My first thought at first light this morning was Lindsay. I don't know why. Maybe because it's the last day of September and October 10th is once again just around the corner. Here's to you sweet girl, and thanks for waking me up this morning.
When God gave this life abundant,
He never said
how long it would last.
He didn't say either
that we'd ever understand
why someone would go so soon,
leaving us in her past.
So you take those wings girl
and soar like never before
along with my thank you
for the times we had and more.
Barbara Botch
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
There's No Place Like Home
Top Ten Reasons for Loving Your Life
You have someone in your life that brings out the best in you, who will forever be at your side and on your side, come what may.
Knowing that you and your family, no matter where they live can be together in just a matter of a few hours.
At the top of your prayer list is “Thank you God for my good health.”
You’re sitting in your seat and the plane takes off and you have to refrain from yelling “Yes!”
You’re on your way to Ireland.
You can think back on the choices you’ve made over the years and are happy where you are in life right now.
You have a friend who will let you talk on forever and told you that your best trait is you are a good listener.
You’re on the second page of your list of goals and dreams for the New Year and you still have three months to go.
When you answer the phone there’s a little voice on the other end saying “I love you Grandma.”
When you walk through your front door you can say
“There’s no place like Home.”
You have someone in your life that brings out the best in you, who will forever be at your side and on your side, come what may.
Knowing that you and your family, no matter where they live can be together in just a matter of a few hours.
At the top of your prayer list is “Thank you God for my good health.”
You’re sitting in your seat and the plane takes off and you have to refrain from yelling “Yes!”
You’re on your way to Ireland.
You can think back on the choices you’ve made over the years and are happy where you are in life right now.
You have a friend who will let you talk on forever and told you that your best trait is you are a good listener.
You’re on the second page of your list of goals and dreams for the New Year and you still have three months to go.
When you answer the phone there’s a little voice on the other end saying “I love you Grandma.”
When you walk through your front door you can say
“There’s no place like Home.”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
What Makes You Feel Rich?
"The world was made to be free in."
David Whyte
With everything I know and everything I feel and everything I can imagine, what more could a woman want? Barbara Botch
David Whyte
With everything I know and everything I feel and everything I can imagine, what more could a woman want? Barbara Botch
FALL... in Love !
Looking forward to fall...
The Beautiful Notre Dame Campus
South Bend, Indiana
and remembering spring...
St. Stephen's Green
Dublin, Ireland
The Beautiful Notre Dame Campus
South Bend, Indiana
and remembering spring...
St. Stephen's Green
Dublin, Ireland
Thursday, August 19, 2010
On Success and Survival
I came across this on a bookmark, while browsing the books on my shelf. I was so moved. I can't remember ever seeing it before or maybe like a lot of times, something doesn't resonate until we're ready. Enjoy!
The best thing for being sad, replied Merlyn, beginning to puff and blow, is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails.
You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then- to learn.
Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.
Learning is the thing for you. Look at what a lot of things there are to learn- pure science, the only purity there is. You can learn astronomy in a lifetime, natural history in three, literature in six.
And then, after you have exhausted a milliard lifetimes in biology, and medicine and geography and history and economics- why, you can start to make a cartwheel out of the appropriate wood, or spend fifty years learning to begin to learn to beat your adversary at fencing. After that, you can start again on mathematics, until it is time to learn to plough.
From The Once and Future King
By T.H. White
After reading more about The Once and Future King on the Internet, I agree with a comment written within an essay about it that said. "The world of Arthur and the world of today may seem to be completely and solidly different, but if you read between the lines, they are clearly based on the same principles and have the same structure for success and survival"
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Blessings That Come With Water
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."
Anais Nin
Just one of Killarney's Greatest Gifts
"Think where man's glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends." William Butler Yeats
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
In Love with Books
I won't be free to call it quits
until all the books are read,
until every word I've ever heard
is tucked neatly in my head.
Stacks of books, on top of books
line my library wall
some I've read more than once,
others not at all.
I've read the Irish poets,
some golf philosophy,
am overwhelmed by the beauty of words,
at times unexpectedly.
How to Zen and Yoga too,
have graced my room as well
as Walden Pond and Richard Bach-
stories only they can tell.
As a collector of books, I've managed quite well
to acquire quite a few friends,
like Emerson, Twain, Oscar Wilde and Blake
the list never ends. Barbara Botch
Tell me what you like to read. I would love to know what you have on your bookshelf.
until all the books are read,
until every word I've ever heard
is tucked neatly in my head.
Stacks of books, on top of books
line my library wall
some I've read more than once,
others not at all.
I've read the Irish poets,
some golf philosophy,
am overwhelmed by the beauty of words,
at times unexpectedly.
How to Zen and Yoga too,
have graced my room as well
as Walden Pond and Richard Bach-
stories only they can tell.
As a collector of books, I've managed quite well
to acquire quite a few friends,
like Emerson, Twain, Oscar Wilde and Blake
the list never ends. Barbara Botch
Tell me what you like to read. I would love to know what you have on your bookshelf.
The House With a Stream
This morning I woke after having a dream,
remembering only a house with a stream.
Small and beautiful, the door a delight,
the entrance engulfed me, the sun was so bright.
There were pictures of mom and dad and the kids,
the kitchen was stocked, each bowl had a lid.
Flowers and plants
and books filled the room,
six chairs and a table,
the time was just noon.
I walked outside could this be what it seems?
and that is when I spotted the stream.
The water looked cool and flowed with such ease,
squatting to touch it I
fell to my knees.
Oh how familiar all of this felt,
while tears filled my eyes
there as I knelt.
I'll always wonder
just what this dream means
until I find the house with the stream.
remembering only a house with a stream.
Small and beautiful, the door a delight,
the entrance engulfed me, the sun was so bright.
There were pictures of mom and dad and the kids,
the kitchen was stocked, each bowl had a lid.
Flowers and plants
and books filled the room,
six chairs and a table,
the time was just noon.
I walked outside could this be what it seems?
and that is when I spotted the stream.
The water looked cool and flowed with such ease,
squatting to touch it I
fell to my knees.
Oh how familiar all of this felt,
while tears filled my eyes
there as I knelt.
I'll always wonder
just what this dream means
until I find the house with the stream.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thoughts at First Light
I'm thinking this morning about the beauty added to my life every time I've been with family; a son, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews and friends. It was a weekend filled with great food and drink, wonderful conversation, golf and laughter; reacquainting, the getting to know each other and the liking. Lives change, age creeps in but it's the good cheer and enjoyment that sends us home with a renewed sense of well being. There is real comfort in the friendship of family. Thanks for a great weekend.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Drumming Circle
Oh, the poetry that comes from prayer. Ah! The prayer that comes from drumming.
Tonight I joined eight others for a drumming circle, brought together by The Women’s Center at our beautiful St. Rose Hospital here in Henderson. We all gathered at a lovely park in the Green Valley area; under a tree, blankets spread across the grass and drums for anyone who did not have their own.
It was my first time.
We closed our eyes and visualized a lake, a forest, maybe a waterfall.
It was warm tonight, not a breeze in the air, but the birds; isn’t it interesting how they know, even without a nudge or a reminder to take the time to just stop and listen, and join in I might add, which was such a compliment to the sound of our drumming.
Each person took a turn starting a new beat and the others would follow. With each beat lasting 10 – 15 minutes, I couldn’t help but think, how blessed am I, to have this one hour, these few minutes to sit under a tree drumming a sound, in total relaxation, in complete kinship with our creator?
Gratitude is what I embraced as my mind seemed to free fall into the arms of something bigger than myself, each vibration creating a rhythm I could put my name on; a cadence all my own.
Although this was my first time, it will not be my last. I now look forward to having my own drum and once again enjoying the ambiance and community of such inspired women.
Tonight I joined eight others for a drumming circle, brought together by The Women’s Center at our beautiful St. Rose Hospital here in Henderson. We all gathered at a lovely park in the Green Valley area; under a tree, blankets spread across the grass and drums for anyone who did not have their own.
It was my first time.
We closed our eyes and visualized a lake, a forest, maybe a waterfall.
It was warm tonight, not a breeze in the air, but the birds; isn’t it interesting how they know, even without a nudge or a reminder to take the time to just stop and listen, and join in I might add, which was such a compliment to the sound of our drumming.
Each person took a turn starting a new beat and the others would follow. With each beat lasting 10 – 15 minutes, I couldn’t help but think, how blessed am I, to have this one hour, these few minutes to sit under a tree drumming a sound, in total relaxation, in complete kinship with our creator?
Gratitude is what I embraced as my mind seemed to free fall into the arms of something bigger than myself, each vibration creating a rhythm I could put my name on; a cadence all my own.
Although this was my first time, it will not be my last. I now look forward to having my own drum and once again enjoying the ambiance and community of such inspired women.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
A New Understanding
I don’t know why, it isn’t his birthday or the anniversary of his death, but his presence just seems to be hovering over me today. May I share him with you? This is what I wrote at the time my Dad passed away.
A New Understanding
Well I have to say over the years, I’ve had times when I’ve been overwhelmed, many times when I’ve been overcome to the point where I have felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest; sometimes for joy, other times in sadness, but today, as I look around this beautiful church, I think that this is really almost more than my heart can take.
It’s apparent just how many lives dad has touched, not to mention all of your lives that
have impacted ours. Thank you for being here to celebrate dad’s life.
About a year ago, Denny and I went to San Antonio and we had the opportunity to go through the Museum of the 2nd World War in the South Pacific. It was then that I started to understand just what dad had gone through.
I came back home here to Rock Island, just after that to see how he was doing and I was so anxious to tell him about it. The morning after I came back, we were sitting there at the kitchen table and I said
Dad, I want to tell you something. “What’s that?" he said.
I want you to know that I know who you are.
He looked up at me, with suspicious eyes and said. “What are you talking about?”
I proceeded to tell him about the museum, how I had seen all these pictures of the 1st Marine Division fighting in Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Cape Gloucester, men tromping through the rain and mud. I told him that I had listened to the audios and read all the literature they had there on the walls and the tables, and how they had a German Submarine, and the fighter planes right there.
I told him that I know a person doesn’t really know anything, until they’ve gone through it themselves, but I did have a better understanding of what it must have been like for him. I told him how proud I was of him. He was such a patriotic and proud Marine. He was strong then and he was strong at the end of his life.
In the past few years, he faced lots of frustration, with his failing eyesight,
hearing and his loss of energy. He was no longer able to go out and feed his birds, or work in his garage, so he moved out of his house that he had been in for 40+ years. He gave up all of his tools and toys. That wasn’t easy, but he knew he had to do it and he faced it with strength. He enjoyed his apartment until the end and he made a whole new set of friends.
One of the things I remember when we were young is he would whistle when he came in the back door from work at night. We could have been upstairs doing our homework or watching TV, it didn’t matter where we were, what we were doing, we would all come running to greet him.
Supper was always on the table at six and every night, and I mean every night, after he was done eating he would get up, go and put his arms around Mom from the back and say
“Another wonderful meal Bernadine”
He loved Mom, he loved us kids and his grandchildren
He was a proud and very blessed man.
As he continues on in his journey, it certainly is bittersweet. I don’t want to let him go, but I will because he has so much to look forward to. I’m sure Lindsay will be the one who opens the door as he enters and Mom will be standing right there next to her with open arms. I’m sure he’ll smell pumpkin bread baking, and the table will be set for a feast that we can only imagine.
I want to close with just 2 lines from a beautiful poem.
This is what Rumi says:
“A baby bird stands on the edge of a nest all day, then hears a whistle, come to me. How could he not fly toward that?”
Dad, Go and enjoy!
Everything is waiting for you.
A New Understanding
Well I have to say over the years, I’ve had times when I’ve been overwhelmed, many times when I’ve been overcome to the point where I have felt like my heart was about to jump out of my chest; sometimes for joy, other times in sadness, but today, as I look around this beautiful church, I think that this is really almost more than my heart can take.
It’s apparent just how many lives dad has touched, not to mention all of your lives that
have impacted ours. Thank you for being here to celebrate dad’s life.
About a year ago, Denny and I went to San Antonio and we had the opportunity to go through the Museum of the 2nd World War in the South Pacific. It was then that I started to understand just what dad had gone through.
I came back home here to Rock Island, just after that to see how he was doing and I was so anxious to tell him about it. The morning after I came back, we were sitting there at the kitchen table and I said
Dad, I want to tell you something. “What’s that?" he said.
I want you to know that I know who you are.
He looked up at me, with suspicious eyes and said. “What are you talking about?”
I proceeded to tell him about the museum, how I had seen all these pictures of the 1st Marine Division fighting in Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Cape Gloucester, men tromping through the rain and mud. I told him that I had listened to the audios and read all the literature they had there on the walls and the tables, and how they had a German Submarine, and the fighter planes right there.
I told him that I know a person doesn’t really know anything, until they’ve gone through it themselves, but I did have a better understanding of what it must have been like for him. I told him how proud I was of him. He was such a patriotic and proud Marine. He was strong then and he was strong at the end of his life.
In the past few years, he faced lots of frustration, with his failing eyesight,
hearing and his loss of energy. He was no longer able to go out and feed his birds, or work in his garage, so he moved out of his house that he had been in for 40+ years. He gave up all of his tools and toys. That wasn’t easy, but he knew he had to do it and he faced it with strength. He enjoyed his apartment until the end and he made a whole new set of friends.
One of the things I remember when we were young is he would whistle when he came in the back door from work at night. We could have been upstairs doing our homework or watching TV, it didn’t matter where we were, what we were doing, we would all come running to greet him.
Supper was always on the table at six and every night, and I mean every night, after he was done eating he would get up, go and put his arms around Mom from the back and say
“Another wonderful meal Bernadine”
He loved Mom, he loved us kids and his grandchildren
He was a proud and very blessed man.
As he continues on in his journey, it certainly is bittersweet. I don’t want to let him go, but I will because he has so much to look forward to. I’m sure Lindsay will be the one who opens the door as he enters and Mom will be standing right there next to her with open arms. I’m sure he’ll smell pumpkin bread baking, and the table will be set for a feast that we can only imagine.
I want to close with just 2 lines from a beautiful poem.
This is what Rumi says:
“A baby bird stands on the edge of a nest all day, then hears a whistle, come to me. How could he not fly toward that?”
Dad, Go and enjoy!
Everything is waiting for you.
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