My Sweet Life

We moved from Laredo to San Anonio at the tender age of five
Because of my dear brother Bill and his will to live,
Then Louisiana at 18 for Army boot camp for my will to survive,
Then to San Antone again like an old shoe that fit so good,
I was where I was supposed to be on the road to manhood.

Married my Sweetheart in Laredo at twenty with sweet tears
When the Army ordered me to El Paso a short time later with no regrets or fears,
Blessed with our miracle four pound baby,
So tiny, and so beautiful, with a full life ahead I could not foresee,
I was right where I was supposed to be.

Even though I never got there, Vietnam was still on,
But by the grace of God, I got out of the Army without a scratch,
College again, but life steered me down a different way.
I suspect that God steered me to the USDA;
Right where I was supposed to be.

The next seven years in the USDA came fast,
A slaughter plant here and there close to San Antone;
Tired of getting bloody, and no promotion nearby,
But by the grace of God, a new job was available in Plainview, far away,
Lonely, but somehow, I felt I was where I was supposed to be in life’s buffet.

Working nights alone in Plainview for a year, wondering if I screwed up,
Or was this one of life’s hiccups,
For Mom & Dad always said nothing comes without sacrifice.
That Christmas, I moved my wife and Son to Plainview, and it was like paradise;
Right where I was meant to be.

Enjoying family time together in Plainview for three months,
When a new job in Baton Rouge came calling,
A personel manager type job, no less, 
Thanking God for no longer getting bloody or freezing in a cooler to the nth degree,
I was giddy with joy, right where I was meant to be.

The food, the beauty of the people in Louisiana was like a breath of fresh air;
Meeting Frank Compagno, a brother I still relish today,
Was like receiving a sweet bouquet;
Seven good years there were magical & good times everyday.
We knew we were right exactly where we were supposed to be.

Seven years in Baton Rouge, and time for a change,
When I took a job in Dallas.
A few months later though, reorganization, the office was being moved;
But then a compliance officer job available right next door!
For surely God was listening, don’t you see,
And, I was right where I was supposed to be.

Fast forward 22 years in the DFW area with a few more jobs,
I was truly fortunate enough to have,
Supervising the best group of guys, I was so fortunate to have, in the many crossroads of my life,
Meeting the sweetest people along the way,
For God knew in all those years,
That He always put me where I was always meant to be.

Back home now in San Antonio & looking at my military/federal career of 35 years,
The experiences, the people we’ve met all over, are all still very dear,
I’ll always treasure their memories
That the years cannot erase,
For God knew, and I can almost guarantee,
That I was always right there, where I was always meant to be.

Bob Collazo, 2/09/21


 

 

 

 

Share

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *