My mother, Marion Dalton was born on the Fourth of July and died on Christmas Day five years ago. Life is not as interesting without Marion, there was always something different with Marion.  You could expect the unexpected.   Here is a poem I wrote years ago in tribute to Mom:

Marion Gertrude Dalton 1924 - 2006
Written in 1984 for her 60th birthday

Marion, an American
Was born July the fourth,
With firecrackers cracking:
She’ll be a patriot of course.

For God and country, apple pie,
And motherhood for sure;
Parades with flags keep marching by
To mark each birthday year.

Marion’s an Eagle
Far to the right of Ron.
She’s colorful, red, white and blue
With bumper stickers on.

Gertie, she’s a traveler
From L.A. to D.C.;
She catches most all the summits,
And not just on TV.

Grandma, she’s a marcher
Who’s seen on nightly news.
The grandkids wait til six o’clock
To find out granny’s views.

Mrs. D. is flighty,
Not always down on earth;
But it would take both earth and heaven
To measure what she’s worth.

by her son, Richard