Mexico City, May 2025

The walk from the Bosque de Chapultepec to the Museo Nacional de Antropologia

 

In the Bosque de Chapultepec

From the Avenida Constituentes

Pausing at the entry gate, then

Walking a snake’s winding path, through

Foliage of acacia, pine, holm oak, cypress

Dense, fragrant, sweetness, lungs of the city

A light breeze cools the aromatic air

A Howler monkey heard in the distance

Whispers of Nahuatl amongst the trees

The castle on Grasshopper Hill

Haunt of many leaders; the Aztec aristocracy,

Lazaro Cardenas, Emperor Maximilian,

The elite, risen in glory, fallen into dust

Yet the forest lives on in a mighty breath

Light and shade envelopes us all,

 

Finally, the pace changes at the Museum

Treasures locked behind plate glass

Monumental ages seen in minutes

History is caught, dried, and preserved

The jigsaw fragments of the past

Coalesce into the jade mask of Pakal

K’inich Janaab Pakal, Ajaw of Palenque

Mayan Corn-Flower, shield, astronaut!

Continued living as a deified god

Yet the carefully constructed mask

Hides death entombed in a sarcophagus,

A rock slab engraved for all time

From his body a tree, double headed serpent

Along the white path of death

A map of the entire cosmos with

Ancestors reborn as trees

Hidden in the Temple of Inscriptions.

 

A single solitary butterfly in the courtyard

The soul of a loved-one

Pausing for a breath in the humid heat

A visitor from Heaven, for a moment.

 

All Rights Reserved / Copyright David John Drew, May 2025

Photo: National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Funerary mask of king Pakal of Palenque, by Wolfgang Sauber

The Drew-Harrell Annual Christmas Newsletter of 2024

And Life goes on... Kamala Harris and Tim Walz lay cruelly defeated in a massive victory by Donald J. Trump and his henchmen. We can only imagine in our nightmares what the coming year of 2025 will bring in the political world of America.

It has been an eventfully calm year. David continues to work in security at the Denver Art Museum, celebrating a 2^nd anniversary with them. David was awarded a grant of $2,500 under the Staff Development Program by the Museum to study Spanish in Mexico City in 2025. He reached the big ‘60’ in December. In May, David and Kim visited their friends, Odmar Sandvik and Deidre Smith in Bergen, Norway, and had a wonderful time there. Kim started teaching at MSU Denver as an affiliate instructor in Jewelry and silversmithing. She won first prize for a necklace ‘Tranquility’ at the Colorado State Fair. Another necklace, ‘Pink Moon’ was accepted into the juried triennial exhibition of Colorado Artists, The Art of the State for 2025. In the home improvement department, they invested in a new carpet for the basement, and since moving into the home in 2009, it has quadrupled in value.

 

Mario and Bea made a radical life commitment and bought a new house in the Del Mar district of Aurora. Mario left his work in hotel and hospitality for a promising career in maintenance with Aurora Public Schools, whilst Bea continues to work as an art teacher in middle school. Bea had her first exhibition at an art market – selling her hand-crafted pottery items. Mario has started his immigration paperwork on the journey to resident status.

 

Hannah celebrated her 21^st birthday and her 1^st anniversary with her boyfriend, Noah – she moved in with him into their downtown apartment in Denver, together with their two cats, Tiggy and Pepper. Hannah started a new job at the Denver Athletic Club, caring for children. Noah continues to study computer technology and cyber-security. 

 

Bella left her coffee industry career at Dutch Bros and started work as an associate at the 5 Star Salt Caves Spa in Denver, and she is planning to study to become a massage therapist – starting a course in January 2025. She bought her first car in May, a red Subaru Forester which she has called ‘Rubi.’ Bella also ended her position as a property manager and moved back into the family home. One of her most important achievements of 2024 was to jump start a traffic calming program (NTCP) in our neighborhood of Aurora, after Mario’s family were victims to an accident on our street. Mommy helped to get a petition signed by residents – and Bella pushed all the information through in an application to Aurora’s Traffic Manager. This will ensure that traffic restrictions are put in place to protect the rights of pedestrians.

 

Best wishes, happy holidays, and a happy New Year from

 

David, Kim, Bea & Mario, Bella, Hannah & Noah

RIP Robert Law

We are very sorry to hear the news of the death of Bob Law.  

23948501 Sgt Robert (Bob) Law died on Thursday 14th November 2024.

 

Bob served with 23 PFA from 1965 to 1974, however he spent a good number of years outside of the PFA. 1967 he was a medic with 1 Para in Aden, with 3 Para in NI and Cyprus 1970 -1974, before going back to 23 PFA. He then took part in the Gulf War posted to the Grenadier Guards and served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait.

 

Bob was a member of the PRA, but not connected to any branch, Bob and his wife Rose were inseparable in life and both strong members of 23/144 PFA OCA. They attended many events including trips to Arnhem and Normandy as well as the battalion reunions and Regimental events. 

The funeral will take place at 13:30hrs on Friday 13 December 2024.

 

The quiet rage simmers slowly

Heart and mind turning over

While death smiles at us all

Fighting every ounce of fate

Crumbling into a dark oblivion

But not before one final reach

To prove worthy of the infinite

Heaven smiles on your head

The dawn opens a path forward

The Angels rejoice in your effort

Forever homeward bound

 

All Rights Reserved / Copyright 2024 / David John Drew

Anthony Edward Wise Cooper RIP

 

In Memory of Anthony Edward Wise Cooper (07/09/1941 - 13/08/2023)

A discerning old chap named Cooper

Was a top-notch academic trooper,

Medieval Spanish castle he sought,

At Liverpool & Sir John Cass he taught -

And at tennis he was quite simply super!

All Rights Reserved & Copyright

Colonel (Retd) David Parker - RIP

In the memory of Colonel (Retd) David Parker, 2nd November 1942 - 28th December 2023

 

Parker’s delight

Wings in flight,

 

His heart borne 

The best air worn,

 

In the skies above

A parachute love,

 

Never to rest

Always blessed,

 

In majestic peace

To honour’s increase.

 

Colonel David Charles Parker, Rest in Peace.

Rapture

 

Rapture

 

Slowly rises the bright and glorious Morning Star,

That plays melodious and sweet within the soul...

Our savior comes with fragrant winds from afar;

In true blinding vision that our hearts & lips extol.

 

He is Immanuel, beloved & cherished in our sight,

A redeemer who paid the full price for our life...

With thousands of Angels, He is girded with might

Chasing away all the heartache, suffering and strife.

 

Descending downward through gold drenched cloud,

With mighty trumpet blast He is earthward bound...

In a spectacular display of light His love is avowed;

Our hearts lifted high with a majestic sound.

All Rights Reserved & Copyright - David John Drew 2023

Charles Tagaki Birthday Salutation

Happy Birthday Charles Tagaki:

Charles the friends’ breath is thrice sure

Charged and bold like the noble Samurai

Composer of Haiku to the worlds wonder

Borne of the Pacific isles, this gentle Tagaki

Roaming amongst the ancient Romanians

Rising melodically through American States

Aristocratic in rank, one blessed to the core

His step is slow & sure, like on firm ground

He is to be valued as a true soul’s friend.

All Rights Reserved & Copyright // David John Drew // 2023