Friday, April 1, 2011

Change of Attitude

Haiku My Heart
April 1, 2011



Haiku My Heart is presented by Rebecca who pens the recuerda mi corazon blog. Every Friday there is Haiku. Take a look for yourself and be amazed, or go and find out how to participate and be amazed.



          
Young souls, water flows
Little honey together
Even love still flows 

This past week, no, this past month, has been turmoil in my brain. What happens in there affects my heart. I won't even try to explain as I want to leave it all behind. I searched my soul and decided I needed a complete attitude adjustment. I started to work on some creative things that I have made commitments for. Getting my head wrapped around an activity is a pleasant way for me to change the scenery in my puzzled head.

One project involved some photography and that meant searching through old archives of digital and printed photographs. (Wait til you see what I found for Shadow Shot Sunday!). I came across this gem from 1973.


Our camera looked just like this stock photo I found on the internet

It was taken by our then high tech Yashica Electro 35 camera. One of the only items I brought back from my visits to Hong Kong. I used the timer setting and hurried to get back to the "set" to get myself in the picture as we were alone, climbing on the rocks along the Pigeon River at a place called The High Falls.

Where the Pigeon River flows into the Great Lake Superior creates the political boundary between Canada and the United States. Back in the 1970's, access to view the High Falls wasn't available from the US side, as it was private land. But access to a minimum maintenance trail from the Canadian side was. Entry back and forth from the US to Canada and return was a simple matter of a nod of your head when asked if we were citizens of the US or Canada and a quick eye scan check of the back seat for tobacco or booze.

When I saw the photo, I remembered those days. No kids yet in our life. We ventured up along the North Shore of the Great Lake and found this muddy pot-holed gravel mess of a road and drove in to the dead end where we took off on foot to follow the remnants of an old logging sluice to a place right besides the falls.

The High Falls themselves had a drop of 120 feet, (36.5 meters), and would run quite spectacular in Spring. Fall saw them recede a bit depending on the rainfall through the Summer.

We would travel to this place often, and still get there once per year to this day, in August, when we attend the Grand Portage Pow Wow and Rendezvous. I can look at ourselves and how we have aged, yet I see us as the same people. I dove into the beautiful Fall day in 1973. I remembered how much Mrs. Spadoman trusted me and has stayed with me through a lifetime of living together through thick and thin. I recall just earlier this month when we spent three weeks together driving through the Southwest stopping at mountain overlooks and Historic Markers to stand together.

The photo brought me some inner peace.

I will have to use that timer function on our current day camera and recall some of those stops along the highway.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with our theme song. I feel better now. Thanks.


Side By Side
Harry Woods, 1925



Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money,

Maybe we're ragged and funny;
But we'll travel along, singin' a song,
Side by side.

Don't know what's comin' tomorrow,
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow;
But we'll travel the road, sharin' our load,
Side by Side.

Through all kinds of weather,
What if the sky should fall; 
Just as long as we're together,
It doesn't matter,
Doesn't matter at all.

When they've all had their quarrels and parted,
We'll be the same as we started;
Just travelin' along, singin' a song,
Side by Side.



Here's an old recording of Side By Side done sometime in the 1950's


There, now I feel better. I'm praying for the people of Japan and some sick friends and relatives. That seems a better placement of my thoughts today, One Day at a Time.

Peace

20 comments:

Kim Mailhot said...

What a glorious moment of life captured. Sweet honey love still flowing is a beautiful thing, a thing full of hope, and as you said, peace. So glad you have that beauty in your life. It is sure to help you as you work on the attitude changes. It is definitely the best place to start from, I think.
Prayers, light and love to you, Man.

Meri said...

There's something about a shared past that can't be replaced. But the feelings can be revitalized, given the effort.

tami said...

such a sweet moment caught on film. Time moves on and yet the feelings have stayed. You are a lucky man. She is a lucky woman. So happy you have each other. Peace to you on this day.

rebecca said...

my dear friend,

i see you then...and i see you now,
sweet honey flowing right from your heart and radiating out to everyone around you.
i love that you have traveled full circle in your writing and pondering this morning back to center.
and i love that i have had the honor of hearing you and barb sing your theme song together wrapped in each others arms, smiling unabashed.

holding you in love, light and reverence.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

What can I say, this post is beautiful, your photo is beautiful. Your love for each other never ages, never changes - just gets stronger. I wish you both peace and love.

Unknown said...

You have traveled this earth together for a long time...(Mr R and I nearly as long) and it is true, it's a soulful feeling to re-live those moments through photos, even if we look a little bit different.

peace to you too...

Mel said...

*whistling*

Now there's one I know without hitting the link. Geeze....what's THAT tell ya.

And yaknow--it's just too cute, that photo of you and Mrs. Spadoman. I kinda chuckled about setting the timer and running like the dickens to make the shot--sounds much like himself and I the first few years of the LDRelationship. Geeze, that was a fun memory.

I like that you continue to go back year after year. How fun for both of you. And how very cool.

I'm glad things have happened to move you from that space of darkness. Projects do that for me, too. Only I tend to get mine assigned from WPIML who tells me to get OUT of me and how it all feels and go help someone else.
He has a point. LOL I just don't like when he makes it. :-/

(((((((((((( Spadoman )))))))))))))

Good call!
Good choice!


Good man. :-)

mig said...

A lovely photo made all the better by knowing you're still together. And don't you find, if you can think back into the person you were then, that you're still the same person at heart?
Hugs 'Man. Hope you feel calmer and more peaceful.

Noelle Clearwater said...

Hi Joe,
It is a beautiful image of you and Barb together. You are young and have the whole world ahead of you. It is a sweet moment. I think the fact that the both of you have had the grace, love and fortitude to see it through and to support one another speaks volumes about the depth of your nature.
Peace and Love,
Noelle

susan said...

Another great story and a beautiful picture of the two of you. It seems to me the only thing we can really do to take care of the world at large is to take care of those who are close.

Margaret Pangert said...

Isn't it amazing how things turn up just when we need them? Something led you to the old photos... Did you know water is the yogic element for both desire and creativity? Your flow seems lined up. The haiku is so moving and honest. A sweet moment.

Ramesh Sood said...

Well Spadoman.. I am so happy that you can do this.. acceptance and then working on removing all that is not happy.. what else can one expect from oneself as a most delicious gift.. God bless !!!

ms pie said...

i love this journey you are on and thankful that you are sharing with others... happiness a hundred times over flowing... yes, we are praying for japan...

english inukshuk said...

crikey - what a beard!!!!

wonderful photo, wonderful thoughts

(-:

hope you're having a peace filled weekend and a creative one

foxysue said...

Such a beautiful post, full of life as we have come to expect from you. You could have been speaking on our behalf, in fact for couples the world over who have travelled a lifetime together, one being my own parents who would often sing that very same song together!

Love to you both,
sue x

Spadoman said...

Thank you everyone for your very kind comments and your visits here.
It has been a tough week for me, and still working on it, but your words help me see that I am truly blessed.
I appreciate it very much.

Peace to all.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

sweet honey
flowing from the rock
of our love

EG CameraGirl said...

How wonderful that you have been together for such a long time! Kudos!

Dimple said...

I came for your shadow shot, but this post spoke to me.

My childhood family sometimes went on road trips. We would sing the song Side By Side, and others, over and over again. It is a golden memory for me. Thanks for bringing it back!

You and Mrs. Spadoman are blessed to be together. May you enjoy many more years of blessing.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

You should take a photo just like this one in the same place this year. Then you'd really have a 'side by side'! I grew up singing that song with my daddy.
I hope the 'feel better' part stays with you a while.