....The ex-wife of a former co-worker
A "Mondavi" executive......back in the day
....Messaged a matter of importance
Telling me...of his having passed....away
Responding to the news immediately
.....I shared a little story of note
"Jimmie...from day one he called me
I got homesick whenever he spoke".....
Throughout the entire sum..of my childhood
....Growing up.....in Southern Illinois
Jimmie the name everybody called me
.....Way back...as a little.....bitty boy
Cherished nickname I hadn't heard in ages
Mere thought of it old memories stoked
....'Twas Jimmie....always he'd call me
Got homesick whenever he spoke.....
My siblings...having long dropped...the moniker
And the old folks they've all passed away
....Now....all bereft........there's nobody left
Jimmie's feeling....mighty homesick...today
Author's note:
Dedicated to the memory of Larry Graeber (28 August 1938 - 3 September 2012) , a dear friend - former Vice President Sales, Robert Mondavi Winery
Addendum: Larry's former wife, shared my message with their children. Collectively, they invited me to speak during their father's Napa Valley memorial service.
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