HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Onward, Dear Clara (Mom)!

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!
4/12/23

Hello, Everyone!
I wrote the following song “on location,” as it were a few years ago while hiking half way between my home in Laramie, Wyoming and Cheyenne, Wyoming. I was on a hill near a small mountain. I called the small mountain “Leo’s Mountain” and wrote a song on it called that. Leo was the name of my Dad. Since I wrote one song after my Dad (1/31/1907-7/7/1966), I thought it only fair to write one where I was at the time – on a hill below “Leo’s Mountain.”

We all have a Mom and Dad. Mom was born on this day in 1908, though she passed at the age of 96 on 5/16/2004. It matters not that she is no longer here. She is somewhere. Right? Thus, I choose to share a song I wrote on a hill between Laramie and Cheyenne in 2009 with you now. Why not replace “Clara” with the name of your Mom – and sing it out? That is if you like my song and agree with it.

Thanks, Mom! We know you are happy where you are because you were happy where you were when you were here with us. We only continue as we were when we die. Clara is still Clara, even though she probably has a different name in the person she is now. Onward, Dear Clara!

All our Love,

Nancy Shaw – my current loving spouse
and Francis William (Frank, Will) Besssler



CLARA’S HILL
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
7/19/2009

Dedicated to the memory of my Mom,
whose name was Clara
(born: 4/12/1908; died: 5/16/2004) .

REFRAIN:
Be careful where you step,
but step where you will;
and you will find yourself
upon Clara’s Hill.
Be careful not to stumble,
but when you do,
get right back up
and know it all belongs to you.

Hey, My Friend, life is out there,
but it’s not a distant thing.
No matter where you are,
it should make you want to sing.
Just take time to look at it
and be amazed how it grows.
Then lose yourself in all of it
and what you see you will know.
Refrain.

The wonder of life as I see it
is that it is filled with mystery.
There is no way I can see sin
because all I see is Divinity.
If all you see is full of God
there is no way to be sad.
Put your hands together and applaud
and let your heart be glad.
Refrain.

Stand upon a hill and loudly shout,
Hey, God, I’m your little kid.
I’m so glad to be about
being happy without sin.
I think it’s such a waste of time
to shudder and fail to embrace.
It’s so much better to see life as fine
and love it without shame.
Refrain.

So, God, I accept your gift to me
of the life that’s standing here.
I pledge, my God, to believe
that what I am should be dear.
I am as worthy as a flower
that grows so brightly on a hill
to receive whatever shower
of blessings you choose to instill.
Refrain (several times).