We travel paths through our life journey that will lead us to people who become our friends and  no matter what trials we go through along the way, we must keep in mind that we all need each other and ultimately friendship becomes the wine of life.....

Sad Trails

My footprints tomorrow will leave a trail to a funeral home in Brampton for the visitation of a dear friend about whom I had written a story, on this blog, earlier in December, called Heartfelt Emotion. Rosemary died a ‘peaceful’ death yesterday morning, after a courageous struggle to live, surrounded by her significant other, Neill, and 2 of her children, Julie and Joe. For this we can be thankful. Her life had been filled with much turmoil but her death granted her a peaceful, quiet release from her 8 week existence in the ICU department of The Credit Valley Hospital.

This path in my journey is not an easy one - Rosemary and I have been friends for over 10 years and have shared a lot of life’s moments, both good and bad. Many of our life experiences were quite similar - many weren’t - but no matter the situation, we have been able to be there to support each other in our own unique way. We have shared tears of joy and sorrow, and her humor often worked it’s magic to help us through our trials.

Rosemary was a good and tireless mother, always concerned for the well-being of her children - in fact she had just recently returned from China after a visit with her son Stephen who lives and works there - and, although sick, she was able to return home knowing that she had spent time with her grandchildren. Rosemary was kind, and giving and always shared what she could with others. She was an amazing cook and we shared many wonderful hours together giving each other advice - solving our problems and those of the world - over rich, Italian food.  She was a blossoming artist and had taught herself to paint canvasses, producing pictures, and pictures, and pictures of scenes of beauty, and all who knew her have one or more paintings that now have become keepsakes of her special talent.

Rosemary met Neill, her significant other and best friend, several years ago, and with him she  received the gift of true love. He was devoted to her, completely supportive of her, and she loved him with all of her heart. I am so thankful that they ‘found‘ each other and had the privilege of sharing their lives for the the little time that was given to them. 

Rosemary has left her mark on all with whom she has crossed paths - she was a complete ‘world’ - and though losing her is painful, she will never really be gone,  as she will stay in our hearts and will linger on in our memories forever.

Along the paths of our life journey we should always leave room for fun and frivolity........

Frivolous Poetry

Written by Beverlee Blampied (c)

By afternoon I'm taking a nap - going to sleep
Easing way down under, way down deep
Viewing my thoughts, life is as it should be
Especially with no one in it to bother me
Round clouds are white and fluffy, the sky is blue and clear
Leaving me happy, content, with no fear
Even no 'monsters' to make me scream
Everything is well in my perfect theme

Because there are no jerks near to mess up my day
Life is a breeze that is blowing my way
And my children are settled, they've not gone astray
My life has no crisis, no problems, no drama
Per chance it's too easy in this theme glamorama
I have all the power to change at will
Even the unscrupulous that I might want to 'kill'
Down here no one is plotting and scheming

Then I wake up and know I've been dreaming 



Written by Beverlee Blampied (c)

On the one hand
There was so much to gain
On the other
So much to lose
So the best decision
As far as he was concerned
Was simply not to choose 

Written by Beverlee Blampied (c)

Her heart is feeling trusted
Her mind has drawn a blank
She doesn't know what the gist is
But it feels like she has sank
Below the seas of darkness
Below her heart's desire
She doesn't know where her mind is
But she feels like her soul is on fire 

Written by Beverlee Blampied (c)

Strange are the 
Sands of time
Drifting through the ages
Winds shifting them from
Valleys to hilltops to mountain peaks
Yet sand will always remain as
Sand

Christmas is for loving, sharing and giving ......

Christmas Surprises

After hosting a comforting Christmas Eve dinner for friends, for the first time since her husband had passed away five years ago, she awoke Christmas morning to the realization that she wold be facing yet another Christmas Day alone. Even the Christmas tree, now that the gifts were gone, looked a little sad. She told herself that she was not going to feel sorry for herself any longer and went to the kitchen to make tea, but the countertop was piled with cookies and fancy desserts and the fridge was stuffed with enough turkey and ham to last her a month. The overabundance for her Christmas Day alone was quite depressing, so she decided to drive to the closest open coffee shop for her favorite pumpkin flavored coffee.

“Merry Christmas” a voice called as she entered the cafe. She smiled at the attractive dark-haired man at the cash register. “Too bad you have to work today” she said, as she ordered her latte. “Well - it was me or my employees and since I live alone and my family all live in Vancouver, I offered to come in. “Do you miss being with your family?’, she asked.  “Oh, I definitely do -  I especially miss my mother’s good cooking and I even miss my aunt’s awful Christmas fruitcake!”  He shrugged, then added “But I liked being able to brighten someone else’s Christmas Day this year.”

As she drove home, she passed the local hospital where her husband had been the Head of Obstetrics, and the drugstore where she got her prescriptions filled and the gas station where she bought her gas and thought about all the people who would be working this Christmas Day. And she thought again about the handsome cafe owner. As she pulled into her driveway an idea came into her mind - there was something she, too, could do to brighten this Christmas Day not only for herself but for others too.

She set to work making sandwiches with all the trimmings and then arranged cookies on plates and tied them all up with festive ribbons. Lastly, she wrapped a few slices of her homemade fruitcake in foil and topped it with a bow. She put everything in plastic containers and set out to make her delivery rounds.

With her trunk now filled with goodies, she drove to the drugstore to leave some food for the pharmacist, then to the hospital where she dropped off piled-high plates of food at the nurses stations. Their expressions of surprise and gratitude made her feel like Santa Claus. Her next stop was the cafe. He smiled as he saw her. “Back for more coffee?”, he asked. “No - I come bearing Christmas Dinner”, she replied, as she placed a container on the counter. “Wow - this is a surprise“, he said, as he examined the contents, and when he unwrapped the foil bundle he grinned - “Fruitcake -  now my Christmas is complete!”

She laughed as they exchanged names. The cafe was quiet, so they sat at a table by the window while he ate. They talked about her job at the newspaper and his plans to buy a second cafe. When a customer arrived, she put on her coat and headed to the door. She waved goodbye as he was wringing up the customer’s order. “You’re leaving”. He sounded disappointed. “I have another stop to make”, she answered. He held her eyes with his eyes as he said ”I’m closing at 5p.m. - would you be interested in taking a walk then to look at all the Christmas lights in town?” She smiled back and replied that she would be glad to join him. 

A holiday song played cheerily on the car radio as she drove off to play Santa one more time before heading home, her spirit renewed as she realized she had begun the process of making new Christmas memories, and she felt content for the first time in a very long while. 

To my teenage grandaughter - congrats on turning 13 Tegan Noelle.....

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY

Written by Bev Blampied (c) 2013

Happy Birthday - you're now 13
You've arrived at a special age
Choices and plans - what will you be
A doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a library page?

It's quite okay if you don't know
As more important it is to live each day
Take each challenge, one step at a time
Learn and enjoy your work and your play

Live each moment - do all things well
As what's inside you are the things that last
At home, at school - wherever you are
Guide and guard yourself with care, as life happens fast

Nurture your friends - choose them wisely
The true ones will be there when you fail
But stay close to your family as they are your strength
And from them will come the footprints as you travel lifes trail

I know too well how hopeless a heart can get.......

Boxing Day

Written by Beverlee Blampied (c) 

I am thankful today for my family

I am thankful, too, for my health

And I am planning on this Boxing Day

To share my life of "wealth"

It's the day after Christmas memories

Have been etched into my mind

And I want to share with some for which

The holiday has not been so kind

So, I'll gather up my everyday "fortune"

And set some of it aside

To share with those less fortunate

This Boxing Day - with pride

Christmas is forever, not just for one day  -  not to be put away like the bells and lights and tinsel in some box on a shelf......

The Ties That Bind

Written by Beverlee Blampied (c) 

Families are the ties that bind and should forever last
The miracles of a Christmas moment
Coupled with memories from the past
But there they will sit at Christmas dinner
A family  that was once so dear
With members now absent through family feuds
Bridges not mended, reconciliations not near
Feelings have been hurt
Through which their inner family closeness has been broken
And healing words have been left unspoken
Time and emotional distance have pulled each of them apart
And on this day, more than any, the "brokenness" hurts her heart
So - in unvoiced agreement she will smile and continue on
And show her best as their mother
For they are family - mother, sister and brother
And Christmas can become a day
For each of them to be who they are - the 'who' no one else can see
And through their history they will feel her say "I am you and you are me 
 I am my children and hope for you both a happy future unknown
As the family in me Is written in stone"
And though it may not turn out to be the perfect Christmas
That she has been hoping for
Her Christmas spirit truly will be her best
And she will make this day special from all the rest
Knowing that how she acts will keep her heart and soul in tact
So she will share good will, good food
Make new memories and cherish the Christmas mood
Enjoy one another in the festive moment
And put away the times of torment
As a mother loves - no matter what 
Life will go on, and troubles will soar
But she, as their mother, can see their core
And she will forgive the flaws that the day may find
As the ties that bind ARE the ties that bind
  

We are who we choose to be - we need to stand in our own space and know that we are capable of living our dreams.... 

Fulfilling Dreams

For as long as I can remember the only thing I ever wanted was to be an author.  I constantly dreamed that one day I would see my name on the cover of a novel, but life got in the way and it wasn't until active motherhood ended and retirement became fact that I was actually ready to revisit my lifelong dream. And now, having an abundance of life experiences to reflect on, and having many credits from the school of hard knocks, I hopefully can pour out my thoughts. It is time to write!

Where to start - so many words and so much to say - where should my book begin? Should it be truth or fiction? How do I use my words and thoughts to relay my message through fiction?  Of course, I have only one story to tell and that is my story - I can't tell anyone else's. But my story encompasses much and is full of many experiences, trials and tribulations along the paths of my life journey. If I can separate all of my footprints into tales of truth and fantasy, by so doing I should be able to deliver my unique message. Hopefully, the message that I have to tell will be what attracts the reader as they travel through my ('yet to be written') novel, and, although it may not contain all the impressive insights of the world of literary geniuses, I will wish that the reader will become aware of my writer's heart. And, as I begin diligently now to shape my 'novel', I will continue to remind myself that it really doesn't matter what I write, as what I believe and treasure will ultimately show through.