What is your name : Lori Mathios

Who do you want the poem written for: Daughter's (Ashley) Bat Mitzvah Candle Lighting Speech

Why do you want the poem written: same as above

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): meaningful, fun, funny (except for memorial candle, that should be serious)

Please choose which package you would prefer : Economy

Would you like a copy of the handwritten drafts : No

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: Candle 1 - Memorial Candle - Great Grandma Leah Mathios, Great Grandma Alice Alt, Great Nana Evelyn Theobald, Phil Metzger (grandmothers cousins' husband-not sure what that makes him) & Great Uncle Bud (just passed away Oct. 2, 2006)

Candle 2 – Mom & Dad’s good friends – Some of you I’ve known since day one, others not quite as long. But you’re all special to my family and me.

Candle 3 – Our Havurah. This is the group from our synagogue that we’ve been together with for 6 years. We get together at various times throughout the year. Apple picking in Julian, bowling, hiking, swim & BBQ’s, break the fast dinners, Chanukah parties, theater, lunch, dinner, name it we’ve done it.

Candle 4 – About 20 kids. Two she’s known since she was 1, some since kindergarten (Dingeman Elementary) some since 5th grade (Mt. Woodson Elementary) & Hebrew School at (Temple Adat Shalom)

Candle 5 – East Coast out of towners. One is her best friend Kate. She moved to Virginia in Feb 06, but still considers her one of her best friends. The other three (Adel Kleid & Bobbie & Steve Bernstein) who she doesn’t know very well but are cousins of her grandfather.

Candle 6 – West Coast out of towners – about 15 people. Mostly family (second cousins) and long time family friends.

Candle 7 – Bill, Jane & Carly Alt – Bill & Jane are Great Aunt & Uncle, Carly is her second cousin. They live in the state of Washington. We don’t see them very often but we enjoy them very much when we do.

Candle 8 - Rachel & Jerry Countess – Great, Great Aunt & Uncle. They live in Las Vegas. They’ve hosted many family reunions and Thanksgiving. We also want to remember Great, Great Esther Harris who desperately wanted to be here today but could not make the trip because she is 93 years old.

Candle 9 – Great Aunt Judy, Great Aunt Esther, Cousins Deb, Adam, Kathy, Dave, Aaron, Emily & Mick. Three live in New Hampshire, one in Canada, the rest in Northern California. We see them on occasion (not nearly enough) but do our best to stay in touch.

Candle 10 – Uncle Devin, Aunt Sharon & cousins Alex (4 yrs) & Lauren (1 yr). Thanks for all the great times. Many family celebrations. Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Chrismukkah (that’s Christmas & Hanukkah combined).

Candle 11 – Nana Janet. Lives in Melrose Massachusetts. They have a close relationship, talk on the phone every week. They enjoy going ice skating, going to the cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee, Julian, shopping, hiking,

Candle 12 – Grammy & Granddaddy – You’ve always been there for me, you’ve helped raise me. You’ve participated in my religious education (provided many rides to religious school, helped tutor in Hebrew, accompanied me to the synagogue). The activities are too long to list. They are very close to the Bat Mitzvah girl.

Candle 13- Mom & Dad. Not sure what to say here. The three of us are very close. Highlight trip includes Italy in 2004. Biggest cheerleaders at all my sporting events. Mom volunteers at school, Dad taught me how to mountain bike.

Candle 14- Ashley (the Bat Mitzvah Girl). And then there’s me the Bat Mitzvah girl. I can’t tell you how much it means that you’re all here to celebrate my special day.

 So Much Love

Ladies and gentlemen, friends, family,
thanks for being with me here tonight,
and there are a few words that I'd like to say,
as each candle I lovingly and carefully light:

Of course, our flames will all burn eternally,
as do the Greats: Leah, Alice, Evelyn, Ike, Bud and Phil,
and I know that they are here with us tonight,
I know that they care for me, I know they always will.

Now, this candle is for Mom and Dad's good friends,
some of you I have known since literally day one,
yes, there are others where it hasn't been quite so long,
but to everyone of you, thanks for making life so much fun.

This one is for our magnificent Havurah,
do you know, we've been together for six years?
Apple picking, bowling, hiking, swimming, BBQs,
you name it, we've done it (with no tantrums and very few tears).

This candle should really be split into many facets,
but we'd have to call the fire brigade with so many flames,
Allie, Alonzo, Brittany, friends from Dingeman, Mt. Woodson and the Temple,
well, you're all special (and just too many for individual names).

This one is for the East Coast out of towners,
and one of those happens to be my best friend Kate,
but here's also to cousin Adel, Bobbie and Steve,
being nice people appears to be a family trait.

Of course, I couldn't forget the West Coast out of towners,
about 21 in all, mostly family and long time family friends,
just know that, coast to coast, you mean a lot to us,
and I hope to tell you that before these lines have their ends.

Now of course, I can't forget Bill, Jane, John, Jen, Ashley, Bailey, Abbie & Carly,
we don't see them often but it is so good when we meet,
they live in the state of Washington, but actually,
I'd like to state as family go, they're hard to beat.

I light this one for Rachel and Jerry from Vegas,
and Esther Harris wanted to be here, but she is 93 years old,
but thanks for hosting so many family reunions, and I know,
at your Thanksgivings, many a great family story gets told.

Candle Nine is for Judy, Esther, Deb, Adam,
Kathy, Dave, Aaron, Emily and Mick,
I know we see you only occasionally, but,
it's not nearly enough, so let's do it again, quick!

Devin, Sharon, Alex, Lauren, I say thank you,
thanks for all the family celebrations, many great times,
Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Birthdays, Chrismukkah,
you've helped to put many reasons in our rhymes.

Candle Eleven is just for Nana Janet on her own,
we are very close and we talk every week on the phone,
we enjoy going ice skating and to the cottage on the lake,
and with Nana in my life, I know I'm never alone.

Candle Twelve is for Grammy and Granddaddy,
what can I say? You've always been there for me,
you've helped raise me, helped with my religious education,
in so many ways, you've made my world a better place to be.

It is a good job that I am not superstitious,
because number thirteen is for my mom and dad,
they've been the biggest cheerleaders in my life,
in truth, the best parents any girl's ever had.

And of course, this candle is just for me,
yes, I feel I'm the luckiest girl on planet Earth,
it means so much to me that you're all here,
yes, indeed, I do know your true and honest worth.

And really, I just wanted to say thank you,
because there burning brightly, is just so much love,
and I know I have been blessed to have shared you,
I know that I've been blessed by the heavens above.

Copyright Allen Jesson 2006
www.agiftofpoetry.com