Blog 3719 – 01.16.2026

Never At A Loss For Words

Having spent the first thirteen or so years of this particular adventure in time and space as a timid, shy, and retiring boy, I often rehearsed what I might say if I ever found the nerve to speak up. Well, I finally did and as my father before me I have since seldom if ever found myself at a loss for words.

Those of you who have followed this blog for a while know that to be true. I still continue my boyhood practice of continually rehearsing in my mind what I might say or write when I get the next opportunity.

I mentioned in a previous blog that over sixty years ago in typing class in Middle School, what we called Junior High School back then, I discovered my voice, that I did indeed have something to say. While I was supposed to be practicing my typing in class and improving my words per minute ratio, I instead composed love poems to Jan Rider, the object of my affection at aged thirteen. It was she who helped awaken the poet, the writer, in me and I wanted nothing more than to find the right words to convey to her the height, the depth, and width of the feeling that I had for her. I am still rehearsing those words.

The poems that I had typed to Jan were signed, “Your secret admirer” and I folded them and stuffed them through the louvers in her school locker while no one was looking convinced of my anonymity. Silly boy, everyone especially Jan knew that I was completely and totally smitten by her.

Jan was not very impressed by my poetry, yet unbeknownst to me she had shared them with Becky her across the street neighbor who became my first fan and two years later for four wonderful months in the spring and summer of 1965 I proudly acknowledged to all that she was my girlfriend. Becky passed a couple of years ago and I am  rehearsing what I will say to her the next time I see her in some future adventure in time and space.

Never At A Loss For Words

I’m ever ready with a rhyme

Any place and at any time

I take requests, a poet I’m.

No charge at all not a dime.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White