, probably not much different than it
is today. I would work to help set up the stage and their
instruments since I couldn’t play or sing myself. I did not
come from a musical family. I discovered it on my own,
with influence from my older brother and friends. I went
to my first concert on my 13th birthday, it was Three Dog
Night I listened to the radio all the time. I’d stay up most
of the night. I decided at age 14 that since I couldn’t be in
a band like my friends, I could at least play music on the
radio. We had a career day in 8th grade and I chose DJ.
I went into the U.S. Army at age 17. When I came home
2 years later, I went to broadcasting school in nearby
Knoxville, Tn. What followed was a 20 year career in radio
broadcasting. I stayed locally instead of pursuing work
outside the area. I feel that I could have made it in a bigger
market. Working in mostly small town radio is tough. It’s
low pay and no benefits. I worked at numerous stations in
East Tennessee. Over the years, I developed an
alcohol dependency. It was not uncommon, for some of
my co-workers to be involved in drugs and alcohol. It was
just what we did during that time.I was one of the worst. I
was an alcoholic. Without going into all the details, it was
bad. I lost a couple of radio jobs and burned a lot of
bridges. After years of struggling, I finally got clean and
sober, over 14 years now. I decided to go back to
college at the age of 43. I studied Computer Networking.
I earned an associates degree. Not bad for a high school
drop out with a GED. I got a job at the company that I’m
still employed at today, 11 years later. I currently work in
Cybersecurity.
I started writing lyrics when I was a teenager. Over the
years I would write some from time to time. I’ve always
enjoyed reading lyrics too, it was one of the cool things
about record albums growing up. The albums would often
have the lyrics included. I’ve always had a good
imagination and that helped me in my writing. A few
years back I started writing more regular. I had talked
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