Celebration of Life

Moving beyond my pain and celebrating life.

Monday, October 27, 2008

One Word Game:

TYPE ONLY 1 WORD. IT'S HARDER THEN YOU THINK!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Your significant other? none
3. Your hair? curly
4. Your mother? strong-willed
5. Your father? masculine
6. Favorite thing? coconut
7. Your dream last night? peaceful
8. Your favorite drink? coffee
9. Your dream/goal? peace
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your fear? wrinkles
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? married
13. Where were you last night? here
14. What you're not? sad
15. Muffins? poppy
16. One of your wish list items? Alaska
17. Where you grew up? Wyoming
18. The last thing you did? laundry
19. What are you wearing? jammies
20. Your TV? small
21. PETS? no
22. Your computer? on
23. Your life? rewarding
24. Your mood? peaceful
25. Dating someone? yes
26. Your car? black
27. Something you're not wearing? shoes
28. Favorite Store? antique
29. Your summer? fun
30. Your favorite color? purple
31. When is the last time you laughed? last night
32. Last time you cried? yesterday

A) FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: Post Office, grocery store, gas station, bathroom
B) FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: Ellie, Rubye, Gary, Tom
C) FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: Meat, Gravy, potatoes, corn
D) FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: mountains, on the back of Gary's motorcycle, sleeping, playing with grand daughters
E) FOUR PEOPLE I THINK WILL CUT AND PASTE: Your choice!

Here's what you're supposed to do...and please don't spoil the fun... cut and paste into your blog...delete my answers, type in your answers and keep the fun going!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

A Friend is someone who will blog for you, when you are unable to...

My daughter Laura is unable to blog at this time so she asked me to post these pictures for her.

Laura and Kyle became friends about 9 years ago; they are like two peas in a pod. Their friendship has endured many trials and miles between them.

Recently, Laura traveled to Cheyenne to spend some time with Kyle.

Kyle, looking good!
Laura and Kyle.


Anaïs Nin:
Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

October 17, 2005




The Dark Abyss


Walking in the sunshine
Everything crisp and white
Not suspecting anything was wrong
Not knowing danger was just ahead

Suddenly, without warning
My world falls out from under me
The ice cracks then breaks
I have been plunged into a dark abyss

It seems I am surrounded by black icy water, I can’t see
I struggle for breath, my lungs ache
My head is spinning, I can’t move
I try not to panic, I can’t think

It would be easy to surrender and die
I call out to my maker, Oh God, save me!
I see a light; I find a pocket of air
I can breathe, I can survive

Somehow I find the break in the ice
I am helped to shore by people who care
Others just watch and gossip
Pointing their fingers and wagging their tongues cruelly

I have a warm blanket of love around my shoulders
I continue to tremble, I have memory loss, I cry uncontrollably
I am thankful I am alive
I don’t know how I will go on with my life

Professionals, family, friends and neighbors reach out to help
I am surrounded by well meaning words
I am bombarded by insensitivity to my circumstances
I am encircled but I feel all alone

The dark abyss is my beloved’s suicide
The black icy water is denial, guilt and mourning
Blindly, numbly I go through the process
Slowly my senses come back

I stand at the edge of the abyss, not wanting to fall
Unsure where forward lies
Frightened of taking a wrong step
Oh, where do I turn?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What a difference three years makes...
My darkness has transformed into light,
My pain has turned to delight;
I have found happiness once again...
And am celebrating life!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Perception

Rocky terrain or fertile soil?
Dead stumps or new growth?
Fading memories or sense of now?
Half empty or half full?

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Silent Witness 2008


This picture was taken this afternoon after the ceremony in the park on my cell phone. I think the sunlight filtering through the trees gives the photo a dramatic affect.
This year the ceremony was a little different. This year we were handed a piece of paper to write a note to our loved one who was murdered. I wrote, "Beckie and boys, we still miss you and love you. Your killer is still in prison. Give Momma a hug for us. Jo, Rubye & Ellie and family." Then that was attached to a sachet around her neck and when the roll call was read, they gave a little biography about each woman murdered. Then we walked in a precession to the town square about 6 blocks away where the Mayor read the Proclamation to End Domestic Violence.
It was a lovely ceremony but I cried most of the way through it. I don't know why I got so emotional all of a sudden but tears are good!
I will continue to hold up my sword against violence and keep marching until I take my last breath! I am a warrior for the cause.
Peace,
Jo