SAN DIEGO–From Hal's daughter, Harriet Wingard: "Here's this week's song set, honoring Mom's (Eileen Wingard's) big birthday and Mom and Dad's anniversary, December 21st."

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#226 -- The Trip
#228 -- Duet
#282 -- Of Little Note

#226, The Trip

On the trip that some call life,
You and I, as husband/wife,
Have been trav'ling many years,
Sharing joy as well as tears.

On the trip, on the trip, on the trip...called life.

On the go through days and nights,
We have sought the less-known sights.
We've explored the hidden nooks,
Learning life not found in books.

On the trip, on the trip, on the trip...called life.

'Though at times we've disagreed
On direction, means, or speed,
We have somehow kept our course--
Only detours, not divorce.

On the trip, on the trip, on the trip...called life.

With so much to be explored,
How in life can we be bored?
So, together as a pair,
Let's go on, no matter where!

On the trip, on the trip, on the trip...called life

Not too many roads were blocked,
Not too many doors were locked.
On the whole we've traveled well,
With so many tales to tell.

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Eileen, in commemoration of our fortieth wedding anniversary, October 24, 1992. Words completed October 20, 1992, on a United flight from San Francisco to San Diego. Melody created at Noel Porter Conference Center, Lake Tahoe.

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#228, Duet

We love to dance and sing,
But more than anything,
We love to dance and sing as two.
And that's the reason why
We two will always try
To sing and dance our whole life through.

When all is done and said,
We've many years ahead,
Creating steps not danced before.
And when it comes to song,
It never takes us long
To orchestrate a brand new score.

With song and dance a must,
We've learned to build a trust
That leaves no time for us to fret.
Through singing and through dance
We have the best of chance
To be a lifelong love duet.

With all the dance we do,
And all the singing too,
Do we have time for other things? You bet!

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Eileen, in commemoration of our fortieth wedding anniversary. November 24, 1992. Words completed November 23, 1992, on USAir flight from Paris to Philadelphia

#282, Of Little Note

The world will little note nor long remember,
The world will little note nor will it care,
That life for us is sunshine in December,
That love is what has kept us as a pair.

We’ve argued and we’ve suffered disappointment.
Hurt feelings often cry out for repair.
And yet with love to serve as healing ointment
We’ve loved the life together that we share.

We’ve felt neglect we’d rather not remember.
We know how coldness generates despair.
Yet love for us remains the glowing ember
That warms us through our life-long love affair.

The world will little note nor long remember,
The world will little note nor will it care,
That life for us is sunshine in December,
That love is what has kept us as a pair.

(c) 2009 Estate of Hal Wingard; To Eileen, January 22, 2000. Words written January 20, 2000, on flights from San Diego to Sacramento via Los Angeles and expanded two days later at home.

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Hal Wingard died May 25, 2009 at age 83 in San Diego. He was an educator who specialized in methodologies for foreign language teaching and had served on the California State Curriculum Commission. His wife, Eileen, a retired symphony violinist and occasional contributor to San Diego Jewish World, survives him, along with three daughters and a son.