Margrit's Words....Addressing Jim
Elegy to Mary Azevedo - June 2005
...Julie.....Carissa
Laureen and Kim
And Margrit's words
Addressing Jim
The day a dreary
..One...of June
Its moment...an even
....Greater...gloom
Of death...without
A doubt...expected
...Still..the mind
Outright rejected
The oddity...of
God's will to give
Then snatch away
That right to live
Much.....we fail
....To understand
Yet...clear...the role
Of the fellowman
....An intense glow
Amidst the gloom
...Soothed the soul
That day....in June
...When oxymoron
Lost its meaning
...As joyful sorrow's
Songs were singing
Of Julie....Carissa
...Laureen and Kim
And Margrit's words
..Addressing....Jim
Author's note:
The assignment; Pickup Margrit Mondavi at Robert Mondavi Winery, and drive to late afternoon appointment:
Arriving onsite some minutes ahead of scheduled departure, I reclined in the limo, seizing the moment to unwind a bit from the rigors of an earlier excursion into San Francisco. Alerted by distant voices, I looked up to see Mrs. Mondavi approaching accompanied by an entourage of four co-workers. Exiting the vehicle, I acknowleged their presence, and exchanged a bit of light banter with one of the group. 'Jim said Margrit, I have some bad news. Mary (Mary Azevedo, Robert Mondavi's Adminstrative Assistant) passed away this morning.' I recall closing my eyes, bitting my lip, struggling to maintain composure, sinking ever deeper into the widening abyss of excruciating grief. But just as quickly sensed an oxymoronic relief buoyed by the quintessential gift of friendship demonstrated in the personage of these compassionate folks who in their collective wisdom chose to stand with me in spiritual solidarity during the challenging experience they surmised would be one of my most difficult. Often I visit that overcast day, and still I see them all approaching, their presence ever more celestial than before. Some years ago, I composed the poem 'Margrit's Words Addressing Jim, ' as a note of appreciation, thanking these precious folks whose very existence helped transform a period of paralytic anguish into the luxurious grandeur of consummate bliss.
poem by James B. Earley
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Larry L. Graeber........Memorial Address
August 28,1938 - September 3,2012
Delivered
September 25,2012
At
Michael Mondavi Family Estate
Napa, California
I was born and reared in the rolling hills of Southern Illinois. In 1956, after a four-year stint with the Marine Corps I decided to settle in San Francisco. Come the last week of next month, I will have lived in California fifty-six years. Outside my immediate family, the majority of my relatives are still concentrated in Mid-Western States.
I visit them from time to time. Not as often as I should. Still I think of them frequently, and miss them dearly. Those reflective moments always lead me back to those magnificent days of my childhood, where the whole world it seemed knew me simply as the roly poly little boy named Jimmy.
Much has happened since those days of yesteryear. During the intervening decades, death has laid claim to family. My maternal Grandfather, both my parents, and five of my siblings. Faith leads me to believe a spiritual rebirth awaits, and that one day in that sacred future we will all be re-united...bound together...forever. And through that faith I've come to appreciate that death and dying is a necessary passage through which we all must travel. There is reassurance in the realization that death is merely a finality of the body, but not of the spirit. And in that fashion the dead are destined to live on in the memory, ever closer than before. Within that glorious significance dwells the continuum of life itself. For in that divining moment perception does in fact become reality. One afternoon while exploring, and appreciating the depth of this poignant revelation, I was moved in a fit of anguish to compose the following poem: 'Reality says they've passed away...Is not perception reality..for I feel a living presence...as though they stand...right next to me. Those guiding hands...of long ago...so firm against my brow...as strong, yet gentle...as yesterday...is the warmth...that I know now. That legacy of the distant past...still a mighty roar...memories sustain my soul...and on whose wings I soar...reality says they've passed away...silenced in death and then...perception says they're just as close...and real as way back when.'
I was 21 years Robert Mondavi's driver. A time that brought me intense satisfaction, for I found within the Company an extraordinary sense of family. That association with Mr. Mondavi afforded me the opportunity to meet and greet...getting to know, and becoming friends with scores of folks where otherwise life would have simply passed them by.
As the keeper of the Company Limousine, I was assigned on rare occasions the task of driving varied members of senior staff. It was during one such engagement that I met Larry. From time to time I'd chat with him at the office, or maybe during the random encounter somewhere along the street. I learned to appreciate his radiant sense of life, his wit and intellect, his pride of work, and hearing him speak longingly of avid love of family.
A couple weeks ago Anna informed me of Larry's passing. I messaged her back, offering condolences, and shared this personal story...that excluding family, few folks have ever called me Jimmy. Larry was among the few. Not once asking my permission, it was Jimmy from the moment we first met. And from that day forward, the mere sight of Larry approaching, brought with it an intoxicating sense of pure invigorating joy. That very presence returning me ever nearer.....to home.
poem by James B. Earley
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There are a lot of people with a lot of money, and I'm amazed they don't understand what a great pleasure it can be to give.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Mary, Mary
Words and music by michael nesmith
Mary, mary, where you goin to?
Mary, mary, can I go too.
This one thing I will vow ya,
Id rather die than to live without ya.
Mary, mary, where you goin to?
Mary, mary, tell me truly
What did I do to make you leave me.
Whatever it was I didnt mean to,
You know I never would try and hurt ya.
Mary, mary, where you goin to?
What more, mary, can I do
To prove my love is truly yours?
Ive done more now than a clear-thinkin man would do.
Mary, mary, its not over.
Where you go, I will follow.
til I win your love again
And walk beside you,
But until then.
Mary, mary, where you goin to?
Mary, mary, where you goin to?
Mary, where you goin to?
Mary, mary, mary, mary, mary, where you goin to?
[repeat adlib]
song performed by by Monkees
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My mother served me wine and water from the time I was 3 years old.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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My brother and I had saved $15,000 by working many years nailing fruit crates together.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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We definitely need to get the excitement back.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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We want to raise the art of living well.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Wine has been with civilized man from the beginning.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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This is what I think is very essential... moderation can be good for you.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Also, many consumers consider a critic to be like God Almighty.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Ever since I was a child, I wanted to excel in everything.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Critics have done the wine industry a lot of good overall.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Once I was able to take care of myself and my children, I then wanted to share.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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My wife taught me the importance of living well.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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How beautiful it is to excel, and the goodness of giving from your heart.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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Even more importantly, it's wine, food and the arts. Incorporating those three enhances the quality of life.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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I always knew that food and wine were vital, with my mother being Italian and a good cook.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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If you go back to the Greeks and Romans, they talk about all three - wine, food, and art - as a way of enhancing life.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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I always knew the importance of it, since I was three or four years old my mother used to feed me wine and water. I grew up with wine as liquid food.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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I've always wanted to improve on the idea of living well, In moderation, wine is good for you - mentally, physically, and spiritually.
quote by Robert Mondavi
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