Dawn Turns to Day, and Nothing Gold Can Stay

Poetry here by Robert Frost, and "Nothing Gold Can Stay" presented in an early, pre-publication form.

My uncle Van passed away this weekend. He was a fun guy, had a good sense of humor [and red hair - can ya see we're related?] Sylvan Earl Wallace. Van was born in Alva, Oklahoma, on June 6th of 1932; the family was from Wichita but during the Great Depression had gone down to OK to farm. He hated being referred to as "Sylvan"; much preferring "Van".

Van was a big Arkansas Razorback fan, having settled in Bentonville, Arkansas [yes, he worked for Wal-Mart and met Sam Walton, whom he always referred to as "Mr. Sam"]. Being an alumnus and huge fan of the Florida Gators, I always gave Unk a lot of guff [like sending him postcards from Florida Field :-)]; naturally, he felt the same about his team.

I'll miss Uncle Van, and my condolences go out to my dear Auntie Rene [Florene, but she prefers the shortened version just as her husband preferred with his own name] and the family.

Here's some words from Robert Frost which I find apropos:

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leafs a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

In autumn she achieves
A still more golden blaze
But nothing golden stays.