Toast to our health

White conch shell” drawn with colored pencils on paper by Sanford Ross Bender on June, 2015..
“Toast to our health” composed and recorded with voice, guitar, and concertina by Sanford Ross Bender on June 13, 2026.

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Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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I used to wear a gold wedding ring,

Before my wife left me,

I would drift along the shoreline,

My mind sailing a restless sea.

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 Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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I haven’t found a treasure,

From treacherous depths I’ve plumbed,

Except for shells that sparkle,

On shifting beaches I’ve combed,

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Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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I may go down to the Florida Keys,

Where hurricanes abound,

Spinning islands like strings of pearls,  

Wind swept waves tossed around.

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Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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Mangroves and hardwood hammocks,  

Encircling the coral reef periphery,

Moonshine turning turquoise tides,

A quartet in synchrony.

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Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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Let’s toast to our health,

Celebrate nature’s wealth,

It’s so good to be,

Wise and free.

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Lyrics and music by Sanford Ross Bender – June 13, 2026

Blackbird Pond

“Reflection” photographed in Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Sanford Ross Bender on May 22, 2022.
“Blackbird Pond” composed and performed with guitar, banjo, redwing blackbird, and pileated woodpecker on June 4, 2026.

My lawnmower stopped working

“Mending meadow” painted with watercolor and gouache by Sanford Ross Bender on September 3, 2006
“My lawnmower stopped working”composed and performed with vocals and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on May 31 and June 1, 2026.

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My lawnmower stopped working,

So, I let the grass grow high.

My neighbors are complaining,

That it would soon touch the sky.

I always wanted a forest,

And the birds that it would bring.

The minstrels will follow,

The troubadours will sing.

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The lawnmower was the pushing kind.

Like the mower that my father had.

He liked the clinking of the blades,

Without the fumes and noise that was so bad.

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Never had I thought of ghosts before.

But now I am in belief.

My father appeared to mow the lawn,

And now, I can sigh in relief.

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Lyrics and music by Sanford Ross Bender

The magic we made together

“Winding oak” photographed by Sanford Ross Bender in Tyler State Park, Bucks County Pennsylvania on May 16. 2026.

The magic we made together” composed and performed with concertina and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on May 28, 2026.

Sunnier days

“Improvising Cellist” sketched in concert with pen and ink by Sandy Ross Bender on May 17, 2026.
“Sunnier days” improvised and performed with banjo and guitar by Sandy Ross Bender in tribute on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026.

Nicknames

“Ocean” photographed at Island Beach State Park on the New Jersey barrier island coast by Sandy Ross Bender on May 12, 2026.
“Nicknames” composed and performed with guitar and vocals by Sandy Ross Bender on May 15, 2026.

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I’ve always had a nickname,

Sandy is that name,

It hasn’t brought me fortune,

It hasn’t brought me fame.

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A hurricane was named after me,

October two hundred twelve,

A week arrived, before Halloween,

What followed I will not delve.

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A name that puts me at ease,

Despite the havoc caused,

Manhattan was left in shambles,

The city had to pause.

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Here I am before you,

Guitar across my knee,

Reminding you of a storm,

And the power of the sea.

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Lyrics by Sandy Ross Bender

Slow walk home

“Bay wetlands” photographed at Island Beach State Park by Sandy Ross Bender on May 12, 2026.
“Slow walk home” composed and performed with guitar and mandolin by Sandy Ross Bender on May 11, 2026.

In my own time

“Springtime Magic” drawn with ink and painted with watercolors by Sanford Ross Bender
“In my own time” composed and performed with guitar, concertina, and piano by Sanford Ross Bender on May 8, 2026.

Odyssey

“Odyssey” drawn with pen and ink by Sanford Ross Bender in Santorini, Greece .
“Drifting downriver” composed and performed with guitar, concertina, and crash cymbal by Sanford Ross Bender on March 4, 2026.

Calico mandolin

“Calico mandolin” photographed by Sanford Ross Bender on April 29, 2026.
“Just a glimmer” composed and performed with mandolin and guitar by Sanford Ross Bender on April 29, 2026.