Thought for a Peaceful Soul

Peace
In the early morning mist…
I looked upon the place, that would,
eventually become mine.
I never owned it…nobody really could,
but it was mine, just as time is mine…
if I chose to take it.
Mother Nature took care of the decorating…
Seagulls, sandpipers…
the sand and shells,
scattered in the lazy pattern of last nights tide
which has taken its turn,
rolling in again, at it’s own pace.
I have listened to the gentle, whirling wind and
I’ve seen the brilliance of
the moonlit skies over the sea…
and I claim them as mine…
for the time it is mine to use…
and then it will return to its maker,
for the next adventurer to borrow
to seek their vision,
to find peace…at the shore.

Copyright May 2001

Tamara J. Egan
May 2001

Remembering September 11, 2001

I was talking to a co-worker the other day about a poem I wrote right after the September 11, 2001 attacks. 9-11 has been on my mind all weekend, so I thought I would share. This poem was published in a newsletter, sent to all of the Onondaga County employees on the first anniversary of the attacks. Still, to this day... I don't understand what makes people do these crazy things. What motivates them to do it and how it could ever... make sense to them. My thoughts and prayers are always with those we lost on that terrible day.

A PRAYER
…was the shock, then the hush,
then the awesome silence,
as we tried desperately to absorb,
the magnitude of violence.
…brothers and sisters united,
from all over the world,
their hearts were all breaking,
as a flag was unfurled.
Matters not, that they knew them,
hearts and tears work that way,
they all felt tied to a ‘someone’,
that was lost that fateful day.
Then slowly and sweetly,
silence turned from despair,
we don’t know where it started,
and we don’t really care.
…from high in the mountains,
from one country to another,
in the streets, in the forest,
from your sister to my brother.
The tune is so lovely,
it’s graceful and lyric.
The words speak of peace,
if you’re quiet you’ll hear it.
The world’s people are united,
the message is clear,
a solemn promise to ‘them’,
we will not live in fear…
A concert of devotion,
from fathers and mothers,
to the children we have,
and for the future of all other’s.
It sweeps deep in their hearts,
the song is love for mankind,
the harmonious tune,
plays forever in our minds.
We’ll continue, we’ll go on,
we’ll move forward with our lives.
But we’ll never forget our heroes,
those who gave up their lives…
Our America had been changed
by the events of that day,
for her children, and the parents,
it’s in their honor and their memory we pray.
So…pray to your God,
and I’ll pray to mine,
for the peace that we seek,
is that, which we find.

Copyright
Tamara J. E.

September 22, 2001

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, from my house to yours...

A Full Weekend, A Good Tired and INSPIRATION!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. First, I've been a little under the weather, not so much that it's kept me from work more than a few hours, but enough to be a lot annoying! This time of year, it's tough to avoid the dreaded 'sinus infection' (see what I mean about annoying?). Secondly, I've been trying to figure out what I'm doing on a couple of custom painting projects I've been asked to do.

So, needless to say, I've had plenty of 'down time' to do a little research online for inspiration for those projects. I have found some truly awesome bloggers who are not only talented and inspirational, but downright astounding in their insight into daily 'life' and whole life 'living'.

I started out looking for people who have the same interests as I do and got so engrossed in their journal-like writings, that it was as difficult to stop reading them, as a good book is to put down. I've read a few (blogs) over the past couple of weeks, from their birth through present day.

I've learned that my life isn't so different than any variety of women from all parts of the country. Incredibly, we have a lot in common. Our ups and downs run parallel in so many ways it's hard to imagine. Our coping skills, which, maybe were not so 'honed' in our younger years, we found had grown along with us and had expanded to encompass our sorrows and heartaches. Things we couldn't imagine having to deal with, suddenly came up front and center in our lives and we were forced to not only accept, but to deal with them, in a way that would allow us to function, learn and grow from them.

Women are incredible creatures. They nurture, teach and love unconditionally and without prejudice. They don't necessarily care if it's returned (although it's preferable). They bandage cuts and scrapes, mend broken hearts, find missing things, make incredible works of art and soothe the savage beasts that somehow make it into sleepless nights. They can make sound decisions on the fly and can deal with any 'fall-out' that might follow without flinching. They organize, keep, decorate, warm up, a 'house' until it becomes a 'home'. They can make you feel like you're the smartest, luckiest, funniest, most talented and most important friend in the world, even on your worst day.

I am so happy to have 'met' you all and found kinship in your lives. Inspiration is such a small word for what I've gained in reading your words. Thank you!

Spring...new beginnings, fresh starts...

SPRING....new beginnings, fresh starts and all that goes with it. That's where we are. Mother Nature is giving us a helping hand. For me it seems that spring is a better time for renewal than the new year. It's when the air is freshly washed and the soil has been turned to reveal new growth. We "spring clean" to invoke a sense of cleanliness, why not 'clean' ourselves of the old and renew our attitudes? Seems to me it's should be a regular part of our spring ritual. Enjoy your spring and do whatever it is that makes you the best you can be....

FOOTSTEPS
Slowly, methodically,
I retraced my footsteps,
reached far back into my memory,
remembered the moments of my life.
I looked for the where’s, when’s,
the what’s, and how’s,
the who’s and why’s,
that brought me to today.
I needed to find out what shaped me,
molded me, into the person I am.
The trip down memory lane made me realize
that I didn’t regret a moment of my life.
I didn’t want to change anything at all,
because changing only one moment,
one decision, would have changed
not only my life, but the lives of those I love.
When I reached my destination,
It was clear to me who I am,
And I was pleased to have taken the journey.

copyright

Tamara J.E.

August 12, 2001

Finally...traces of spring

I opened my mailbox this afternoon to find a catalog from WhiteFlower Farm! That means, in my mind, that Spring is just around the corner. I've been getting emails from nurseries, but to see this one, in my hand ... just about made my day.

I've had one of those annoying colds the past few days and I am so tired of it. I'm hoping that it's on the way out. I left the office early and slept for a couple of hours this afternoon. Well, it can't hurt...can it?

That's all for now......

I have a lot of stuff to do...

I've got lots of stuff to do. It's high time I was making spring plans for my garden beds. I've been looking, somewhat lazily, at catalogs. SpringHill always comes, Whiteflower Farms has a great selection of flowers and plants. Of course, there's always Jackson-Perkins to put a little more on the table of possibilities.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year...add a little here, move something there...completely change something. I'd like to add a small patio, but that's a whole 'nother story. My neighbor (and landlord) has a daughter that is a landscape architect. I'm kind of keeping an eye out for her (she lives a couple hours away and visits often). She and I 'consult' a lot. My landlord is great about anything I want to do. I think he just figures that anything I do probably adds value and let's face it...he doesn't have to do it. Win, win situation. I've lived here for almost 14 years...I'd say we have a pretty good understanding.

Well, the newest catalogs should arrive anytime now. I can get that plan of action in my head and make a few 'changes'.