a day to remember the precious ground upon which our feet trod and the grass or sand that covers it
a day to get hands dirty, pulling weeds, trimming trees, listening to the water as it tumbles into the stream
find a place of stillness and go within, a face in the sun, a face in the wind
say thank you and plant another tree, flower, bush, or seed
enjoy your earth, your garden, your tree
The prompt was to re-write an obituary
Ethel Marie Shamoon Henry, married and Catholic, daughter of two and Situ to one, died age 89 of complications while agonizing over the last pages of her memoir. She couldn’t remember the details upon which she left her home at age 16, mentally or 17, physically? She never understood her life not turning out the way she dreamed – college educated, managing her own business, traveling the globe. Ethel was tired.
She was tired of this story. Tired of her life without the education she longed for and the places she wanted to live and traveled after she’d raised her own children, she was just tired!
Her REAL exhaustion came when she decided to prepare her own obituary and thought to herself – dang woman – haven’t you had enough? When will you begin living the life you wanted? Dreamed of? Longed for? Or, have you been all along, but just hadn’t noticed it in full? Give it up! Turn it over! Live this day the way you want – with whom you want – say what you mean – but, DON’T say it mean! Life is short! Remember, your last sunset. Your last words to those closest to you. The last color you saw. The last bird you heard. The last smile you smiled, The last laugh you laughed. The last prayer you uttered. Remember, smile, laugh and move on.
Move on to TODAY! Are you ready? She opened her eyes while lying peacefully in a down covered hammock next to her pond and waterfall oasis, gazed up at the clouds and said – Yes! It’s been a good life! A Full life! I have loved. I have been loved. I’ve colored, created art and captured. I’ve said what I wanted to say, traveled much, walked and hiked often. And I married a man who loved me until my dying breath. I’m ready.
Just then, her eyes closed again, and this time, she had a soft, childlike smile upon her face, the sun was setting in the west with a rainbow of colors like the one she’d seen so many years ago upon Max Patch. As she exhaled her last breath. Finally, Ethel was at peace and rest. – Amen.
Services will be held in the local Catholic Church with On Eagle’s Wings playing as she is escorted to the grave site of her beloved sister, Roxane. All are welcomed to visit now and again. Bring your favorite heart rock and share one with another. Dark chocolate and coffee to be served.
Anita Adams 4/15/19
Bluejays, cardinals, mockingbirds, bluebirds, finches, doves and crows grace the backyard oasis on the first day of spring.
Blooming yellow forsythia and a bank of periwinkle with a Lenten rose in full bloom surround the waterfall as the goldfish swim in the pond below.
Grateful for ears that hear and eyes that see.
Grateful for Spring and all that spring brings.
~ Anita Adams 3/20/19
So much to do – so little time – art on the side.
Where to start? – at the beginning of course …
When I was young, plans just formed, play just happened, eyes were bigger, hearts and hands opened wider!
Instruments -paper, pen, pencil was best – as long as an eraser was attached at the end. Drawing commenced with my brothers and me – whatever we pleased. Watching Looney Tunes while eating Cocoa-Cocoa Crispies!
What a way to begin a Saturday or Snow Day with chocolate and art at our fingertips!
Art is imagination wide open! A place to explore with paper and pencil, sticks and music by the creek water trickles!
All is possible while looking and listening to one’s surroundings. A piece is created by the art of imagination!
Listening to Joni Mitchell while creating a collage! Two poster boards, magazines, glue, scissors, windows and a jar!
Journal out thoughts – prayers end the day. Then off to bed, dreaming of the next day’s play!
My play days ended far too soon.
However, I still dream of Art on the Side by the light of the crescent moon .
~ Anita Adams 2/23/2019
It’s cold and damp this February morning in the Appalachia mountains – bluejays, cardinals and squirrels are confused by the signs of a very early Spring – scattered with drops of freezing temperatures.
I, too, feel somewhat confused by the seasons lack of consistency . Winter is a necessary part of nesting, creative percolating – a time that’s been interrupted by an climate change.
Will the Spring come too soon and all be destroyed with the many frosts that should be forthcoming?
The word is a question and question is the word.
Where does love go when the light goes out? A question he asked once as a young man in his 60’s . He doesn’t remember asking these days. However, the question is a good one and has remained with me. How to answer this? Love is always present within every human being I believe. For some, a place in the dark could also represent a place of silence, loneliness, or the sound of mental chatter grinding away while one wishes for a lover’s embrace.
As a child, I recall needing two doors left wide open, and a nightlight on at all times in order to feel safe enough to close my eyes and attempt to go to sleep. Where was love in this dark twin bed on the third floor of Macon Avenue?
Why was light the only key to my safety?
Where was love when this light went out?
~ Anita Adams 2/4/2019
Here in Applachia …
land of heavy snowfalls, frost, rime ice and mistletoe
winter seems to have passed us by returning to Spring
daffodils and irises are sprouting through the brown, soggy ground
record rainfalls, fog and plenty of clouds
Where’s winter asks the worms as they squirm along the pavement looking for their home in the darkness of the earth
Where’s winter asks the fish in the pond as they swim around, confused by warm temperatures, sunshine, short days and rain
Where’s winter asks the trees as they sway back and forth confused by the winds of an early Spring…instead of Winter’s frozen ground
Where’s winter asks the farmers as their fields begin to sprout
Where’s winter asks I as I look about?
© Anita Adams 1/2019
I’m often reminded that each day I have a choice to begin again – anew – to make amends where needed – that there’s so much to be grateful for – there’s always something to give back to people – the planet – that something is as simple as a smile – a thank you – it’s love in every form of kindness and respect to another human being, mother earth, animal, flower, tree, stream. Pick up trash, recycle, decrease use of plastic and anything else that will not decompose in a landfill – cook more – share what you have – care for self and loving self is NOT selfish. This year as in years past, I create a list of prayers and intentions for myself and those I love before the year ends, and at the stroke of midnight, I walk into the New Year of New beginnings with list in hand and a heart full of all that I would love to happen for myself, others, our planet, my community and the universe trusting that the God of my understanding hears me always and answers my requests in His time.
Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year to all!
© Anita Adams – 12/29/2018
my son telephoned this afternoon – I answered hell-o .
He asked, how are you feeling? Not as well as I’d like to be, I said.
Additional questions followed, are you still seeing the Natural Medicine doctor, have you tried traditional western medicine? I replied, yes I have. It’s a virus, the immune system is low.
It’s the season for colds, flu and viruses.
I’ve had a virus for five days just before Christmas holidays – missing a ballet, relaxing time with some friends and family, missing work. It’s inconvenient and exhausting. I am very contentious about what I eat, the sounds of another’s cough, sniffly nose, or the mention of the words feeling bad. I run the other way. Unfortunately, not always fast enough.
What to do? Rest. Watch a move. Drink lemon ginger tea. Take elderberry, echinacea, drink lots of water and chicken soup just tastes better when I’m down.
It’s time for the afternoon nap, the droopy eyes are happening and I know some much needed liquid is needed.
Please think twice before going out in public while sick, there are many of us who want to stay well and give their heartfelt thanks to those who do heed this simple request.
May 2019 be a healthier year for you and yours.
time to reflect
be of service
take gentle care of self
think of others
go within
breathe
pause
pray
breathe again
open eyes, ears
connect with heart
listen
walk
repeat
even in the darkest hours, the light is still flickering within
© Anita Adams, NC Trees Photography
Called to Write 