Sally Fingerett

(For my father William Fingerett 1922-2010)

Year after year family gathers here - the tables set
Kids running around, the noisy sound of life
Holidays come and go, we’re watching children grow
Candles are all aglow, blessings everywhere

You never knew that time could move so fast before your eyes
Somehow you blinked and 30 years flew by
Seasons bring new life in, those kids are having kids
A new generation lives, the old one’s gone, it passes on

Take your seat at the head of the table
You’ve become the next in line
It’s your time, to give of your heart as best you’re able
You help the next one learn, so they can take their turn
When you are gone

You look behind you toward the kitchen see the table where
You and your cousins sat not long ago
As children we’re unaware of our parents’ hopes and fears
They were shielding us those years till we were grown
And now we’re grown

Now we sit at the head of the table
We’ve become the next in line
It’s our time to guide with our hearts as best we’re able
We help the next one learn so they can take their turn
When we are gone

Year after year the family gathers here, the tables set
Kids running around, the noisy sound of life
Honor the young, the old, treasure each story told
Those are the secrets we need to know
That history holds us to this table.