I wrote this when I visited Descanso gardens where my family and I sponsored a rose garden after my Dad passed away back in 1992.

Beautiful garden
full of prolific roses
and colorful butterflies
and green swaying
weeping willows.
Lots of marble plaques,
huge wood structures
and mission gardens
with flowing fountains.
His absolute favorite
place.
A stroll, a lunch
peace amidst the
chaos of his job
at JPL.
He loved nature
greenery and beauty.
What a gorgeous
place,
sometimes so beautiful
it makes you cry.
Roses as far as
the eye can see,
in every color, shape
size and kind.
Such beauty and in
all that beauty there
is a plaque.
To my father:
Chinese Rose garden
In memory of
Donald L. Gordon.
Why Chinese?
Because he loved
all things Asian
and we wanted to
acknowledge his
love of that culture.
his love of nature,
and his love of Descanso
gardens.
So there his memory
plaque rests in one of his
favorite places
shining in marble
amidst all this beauty.
Lost him too soon
to alcoholism,
but that our love
for him continues,
the hope for him
is gone. Was
he loved when he
walked this earth,
the answer is yes.
Always choose
beauty, the past
is perfect,
teaching us what it must.
We cannot change it,
just recognize and acknowledge
that he did the best
he could.
Learn, forgive, and remember
his lessons.
Love you Dad, miss you.

Julie Roberts
January 2017