Harald Dunschede

I end each day with a grateful heart

For the blessings from above;

From the warmth and the comfort of our home,

To the special man I love.

For a husband who so able and true,

Loving, caring, yet strong and tough,

Who successfully steered our marriage through

The good, the bad and the rough.

From our humble beginnings with crate décor,

To the cottage on Spar Lake shore,

The Kawartha Heights house with the holes in the wall

It’s crumbling chimney and crawl-space sprawl,

Which you resurrected, to the envy of all.

A new house was built to your blueprint plan

Of three bedrooms, fireplace, windows with view.

Whether as wiring, plumbing or carpenter “crew”

You met every challenge with “yes, I can do.”

You might be landscaping, gardening, doing woodlot care,

Blazing trails through our wetlands everywhere.

Fixing tractors, small motors, doing car repair,

And if not bricking, painting or cabinet making

You could well be found in the kitchen baking.

Many other talents are worthwhile on touching

Like your wine, beer, syrup and marzipan production.

Your accordion, camera and sculpting tools

Show your artistic bent in how they are used.

As our finance accountant and computer technician

You demonstrate real profession.

Our greatest pride, are two children now adults,

Products of joint efforts, our enduring love.

They had a good start here, whatever results,

They can draw on memories as in powers above.

That’s all I’ll say at this time, my dear, although I could go on.

Except I am more grateful year by year

That our love, and our marriage are strong.

Happy birthday, sweetheart, have a wonderful year.

And I’m glad it’s to you I belong.