Bob has Gone

Too soon 

Too quick.

I sat with Bob in the dusty old shed . Plastic chairs. 

Dirt floor. Bottles on the dwangs,

Bolts and tractor parts. Cobwebs wafting from the roof struts.

 Cat mooching around.

Nothing like a cup of tea cupped in the hand.

Chewed the fat. Reminisced.

Invercargill, shearing , cold days, farming, Employment Service days .

Bob always stopping. Taking stock.

Family history.

CMT. Both disciplined in those times and reflecting on todays youth.

Where have things gone wrong?

The vines were gone now. Succumbed to the botrytis and rust , lack of demand , lack of pickers, birds .

No boysenberries in ice cream containers, no trailer full of  red delight and red stains.

All gone now. 

Bob gone now.

I have the memories but its a tragedy . 

Survived the wrath of Gabrielle but not a medical mistake .