Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
~Mary Frye
Friday, November 5, 2010
Remember, remember the 5th of November
When I was 9 years old, I met an angel. I'd recently moved to England with my family, had started at a new school and was about to become the oldest of five girls when my sister, D, was born a few months later.
That angel came to me in the form of another 9 year old girl. Natalia Jones was her name but I knew her as Talli. She was one of the kindest girls I have ever known and somebody who's wisdom was far beyond that of her nine years.
Talli and I went to school together for two years. Her artistic ability inspired me and her beautiful singing voice made me stop my own sining during hymn practice just to listen to it. I left England just after my eleventh birthday and returned to South Africa.
Talli was the only person that I truly missed.
On November 5th, 2006 Talli was killed. She was hit by a car on her way to a Guy Fawkes bonfire party. The angel was taken from us all too soon.
That's the thing about angels. They're there when you need them most and then they're gone, faster than they came. Talli was there when I needed her most and then she was gone.
My heart aches for her mom, who taught us art at school during those years, her sister, who shares my name and it's pronunciation, and all those who knew her.
Sometimes I feel guilty about the fact that I get to live and she doesn't. I get to fall in love, have children, travel, find out what happened at the end of the Harry Potter series and she doesn't. Then I am reminded of this quote by Mignon McLaughlin, "The death of someone we know always reminds us that we are still alive - perhaps for some purpose which we ought to re-examine."
I would be different had I not known Talli. I believe that she was my angel and the angel of many people I have not met. I know she still watches over all of us from her place in the sky.
I honor today in remembrance of her.
That angel came to me in the form of another 9 year old girl. Natalia Jones was her name but I knew her as Talli. She was one of the kindest girls I have ever known and somebody who's wisdom was far beyond that of her nine years.
Talli and I went to school together for two years. Her artistic ability inspired me and her beautiful singing voice made me stop my own sining during hymn practice just to listen to it. I left England just after my eleventh birthday and returned to South Africa.
Talli was the only person that I truly missed.
On November 5th, 2006 Talli was killed. She was hit by a car on her way to a Guy Fawkes bonfire party. The angel was taken from us all too soon.
That's the thing about angels. They're there when you need them most and then they're gone, faster than they came. Talli was there when I needed her most and then she was gone.
My heart aches for her mom, who taught us art at school during those years, her sister, who shares my name and it's pronunciation, and all those who knew her.
Sometimes I feel guilty about the fact that I get to live and she doesn't. I get to fall in love, have children, travel, find out what happened at the end of the Harry Potter series and she doesn't. Then I am reminded of this quote by Mignon McLaughlin, "The death of someone we know always reminds us that we are still alive - perhaps for some purpose which we ought to re-examine."
I would be different had I not known Talli. I believe that she was my angel and the angel of many people I have not met. I know she still watches over all of us from her place in the sky.
I honor today in remembrance of her.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A Reflection
And, of course when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back.
There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads.
But, once in a while, people push onto something better. Something found just beyond the pain of going it alone.
And just beyond the bravery and courage it takes to let someone in.
Or to give someone a second chance.
Something beyond the quiet persistence of a dream.
Because, it's only when you’re tested that you truly discover who you are.
And, it's only when you're tested that you discover who you can be.
The person you want to be does exist; somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith and belief. And, beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead."
~ A One Tree Hill Quote
An Odd Day
Today, I feel a little "off". I don't know why but for some reason I've been thinking a lot today. A lot. I've been thinking about time, change and the past. Three things one should try their best not to dwell on. Three things I try my best not to dwell on.
A lot has happened within the last two years since I left high school. I've moved half way across the world, made a life for myself in Australia, studied in Sydney and moved to Canberra to complete practical training for my degree. Time has moved so slowly and, yet, so fast in that time. A lot has changed about me within that time. Some of which I wish hadn't but some I'm glad has.
Maybe it's just the time of year that has brought on all this reflection. Tomorrow will be four years since a very close friend of mine passed away and I can't get her or her mother off my mind. She only got sixteen years. Sixteen years that she made so worth while it's hard to imagine how she could have been taken from us so soon. So much potential wasted.
More about that tomorrow though.
A lot has happened within the last two years since I left high school. I've moved half way across the world, made a life for myself in Australia, studied in Sydney and moved to Canberra to complete practical training for my degree. Time has moved so slowly and, yet, so fast in that time. A lot has changed about me within that time. Some of which I wish hadn't but some I'm glad has.
Maybe it's just the time of year that has brought on all this reflection. Tomorrow will be four years since a very close friend of mine passed away and I can't get her or her mother off my mind. She only got sixteen years. Sixteen years that she made so worth while it's hard to imagine how she could have been taken from us so soon. So much potential wasted.
More about that tomorrow though.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Melbourne Cup Tuesday
On the first Tuesday of November, at three o'clock the Melbourne Cup Race takes place in Melbourne (but that part's obvious).
Today I "bet" on Harris Tweed. By "bet" I mean I guessed who would win, Mom guessed who would win and then we watched to see who did. Harris Tweed didn't. He came close... for the majority of the race but landed up in fifth place by the end.
If somebody had told me that Americain was a French horse from Marseille, I would have bet on him. But then again, it's easy to say that now, isn't it?
There are three handles on the cup. One for the owner, one for the jockey and one for the trainer. What about the horse? I always wish there was one for the horse.
Today I "bet" on Harris Tweed. By "bet" I mean I guessed who would win, Mom guessed who would win and then we watched to see who did. Harris Tweed didn't. He came close... for the majority of the race but landed up in fifth place by the end.
If somebody had told me that Americain was a French horse from Marseille, I would have bet on him. But then again, it's easy to say that now, isn't it?
There are three handles on the cup. One for the owner, one for the jockey and one for the trainer. What about the horse? I always wish there was one for the horse.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Two Months Down, Seven to Go
Today is my two month anniversary working at my industry training job. About a week ago I started to feel like I really know what I'm doing when I'm at work. I know where to go, who to ask and what the appropriate reaction to a certain situation is. It happened a lot quicker than I thought it would.
I'm based very much in the hospitality department at my current placement and I look forward to working in the events department in my next placement. (It's due to start on the 13th of December.) I've learnt over this time that hospitality, which involves the service of food and beverage, is not for me. I like interacting with people and learning about different types of food but I know that co-ordinating and organising is more my style. I don't feel that I'm cut out for the manual labour that the hotel/hospitality industry involves.
I have, however, met some truly wonderful people during my first 2 months. The group I work with is like a little family that has embraced me from day one and I'm truly grateful. I hope to stay in touch with a lot of them.
As far as an introduction to the industry goes, it's been a really good one. I now have a much better idea of how the things that I've learnt about at uni operate.
The last two months have been hard. I've missed my friends, my Sydney and my sleep but they've also been a great two months. I've learnt a lot, made new friends and discovered you don't need as much sleep as you think you do. I'm looking forward to discovering what the next seven months of industry training hold.
I'm based very much in the hospitality department at my current placement and I look forward to working in the events department in my next placement. (It's due to start on the 13th of December.) I've learnt over this time that hospitality, which involves the service of food and beverage, is not for me. I like interacting with people and learning about different types of food but I know that co-ordinating and organising is more my style. I don't feel that I'm cut out for the manual labour that the hotel/hospitality industry involves.
I have, however, met some truly wonderful people during my first 2 months. The group I work with is like a little family that has embraced me from day one and I'm truly grateful. I hope to stay in touch with a lot of them.
As far as an introduction to the industry goes, it's been a really good one. I now have a much better idea of how the things that I've learnt about at uni operate.
The last two months have been hard. I've missed my friends, my Sydney and my sleep but they've also been a great two months. I've learnt a lot, made new friends and discovered you don't need as much sleep as you think you do. I'm looking forward to discovering what the next seven months of industry training hold.
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