Thursday, April 14, 2011

Fondness of the Heart

Haiku My Heart
April 15, 2011


Haiku My Heart is a wonderful Meme project started by Rebecca of recuerda mi corazon. Take a look at the beautiful photos and haiku and find out how you can participate in Haiku My Heart.








Sand on stretched out toes
Plump clouds dancing in the sky
Peace on earth, here, now


I like this photo. It is from a few years ago at a beach on the Great Lake Superior. We were on Madeline Island with friends that had come many miles to visit us.
Madeline Island is part of the Apostle Islands. You can see the area where we were on the map.

You have to take a ferry boat to get to the island. The entire lakeshore is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Once there, you’ll find a few shops and a few houses scattered about. There is also the Big Bay State Park.
This photo was taken along a stretch of beach at Big Bay State Park. Two friends out for a walk, feeling the cool sand beneath their feet. Talking, laughing, reliving memories from so many years ago. The birthin’ and the buryin’ of children, relatives and friends.

I needed a lift and seeing these friends enjoying themselves on the beach in this three year old photo, and remembering the laughter and great conversation later that evening, I feel better. I was feeling a little blue as I visited my Uncle while traveling through the Chicago area on my way to Atlanta.


My Uncle is preparing to leave this world and take that final journey. I remember Uncle Willis as a warm, compassionate fun loving human being. As he closes in on his departure, he is showing exceptional courage and teaching us all just how to keep dignity through a difficult time.
My thoughts and prayers are for our family and for Uncle Willis’s journey to be easy and peaceful. I’m also thinking of good friends meeting and exchanging memories and laughter. Making me aware that I need to take time out from ‘problems’ and live a little, like those two friends at the beach.
Peace
at

22 comments:

  1. GrammyApril 14, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    My thought and prayer are with him, you and your family. Sending a big hug and lots of love to all.

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  2. Deann LMFTApril 14, 2011 at 11:07 PM

    My heart and prayers are also with you. I hope you are able to keep finding ways to cope Much love.

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  3. AnonymousApril 14, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Great photo. Great haiku. Very moving post. Thanks for this.

    Best wishes, Boonie

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  4. Ramesh SoodApril 15, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    May God be nice to your uncle...and make it peaceful and comfortable for him.. I am sure he must have lived and still living a happy life..

    Your haiku and pictures is Pure Happiness .. :))) Thanks for the gems..

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  5. A Bit of the BlarneyApril 15, 2011 at 4:44 AM

    Such a tender loving post. May God attend your uncle on his journey and may he bless you all! Cathy

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  6. JeannieApril 15, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    Superior is the only Great Lake I've yet to see. Or stick a toe in. I would have said swim but I don't recall actually swimming in Lake Ontario.

    I hope your uncle passes easily.

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  7. LeslieApril 15, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    Such a beautiful photo... may your uncle have all he needs as he takes this final journey. And may you be comforted in your sorrow...

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  8. rebeccaApril 15, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    yes. may the voice of leave taking be filled with trust and sweetened with grace. reminding us all to live a life well lived straight from our heart.

    peace...

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  9. somepinkflowersApril 15, 2011 at 7:17 AM

    sending now
    a Grand Salute
    to your Uncle Willis...

    may we all
    be so well~loved
    and remembered
    whilst we are still up & walking
    &
    then
    later on...

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  10. Kim MailhotApril 15, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    I have been blessed to be soaking up life at the ocean's edge this week. I have thought quite a few times about some friends who are suffering and/or dealing with some "problems", and then tried extra hard to soak it up even more in their honor. seems like the right thing to do.
    Sending light, love and prayers your way, Man.

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  11. GYamatoApril 15, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    drained of things to say
    content to simply take in
    beauty you have shared

    thank you for lovely depth

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  12. UnknownApril 15, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    "peace on earth .... here, now" .... I would like to stop and realize that many many times in each day. Beautiful thought.

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  13. MelApril 15, 2011 at 5:04 PM

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

    We learn a whole lot about living from the dying.

    I'm sure Uncle Willis is well loved and loved well.
    You take care of you, sir.
    And love 'em while ya got 'em.

    You do that well, even if you don't always recognize that.

    And yes, above all--Peace.

    *hugs*
    Thinking of you.
    Sending prayers of thanksgiving.

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  14. gmaApril 15, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Peace starts here within now.
    Wishing that for your Uncle
    for you
    for us all.

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  15. MeriApril 15, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Holding you all in my heart.

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  16. Magical Mystical TeacherApril 15, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Peace does come here and now, Spadoman, and as you have found out, we are its instruments.

    Lonely Sentinel

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  17. Noelle ClearwaterApril 15, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    Dear Joe,
    May your Uncle's passing be peaceful and easy, so that he soon may be allowed to feel the cool sand beneath his feet and enjoy laughter and good conversation with old friends who have gone before him. I pray for your family and for you at this time that the Compassionate One surrounds you with Love and Peace.
    Noelle

    III.

    As timely as a river
    God's timeless life passes
    Into this world. It passes
    Through bodies, giving life,
    And past them, giving death.
    The secret fish leaps up
    Into the light and is
    Again darkened. The sun
    Comes from the dark, it lights
    The always passing river,
    Shines on the great-branched tree,
    And goes. Longing and dark,
    We are completely filled
    With breath of love, in us
    Forever incomplete.

    ~ Wendell Berry ~

    (Given)

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  18. ChristopherApril 16, 2011 at 3:57 AM

    *thinks kindly, supportive thoughts from the mens' room*

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  19. Margaret PangertApril 16, 2011 at 12:43 PM

    I'm glad you have such fond memories of your uncle; hold on to them. Greg Corso wrote something very beautiful and insightful for his own passing:
    Spirit
    is life
    it flows thru
    the death of me
    endlessly
    like a river
    unafraid
    of being the sea
    Your beautiful photo and haiku must bring you solace. Hope your get back there! Peace to you.

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  20. SpadomanApril 16, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    I don't know how to begin to say Thank You to all for the wonderful and kind comments.
    I wrote and asked Rebecca to post this on her Haiku blogroll as I am traveling and very busy.
    I promise to make it up to all of you as soon as I get home mid week next.
    I love you all very much.

    Peace

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  21. PamelaApril 18, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Didn't realize you left for GA. Safe journey to you my friend. My thoughts and prayers for your family and for your Uncle Willis, for an easy and peaceful journey. Beautiful photo of two friends on the beach under the magnitudinous wonder of sky and cloud. Hope all goes good in Atlanta GA for reunion of the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society. That sounds tough so be patient with yourself, you know how to take care of yourself. I'll work on some antics to make you laugh when you get back but nothing that requires bail money okay? I see the laughter bubbling up in you right now...yep there it comes. Don't forget to breath (smile) and stay away from hinky places. Peace brother.

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  22. migApril 20, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    You have such lovely place names. Are there 12 islands?
    I like to think of you taking time out to live a little. Though it does seem to me that you live a lot whether or not you're taking time out.
    I was taught at Art college to use the whole canvas - I think you are one of those who use the whole canvas of life and use it and appreciate it more fully than most.

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