Fernando Was Always There

The youngest of ten brothers and one sister;
My earliest recollection of him, I’m thinking I was eight,
Was of him and Dad putting our bikes together,
Him playing Santa, and all of us just happy;
For Fernando was there.

Recalling a young teenager driving us fast to school,
In his 49 Chevy, looking cool with his curly hair, and always with much flair.
Growing up with him close by, we felt warm & secure more than anywhere,
We knew we could count on him for anything,
For Fernando was there.

In my teens, recalling the good times,
As well as my rebellious hard times, he steered me on hard choices,
Sometimes at difficult cross roads of my life, when I needed more than prayers,
He always gave me direction, and kept me straight,
For my Tio Fernando was always there.

This deeply sincere, hard-working man,
A loving son, and brother; devoted husband; a great Dad, and a wonderful Grandfather,
There has been no one quite like him to compare.
Straight, and tall, a man among men, who always stood out in a crowd,
For Fernando was always there for all of us.

Now that this great Man has gone to his rest
He served his country well, made much with his life,
Living life fully, and may I add, with much zest.
For even though his last years his body was much confined,
He is flying with eagles now, we can only guess.

With much love, and until we meet again, Tio…

Bob Collazo
Updated on 4/11/17

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