Life #18: Social Celebration
Today we celebrated the amazing love and commitment of Sam and Soph. It was such a wonderful gathering of family and friends to share in their incredible relationship and relate stories of how very special they are to us all.
The most enduring love, is a parent’s for their kids
Mum and Dad’s affections, are their children’s first dibs
We’ve a wonderful flock
Chips off the old block
Some say spitting images, perfect moulds from older ribs
Welcome to this Love Party, for Sam and lovely Soph
A happy celebration, to share in their betroth
For five years inseparable
Today was inevitable
That we’d all come together, because we love them both
But back when Sam was born, he kept us all waiting
As they took him away, for more incubating
We just peered through the glass
At lots of tubes and a mask
Those very first days, were excruciating
Yet we soon brought him home, as a fine healthy boy
Master Samuel John Holmes, was our delight and joy
Such a cute looking guy
That in his father’s eye
Much the cheeky likeness, of George Jetson’s Elroy
At bedtimes I would sing, Sam nursery rhymes to sleep
Then when finally quiet, out the door I would creep
Treading in slow motion
Until a commotion
When Sam woke with a fright, as those damn floor boards creaked!
Then arriving back home, after work every night
As I walked in the house, Sam would squeal with delight
Toys dropped to the floor
As he ran to the door
Jumping into my arms, that would hug him so tight
Sam had a huge passion, for diggers and trains
So much so that it was, very early ordained
He’d be a train driver
With Abby a book writer
And Milly’s dancing would keep, their passengers entertained
With such imagination, Sam’s reading soon progressed
To ancient dinosaurs, like Tyrannosaurus Rex
Or Velociraptor
He’d recite every chapter
In museums Sam could name them, no need for written text
But in rugby, soccer, tennis, athletics and scouts
While he gave them all a go, he could have left them out
Like in footy, no interest
In a game when I witnessed
Sam digging in the dirt, while play circled all about
But an unfortunate time, when just kicking a ball
Then when leaving a party, jumping over a wall
His knee dislocated
Patella relocated
It was possibly because, he had grown up so tall
Eating noodles and nuggets, as his fast-food desires
Toy guns and bombs, and a fetish for fires
By now computer games
Had overtaken trains
And homework was no more, than the syllabus required
But Sam’s first real love, to lay down on his bed
Was Jack our Jack Russell, when waiting to be fed
Sam’s soulmate, his shadow
His best friend, so mellow
Jack was loved by us all, our glue and common thread
Then along came Ms Sophie Grace Brugliera
The trendiest girl, of the modern era
Her mirror selfie shots
Looking cool from head to Crocs
Her feet so well grounded, on her own firma terra
From our first introduction, I thought Sophie was great
They moved in with me, we lived like house mates
But every week night
Was an early good night
For just in the weekends, would they party until late
Soph and I would often, go running together
Trained for a Half Marathon, a post-COVID endeavour
Or on long coastal walks
Along the way we’d all talk
I knew then that they both, were committed forever
They are joined at the heart, and most seldom apart
Small balcony gardening, grown to a fine art
They have Masters’ degrees
Top universities
The Fulla and Boogers, are eccentrically smart
Sam is gentle and kind, although animals come first
He enjoys my red wine, a sophisticated thirst
Sophie’s focussed and driven
For women, she has striven
A shared social conscience, both politically well-versed
They have a massive tank, for their tropical fish
Together they like cooking, up a magical dish
Or to head off mushrooming
With their tattooed shrooms blooming
But this love congregation, has been their greatest wish
For a celebration, with us family and friends
Here at Studley Park, where the Yarra River bends
It’s a confirmation
It’s a validation
A clear demonstration, how true love can transcend
From their love for each other, to all of us here
For rave parties, DJs, and having a beer
And for dogs big and small
They are drawn to them all
Like their love for Miss Poppy, from floppy ear-to-ear
It is such a privilege, to be known as Sam’s Dad
To reflect on amazing, memories we’ve all had
Both a son and best friend
May these times never end
To share in your future, I’ll be ever so glad
For our lives have whizzed past, in a dizzying whirl
From aspiring train driver, to this wonderful girl
I hope that forever
We can hang out together
As I walk much taller, with you both in my world
Because the most uplifting love, is a father’s for his kids
I’ve loved them all from the time, they were babes in their cribs
And now this daughter I’ve gained
Whom I love just the same
With Sam and Soph in our family … I could not be dead for quids
Kevin Holmes • 5th April 2025
