Shawnee Mission West High School
Class of 1966
Garth Jensen
Residing In | Mobile, AL USA |
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Spouse/Partner | Paula (Woodruff) Jensen |
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Occupation | Dept of Homeland security, US Coast Guard |
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Children | Michelle, born 1971 Cody, born 1976 Kalan, born 1981 |
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Military Service | Coast Guard |
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Garth's Latest Interactions
Posted on: Feb 06, 2024 at 3:33 AM
Posted on: Feb 06, 2023 at 3:33 AM
Posted on: Feb 06, 2022 at 3:33 AM
Posted on: Feb 06, 2021 at 3:33 AM
Posted on: Feb 06, 2020 at 3:36 AM
Posted on: Feb 06, 2019 at 3:33 AM
Posted on: Mar 22, 2018 at 5:00 AM
This poem or whatever you want to call it, is for those that have reached that pinnacle or are about to enter that "Twilight Zone" of life.
Seventy
My last day of being young; no Birthday songs will be sung.
Now I’m old and almost dead or is this only in my head?
I am old and flabby and whole lot crabby and I am looking just a little shabby.
These old bones provide me aches and pains but I can still use my brains.
All of my memories and my scars will be added to my memoirs.
Old maybe but I’m not sure; maybe someone can come up with a cure.
From being young we have sprung or was this a slip of my tongue?
No slip but all I hear is; don’t fall or might break your hip.
Hey old man do you need a cane or some help; their humor I disdain.
These peacocks they prance and they strut; they forget that I can still kick their butt.
My funny side has been gone for some years and so it appears.
At my age and still at work; is it dedication or is it a quirk?
Seventy! I can’t believe; should I be happy or should I grieve?
Not too much that I can do unless science has a tremendous breakthrough.
Hell, I don’t care; all I can say is, what is fair is fair at least I still have some of my hair.
Wear and tear on this old boy but yes, I can still find some joy.
Depressed, probably not, I still find wisdom in my every thought.
Some twenty years back some black balloons I got; after all of these years I almost forgot.
So many candles on my cake; to put out the flame it would take a lake.
Who needs electricity when the candles will suffice but I will see that you get the first slice.
Well, old is old and it cannot be controlled and on this idea not everyone is sold.
Ready for the rocking chair, oh not quite, those words are often too trite; do you wanna fight?
Spirit alone can make or break; all of this talk is giving me a headache.
What’s the use, there is no sense in becoming a recluse and so what is my excuse.
Anyway, Happy Birthday some will yell but for me I have no time to dwell.
Too much work for me to complete and I had better hurry before I become obsolete!
I had better finish this in a hurry but don’t you worry it’s only my eyes that are getting blurry.
Much better now but I forgot what I was doing or what I happened to be pursuing.
Never mind, it wasn’t fundamental but with this old man you must be gentle.
I am frail and I am old with my teeth full of gold and maybe I am on the threshold.
Nope…you dope, I am not standing on that slippery slope.
I have a long life ahead and no rumors will you spread, because buddy I’m not dead.
Garth Jensen
2018
Posted on: Mar 21, 2018 at 6:41 AM
VIKING
Now that I look back, I have been a Viking, a Rebel, a Cougar and a Lumberjack.
A Griffin too and that I almost forgot; how can that be, just ask me!
The Viking was to my liking and his pose was very striking.
I missed seeing him a few years back but at the time, I had little slack.
The Rebels, traitors they became; now it is Brooks the Bison and that is not the same.
Bison were rare in that desert air; ask the natives that have always lived there.
Political correctness it overcame, so it was decided to change its name.
I do not much care to ever go back there; all of their pride they have tried to hide.
As for a Cougar that roams free in the mountains near; should we run in fear?
Probably not since, they didn’t change their name; for many years, they have been tame.
What can I say about this school, it was ok but not very cool; no party-time by the pool?
Rules and regulations this was a place with high expectations.
Lumberjack, a Paul Bunyan type; he is not your normal stereotype beyond all of the hype.
Among the canyons and the peaks and where the blowing wind speaks.
Geology abound and beauty all around and with lush forests that surround.
A great place to teach and learn and someday I want to return.
The Griffin a mighty beast but this place was way too liberal to say the least.
It fit my needs as a temporary source and it kept me on my course.
Use of the Griffin was not a good choice and when I left, I wanted to rejoice.
They wanted to change the way that I thought but I got the training that I sought.
I had some good teachers and some that would just tolerate me and most would agree.
Not all of my education came from school; I got some the hard way, which was cruel.
As a rule, I am still learning and I will keep trying as long as my mind will keep on turning.
The Viking was my beginning but now I am in my eighth inning.
As a Viking will I get one more fight; I don’t know I’ll try with all of my might.
I suppose adventure is out of sight but I can sit in my easy chair and continue to write.
I will need to think this all through because there is still much that I want to do.
Therefore, a Viking I am and adventure I do seek and to stop would be for the weak.
Garth Jensen
2018
VIKING
Now that I look back, I have been a Viking, a Rebel, a Cougar and a Lumberjack.
A Griffin too and that I almost forgot; how can that be, just ask me!
The Viking was to my liking and his pose was very striking.
I missed seeing him a few years back but at the time, I had little slack.
The Rebels, traitors they became; now it is Brooks the Bison and that is not the same.
Bison were rare in that desert air; ask the natives that have always lived there.
Political correctness it overcame, so it was decided to change its name.
I do not much care to ever go back there; all of their pride they have tried to hide.
As for a Cougar that roams free in the mountains near; should we run in fear?
Probably not since, they didn’t change their name; for many years, they have been tame.
What can I say about this school, it was ok but not very cool; no party-time by the pool?
Rules and regulations this was a place with high expectations.
Lumberjack, a Paul Bunyan type; he is not your normal stereotype beyond all of the hype.
Among the canyons and the peaks and where the blowing wind speaks.
Geology abound and beauty all around and with lush forests that surround.
A great place to teach and learn and someday I want to return.
The Griffin a mighty beast but this place was way too liberal to say the least.
It fit my needs as a temporary source and it kept me on my course.
Use of the Griffin was not a good choice and when I left, I wanted to rejoice.
They wanted to change the way that I thought but I got the training that I sought.
I had some good teachers and some that would just tolerate me and most would agree.
Not all of my education came from school; I got some the hard way, which was cruel.
As a rule, I am still learning and I will keep trying as long as my mind will keep on turning.
The Viking was my beginning but now I am in my eighth inning.
As a Viking will I get one more fight; I don’t know I’ll try with all of my might.
I suppose adventure is out of sight but I can sit in my easy chair and continue to write.
I will need to think this all through because there is still much that I want to do.
Therefore, a Viking I am and adventure I do seek and to stop would be for the weak.
Garth Jensen
2018
Posted on: Feb 06, 2017 at 3:33 AM