Maybe You've Seen It ...

... But this One is Just for Me.



The Video: My King

The credit: Mark Barnes on his Ephesians 4:14 blog.

9/11 A Friend Watches a Friend Remember

I had this on another blog. The blog got locked. While I'm waiting for a review ... I will post it again here. And, yes, I am very aggravated!

I recently went to NYC with two friends. My friend Barb is (like me) not from New York but (unlike me) she's become fairly adept at taking her visiting friends and family to tour around NYC. My friend Linda has lived in New York City (or nearby) for about 25 years. I cannot understand the layout of New York City so I was simply enjoying following my friends around. We do not live down there and I only visit about three times a year. While we were out, Barb convinced Linda to swing by St. Paul's Chapel.


Linda admitted she had not been down there since 9/11. Barb told her there were many mementos. Linda decided that since I had my new camera with me, it would be a good photo op for me. I was snapping shots of the city and content with whatever came into view. I think they were also needing a break from the heat and from worrying over whether or not I was going to trip (again) or get run over while photographing everything in sight.

The moment we walked in, we were overcome. It was good to be cooler. We sat down. We were not ready to look at the mementos and photos but ... it was not because of the heat.

The items on display, I am certain, represent only a very small handful of the items left at and on the fence of the church in memory of friends and family. The church faced the Twin Towers. Still, no one spoke out in normal tones. Everyone was hushed. Even on a random Thursday, almost seven years later, there were people in the chapel.

Linda is a storyteller. She quietly began to tell about the day. She was at work. From her office, she could see the skyline of Manhattan (aka a part of NYC). She saw the smoke. She knew she was losing friends. She went home to be with her daughter.

I could not leave the story. I could not leave and wander about as Linda's tears began to slip down her face. They were the kind of tears that sprinkle down ... a gentle, healing sort of tears ... not the violent sobbing of first finding out. I tried to photograph the chapel's beauty while sitting there and a few of the mementos. And Linda continued with her story.

She told of her friends who were lost as they were husbands and fathers. She told of her friends as widows and mothers. She told of the care the children are receiving. She told about what it was like to wait for over a year to have just one portion of one bone bring closure.

As Linda talked, she became more beautiful with every falling tear. There was a softness in her love for them. There was beauty in the love of her friends in every role life had brought them. Her face and voice reflected their beauty, their love.

It was getting late, I needed to hurry if I was going to photograph any of the memorials. I lifted my camera again. I wanted to take a portrait of Linda. I could not, would not interrupt her to ask (she would not have said yes) and I would not just snap a shot. It would have been an invasion.

I made a quick tour but now I could not bring myself to look closely at the mementos. More, I couldn't bring myself to photograph them closely. I felt I was on sacred ground and invading everyone's intimate expression of love to/about their loved ones. Most of all, I did not trust myself to stay together if I did examine them.

We walked outside to leave. The skies were getting ready to rain on us. They tell me there's a hole in the ground. I do not need to see it. There are much larger holes in the fabric of the families and their friends. I have seen just a very very small section of that fabric. This is what it means to live in New York: Very large holes ... everywhere. Much of the fabric that holds these holes together is strong and committed to remembering the beauty of the love lost and love found ... and ... from a distance ... one could almost pretend ... it is simply a beautiful lace.

Just a Little Encouragement can Carry Friends

Just a little encouragement can carry friends toward their dreams in ways that you, nor they, cannot anticipate.

This month Eolande Elvehjem is celebrating her first complete year as a fashion designer in Second Life. She designs the most incredible pieces of jewelry for your hair. You can see them all at Eolande's Hair Accessories & Jewelry. You can also purchase Eolande's artistic designs at OnRez.com (Yes, Sherrie and Eolande are one in the same.)

Eolande sent me a nice note saying that I was one of the people who had helped her along the way this year. I'm not overly sure exactly how or when it was that I helped. It wasn't business tips, it wasn't free Lindens, it wasn't free land. All I can remember is having hope for her and confidence this fantastic lady could do it -- as long as she didn't let go. So, it must have been that I gave her encouragement.

I do remember the encouragement Eolande has been to me. When my coffee shop locations were bouncing from 1 to 2 to 4 to 0 to ... you get the idea ... she was one of the people who said "Yes, it's time for you to step out on your own and create your own identity."

AND she believed it so much that she made a place for me on her incredible Ohana Isle. A beautiful little corner lot. And so I've been evolving a little Grey Hare Coffee Shop, Book Nook, & Art Gallery there. And as I've been there, I have watched Eolande's example closely as she sets the pace for those who live on Ohana Isle. Her attitudes, her compassion, her protectiveness (not smothering though!).

THEN I had an opportunity to manage a sim. Eolande totally believed in me. When things started with an unexpected challenge, she gave me invaluable advice. I am still thrilled that I followed it.

When the original plan turned into an opportunity to totally rebuild and redesign the sim, Eolande gave me the words I so needed to hear: "You can do it."

So, I want to take Eolande's anniversary month to say:

THANK YOU, EOLANDE!

And I want to tell you that if you haven't subscribed to Eolande's Hair Accessories & Jewelry notices, you need to get your body over to Eolande's shop and take care of that detail. (It's one of those wonderful non-sl groups. You get the notices without giving up an SL group spot and without hearing group chat spam.)

Last but not least! Come join the Treasure Hunt. Eolande and all of the Residents / Designers on Ohana host a Treasure Hunt every month. It is the best in all of SL. You can pick up the info and Heart #33 & 34 at my Grey Hare Coffee Shop #1 on, of course, Ohana Isle.

Ivalde Skins from Neferia Able

Neferia Able of Ivalde fame is now creating skins. As soon as I heard this news, I knew the skins would be top quality. I love shopping at her Ivalde store because I know that if I like the dress style, I'm going to love wearing the dress. I am never disappointed. If I'm wearing a great looking dress that hints of days gone by (example: from the 1950's), chances are very high that it's one of Nef's vintage designs.

I chose Neftys for evenings and Frigg for day time. Why can't my avatar have a different look for different occasions? I certainly can.

Nef shared with me that the names for the skins are selected from various goddesses from ancient cultures. If you look closely, you can imagine each goddess wearing a skin designed by Nef.

Take some time and explore your possibilities. The skins are located downstairs in the Ivalde store. And, then, add some refreshing updates to your wardrobe from all of the high quality stores located on Ivalde Isle.

Then just enjoy the fresh air relaxed atmosphere all over Ivalde Isle. Perhaps you will even discover the cave tunnel system.

SLurls
Ivalde Skins

More Images
Blog Images 8/13 - 8/19

Poseidon's Bouquet Tiara by Zanza Marx

Zanza Marx revealed her latest "Belle Amie" creation: Poseidon's Bouquet Tiara which will be worn by the winner of the SL Tropics 2007 Competition.

The tiara contains 253 prims and is valued at $L7500. Also, to be presented to the winner will be a matching necklace and earring set. The necklace is 219 prims.

The necklace and earring set and the tiara will be available after the pageant as Limited Editions. Only 25 of each (set and tiara) will be sold. The set is $L2500.

The SL Tropics 2007 is sponsored by ASpiRE and other SL entities. The Miss SL Tropics competition is on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 12 noon SL, on ASpiRE Isle.

SLurls:
Belle Amie Zanza's shop
Midsomer Isle Zanza's stunning island
ASpiRE Isle

And So I Begin ...

In the past, I have passed notes back and forth in my Second Life group -- MarillaAnne's Network of Friends. Frankly, notecards are not a very effective mode of communication.

So I have begun a blog. It will be about whatever my friends want me to talk about. And it will be a place where I can brag about them. Hopefully the bragging will bring them joy and business (if they want it).

I wanted to do one whole week's worth of bragging in one post. But every time I ask a question of one of my friends, or I start to write about just one event, ... there is too much for one post.

I'm beginning by saying thank you to several established residents of Second Life. The words of advice and encouragement that I have received from them has been invaluable in both Second Life and Real Life. They have helped me with everything from business to drama.

I strongly encourage people new to Second Life to gather friends and advisers who are in circles you do not usually hang out in and "older" friends who are involved in a variety of activities. Aside from the fact that they are usually brilliant, they will add unexpected spice to your Second Life just when you need it most.