I have a new delightful friend,
I'm almost in awe of her.
When we first met I was impressed,
By her bizarre behavior.

That day I had a date with friends,
We met to have some lunch.
Mae had come along with them,
All in all - a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented,
We ordered sandwiches and
soups. Except for Mae who
circumvented, and said, "Ice
cream, please. Two scoops."

I was not sure my ears heard right,
And the others were aghast.
"Along with heated apple pie,"
Mae smiled, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant,
As if people did this all the time.
But when our orders were brought
out, I did not enjoy mine.

I could not take my eyes off Mae,
As her pie ala-mode went down.
The other ladies showed dismay,
They ate their lunches,
and they frowned.

Well, the next time I went out to
eat, I called and invited Mae.
My lunch contained white tuna
meat, She ordered a parfait.

I smiled when her dish I viewed,
She asked if she amused me.
I answered, "Yes, you do,
And you also do confuse me."

"How come you order rich desserts
When I feel I must be sensible?"
She said, with wanton mirth,
"I am tasting all that's possible."

"I try to eat the food I need, And
do the things I should. But life's
so short, my friend, indeed, I hate
missing out on something good."

"This year I realized I was old,"
She grinned, "I've not been this
old before. So, before I die,
I've got to try, Those things
for years I have ignored.

"I've not smelled all the flowers
yet, and too many books I have not
read. There're more fudge sundaes
to woof down, And kites to be
flown overhead."

"There're many malls I have not
shopped, I've not laughed at all
the jokes. I've missed a lot of
Broadway Hits, chips and cokes."

"I want to wade again in water,
And feel ocean spray upon my face.
Sit in a country church once more,
And thank God for His grace."

"I want peanut butter every day,
Spread on my morning toast,
I want un-timed long distance calls,
To the folks I love the most."

"I've not cried at all the movies,
Nor walked in the morning rain.
I need to feel wind in my hair,
I want to fall in love again."

"So, if I choose to have dessert,
Instead of having dinner,
If I should die before nightfall,
You'd have to say I died a winner."

"That I missed out on nothing,
That I had my heart's desire. That
I had that final chocolate mousse,
Before my life expired."

With that, I called the waitress
over, "I've changed my mind it
seems. I want what she is having,"

"Only add some
more whipped cream."

written by Virginia (Ginny) Ellis