30 Words: Ascent

From the dark depths below

I crawl toward the blinding light.

So long without vision in the musty chill 

of the pit.

Above

The

Bright 

Heavens

Beckon

Me 

Forward

This week's 30 Word Thursday entry is a picture that I took at a Castle in Ghent, Belgium this past spring.  This was taken from a basement area of the castle that was either used as storage or possibly as a dungeon.  The day was completely overcast and everything was too dark to get good pictures, but the contrast between the pitch black dungeon and the relatively bright light outside appealed to me.  This one may be a bit too gratuitously emo but hey, my muse was speaking to me in hushed and Gothic tones.  Oh, I did it again just there...

Check out the other 30 Word Thursday contributors (or try one yourself) at Erin's Treasures Found Blog.  

30 Words: Hope

A beautiful little girl

So strong and bold

Fought so hard to maintain her hold.

 

Such struggle

Such vibrancy of life.

 

Living more

In her time

Than many ever do.

 

 

This is the toughest time I've ever had in writing something.  Little Emma was diagnosed with a cancer called neuroblastoma in 2010-2011.  Her parents are good friends of mine and she was also my patient.  She went through way too much hell for such a small child, but was eventually deemed clear of cancer.  However she had a recurrence and went through more treatments over the past year.  This morning I found out that she lost her battle and frankly don't quite know how to deal with the feelings I'm having.  I just can't imagine how her parents and brother feel.  Watching all of the trips (some for fun and some for treatments) she took; the events she took part in; the people she met; the love that she received from family and friends...has been amazing to me.  I'm deadened and saddened by this news.  But also I am reminded of how brief all of our time is here on this crazy world and how we need to enjoy the little things and make time for the big ones too.  There is still hope for all of us.  Please send out your prayers, good vibes, or whatever to Emma's family.  Give your spouse or children a huge hug.  Do something special for your loved ones or even just for yourself. 

 

My wife, Sj just posted a blog entry for a book club today prior to us finding out about this.  Interestingly and perhaps uncannily her jewelry designs embraced this sentiment with both of her pieces incorporating the words Carpe Diem into them.  

30 Words: Stuck

Gossamer strings

of

light

 shimmer,

fluttering

slowly

in the humid

afternoon breeze

 

No sign of habitation,

an empty and waiting home

 

Or a wicked

trap

for the

unwary

flying

traveler...

 

 

This week's 30 Word Thursday picture was taken in my backyard one fine sunny afternoon.  I took lots of shots but none looked quite right...so I tried out some different filter techniques until this one jumped out at me in stark contrast.  Check out the other contributors at Erin's Treasures Found Blog Here!

Oh, and some of my pics are up on the Southwest Metro Magazine photo contest for this year:  Check them out (and vote for me!) here.  Mine are on page 2 second row up from the bottom: Schram Vineyard, Thistle, and the yellow flower with the imitation bee on it.  I took these before I got my Macro lens--next year's will be even better!