Wallets

As my father in law's Alzheimer's progressed he became very concerned with the contents of his wallet. We gave him a pretend credit card, fake money and his driver's license. It made him happy.

My first wallet had a cowboy hat on the face and stitching around the side,
It was stamped in gold lettering as being made from genuine split rawhide.

It carried whatever few coins I had then it zipped my money to safely guard,
And in the ID slot I stuffed my Hopalong Cassidy Jr. Deputy Sheriff card.

My next wallet was one that my father gave to me when I found summer work,
I now had a couple of bucks to stash and my new driver’s license was a perk.

My bride gave me a wallet for my birthday when we were just newly wed,
She wrote a note that she put inside, “let’s fatten this up” is what it said.

So it became fattened with pictures of the kids that made up our family,
And to those photos I added the grandkid’s as grandpa became my identity.

This father’s day I got a wallet and my daughter made two cards to use for my ID,
The first one says that if this wallet is found please return it to room 237 for me.

I don’t know why she made the other one, why I need it I haven’t got a clue,
It explains to anyone that if I am found please take me back there too.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Treetop Avatar
December 4, 2011 at 10:05 PM
Oh Tony you are a clever witty terrific man! Love lizzie
Dietrich Avatar
December 4, 2011 at 4:41 PM
haha. I liked that part about fattening up the wallet. Guess she never meant with kid pictures, did she? I have some really funny things in MY wallet, such a licence for backseat Driver , among others! I just love playful stuff like that. This would make a good contest idea, Tony: talk about your wallet!!
Neels Avatar
December 4, 2011 at 6:30 AM
Your daughter is very thoughtful.. This is one touching write Tony.. I love how you displayed the progression and that each wallet had meaning attached to it.. ;) Wilma
Johnson Avatar
December 3, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Yes i grew up with Hopalong, Tom Mix an a few others, at the saturday matinea, cowboys n indians hey. Wallet is like a security blanket i guess...
A   Avatar
December 3, 2011 at 9:17 AM
nice...pd.
Bauer Avatar
December 3, 2011 at 8:38 AM
very touching! i love the progression in time, all around the topic of a wallet. really nice!
Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
December 3, 2011 at 7:30 AM
Love it Tony xx
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