Dark Thoughts from Guest Blogger Karen Gage Arango

DARK THOUGHTS
Through the years, I have always loved epitaphs.
Perhaps it is from my interest in local lore and culture, or from my early visits to the many old grave yards in my home town. My father is fascinated with genealogy and is a member of the Historical Society. Through him, my curiosity has grown, and on my many visits to my childhood home, I often frequent the graves of my ancestors. Here are some of my favorite epitaphs some real, and others imagined:
Remember friend as you walk by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now you will surely be
Prepare thyself to follow me
†
Knowledge by suffering entereth
And life is perfected by death
†
Let us go in; the fog is rising
                                          
†
          
Now I lay me down to die
I pray the Lord will take me nigh
For I have died, shall nevermore wake
And now my soul is his to take   kga
†
Give me peace now and let me be
Sleep eternal in endless dreams
Away from ridicule and torment
 My soul in God’s hands lies dormant   kga
†
                                 
Live well my dears, your time well spent
For years rush past ‘till you’re old and bent
Someday you will die, and die you must!
And we will all lie here in dust   kga
                                                                 
†
             
My glass is run, my life is spent
My earthly temple was but lent
Why should I wish for a length of years
To spend them in a wail of tears
Friends nor physicians could not save
My mortal body from the grave
Nor can the grave confine it here
When Christ doth call me to appear

†

Happy Halloween from my sister Karen and I,
Boo! 
             

Posted by Joan Ellen Gage at 1:26 PM

New eBook , Stranger In A Strange Skin


Hello! Yes, I am actually writing on my blog! The reason being, I have a new eBook that was published this week. The link is:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

This is a free eBook, which actually is a something of a marketing device. Stranger In A Strange Skin, contains some new material, excerpts from Water Running Downhill!, and excerpts from my next book Empowering Your Inner Cheerleader!

I realize that eBooks are not books in print, although they can be. I am expecting the next book, Empowering Your Inner Cheerleader! to be both.

I also have a new blogger site,the Joan-Zone. With this site, I am planning to host someone, starting with every month, who strives to help women in some great or small way. So please let me know if anyone you know fits the bill!

The house in North Carolina should be finished at the end of the year. We should be moving up sometime in late winter, early spring, I think! I am excited and terrified at the same time!

Let me know if you know a dentist in western N.C. who needs a part-time dental hygienist!

Blessings to you and yours!

Joan

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY COUSIN HEATHER AND HER HUSBAND MATT!


You were kids then

Sizing each other up

She, granddaughter of a horseman

Singing “Landslide” with her cousins

The boys hooting and hollering outside

Throwing a football, laughing

Both of you exchanging looks, rosy

With the first flush of love


Somehow you made it through

The almost grown-up years, then

Into young adults, bonded

Holding together tightly

Love growing steadily into the,

“I’m here for you, always

You can depend on me”,

Kind of love


Today you enter into a new era

She the radiant cowgirl bride

He her knight/cowboy groom

May your wild hearts meld

And beat with joy as two

Become one, taking that first

Sweet kiss as man and wife

Branding one anothers lips

With your passion, as you hear

“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present

Mr and Mrs. Matt Cross”


Congratulations Heather & Matt!



Joan Ellen Gage

10/01/2011


New House Site in NC

Magnolia Approving Her New House Site

Finally, we are getting to the business of making a home in NC. This is such a lovely site; I can imagine myself writing on the porch when it is completed.

The construction will take a while, and the move won’t be for a while. All these things will become more concrete as the house takes shape.

I treated myself to some quiet time with nature this morning. It was cool enough to sit on the porch and listen to the wind blow. There is nothing like communing with the great outdoors to stimulate creativity. May we all have time for ourselves like this.

May your day be blessed!

Peace,

Joan

Ode to Dog II

Quiet companion
Almond eyes filled with canine wisdom
Peer into my soul

Content to be nearby
I rise, she follows
“Where are you going?”

Heart entwined with mine
Live long dog friend
Stay with me, always

Getting On With "It"!

Mired In The Florida Sand

Yep, that’s me. Self-mired for the last few years in Central Florida. I have felt like I drove up from Delray Beach, got my “tires” stuck in the sand, and here I sit!

Before the move, I felt that I was so close to success, both Rob and I had good jobs and were financially solvent. We had a lovely small cottage and I had cleaning help for two years after back surgery. I had a wonderful circle of girlfriends who were fun and key in pushing me to write and self-publish my book.

I was in a writing cycle; it felt obsessive, but, now I know that is the nature of creativity. Even though I spent a lot of time on the writing, I had energy from the process that helped me with the domestic chores.

But, life moves on, and changes–that is the nature of life. I have had good times here; they are just different. Success cannot be measured by how much money one makes–it never has and never will be the right criteria.

I am trying to find my imprint at this stage of the game. I look at my image and am not sure who I am just now, not fully. “Joan” is a work in progress–under construction at the moment! I am in the journey, although it is so slow that it is almost imperceptible.

Blessings on you all, today. Do something nice for someone and for yourself, too–and smile!

Peace!

Joan the Turtle

Oh Hail!

What A Hail Storm!

We had quite a blow this afternoon, complete with golf ball size hail! You could hear it hammering against the front windows and the garage door. Nothing seems to be broken; there is just a lot of debris everywhere.

I was reading my friend’s blogs on blogger, thinking, I really should write something, but what? Then bam, the hail introduced itself–quite timely, I thought!

I spent about an hour cleaning some of the mess up. It served to get me outside and moving; that was good! The dog finally quit hiding and joined me.

It is amazing how nature can get your attention when you least expect it. The good part of this was, it served to remind me of how lucky I was to have avoided a worse tragedy.

I have not been counting my blessings every day, so this was a good reminder.

Blessings to all of you!

Joan

New Web Design for Water Running Downhill

I’ve Kindled Her!

That’s a Wizard of Oz reference to “I’ve Melted Her”; yes, I know–it’s weak! But, seriously, I uploaded the book to Kindle.

It’s not a bad way to go; it’s free to publish it. They have pricing options to choose from, also. I chose to receive 65%.

I wanted to upload the first book to Kindle, as I have the second one finished. I may skip the publisher entirely and Kindle that book. We’ll see!

Joy to you all today (and y’all, too!)!

Joan

Spring Again!

Robins waiting for a bath!

It is spring in central Florida. Actually, it has been for two or three weeks, that is how long the Robins have been here. We have hundreds of them in the neighborhood, and frequently tens of them waiting in non- ending rows for a turn at the birdbath.

I like Robins. They are very beneficial birds, as they eat bugs. Robins are regal and very shy.

Along with the migrating birds, we have a return of pollen, ah-choo! I’ve had to break out the antihistamines, oh well!

It is getting to be time for a spring cleaning of our homes, and the clutter in our heads. I seem to have accumulated more than usual! I think I’ll pop open my ear, and let the brain air out!

But, seriously, if one declutters their home, their life can feel much “lighter”. According to an article I recently read from Whole Living Magazine, Susanna Sonnenberg sites excerpts from the book Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui, by Karen Kingston.

Sonnenberg quotes Kingston saying: “clutter drags your energy down, and the longer you keep it, the more it will affect you. Sonnenberg decluttered her home with the criteria that you ask four questions when considering keeping something. Kingston’s questions were: 1) “Do you like it?, 2) Do you love it?, 3) Do you need it?, 4) Does it bring you peace and easy energy or uneasy trouble”?

Does this pique your interest? Certainly, I have an abundance of “stuff”. I love clothes and even though I have spent some time clearing some of them out, I still have more than I need.

What I’m going to start with, though, is paperwork. I have a pile of paperwork that “a show horse couldn’t jump over”–a quote from my husband from some unknown source! I’ll let you know how the process is going over the next few months.

Meanwhile, back to that spring thing! Embrace it! Grab some sunshine and stop and smell the flowers.

Peace to you!

Joan

Robin redbreast
Stately hops with
Eyes intent, focused
Moving with purpose
Snatches the green beetle
“Gulp”she swallows her prize

My Valentine

Happy Valentines Day!

For all our valentines, our spouses, lovers, friends, parents, or children, let us tell them that we love them today, and at every opportunity. The loves in our lives are what makes everything worthwhile; and although this seems rote, we must not take them for granted. We never know when our last words to a loved one will literally be our last words.

So here is a special “I Love You” to my parents, my siblings, children, grandchildren, and the love of my life, Rob. Here is a poem that I wrote many years ago for Rob.

Work of Art

My lovers hands
Are the hands
Of a working man

They are scarred and roughened
Through being beaten up
By the elements

They are very strong hands
Strong and beautiful
And surprisingly gentle

They are the hands
Of a real man
My man

Here’s wishing you a wonderful day, and a wonderful week. Remember to love yourself, too!

Ciao!

Joan

Striving to be Fearless!

Me without my makeup!

Hello Friends!

I cannot believe that it is February, already! But what a winter it has been! I can’t complain, as I’ve been cocooned in Florida for most of it.

Today I want to write about being fearless. Why is that, you ask? Well. probably because I am such a big chicken! Seriously, I have anxiety issues, and I’m basically shy, so it can be difficult to get out of the rut and step out of my comfort zone. In fact, I have to dare myself to do things, like publish a book. How did I do this? I told a couple hundred people about the book. I knew that I would be embarrassed, and often, if I did not publish it. It worked! I got my fraidy-cat self out from under the bed and self-published.

Unfortunately, that is not the end of my fearfulness problem. So here I am dealing with the same issues as I was four or five years ago. I am telling all of you out in the blogisphere so that you can help to guilt-trip me!

I like these quotes from Terri Trespicio, from January/February’s Whole Living Magazine: “The path to fearless living goes straight through the roadblocks, not around them”, and “Creativity goes beyond sheer artistry: it takes courage to express your ideas.” This is good stuff. I think I should post them where I can see them every day, and drill them into my lizard brain.

If anyone has any ideas on transitioning from chicken heart to dragon, please offer your suggestions!

Meanwhile, here is a poem from the up and coming Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader!, my future book! I know, I know!

Peace to you all!
Joan

The Libra

Here I am
Straddling my life’s stream
One foot in the “now”
Deeply planted in necessity
One or two toes of the other
Foot have strayed into the unknown–
The unmodeled clay of dreams
Where ideas are scattered about
Like amorphous clouds–almost
Becoming concrete, palpable
Close to conception
Egg of idea and sperm of intention
On the point of action
Nearly communicate, consummate–still
A breath away, a gossamer veil
Of steel separates these parts that
Must be made whole

Determination drives me
I am purpose, hurtling toward
My goal, shape-shifting until
I become the key
Unlocking the possibilities
Arriving at my future