Carol A. Hand
There are times when I just cannot write from the heart. I need to take a break and focus on physical or analytical tasks that help me find emotional detachment and balance. It’s one of the major reasons I have not posted or visited blogs during the holidays.
***
I took this photo in the morning
before I learned that a dear friend died
*

*
It portrays what days of loss
sometimes feel like to me
My grandson’s other grandmother died
just before Christmas, and this morning,
my granddaughter’s father passed away
2018 was a year of so many losses and changes
It’s the third year I have faced my own mortality
Despite a heavy heart, though,
I still awake each morning
knowing that what I do for others now
in the time I have left matters even more
I have snowy sidewalks to shovel
in the north country I love
*

*
There are courses to plan for students
I will learn to care about this year,
and dear family to care for while I’m here
*

*
Despite losses I will continue to rise and greet each day
to do what I can to stay healthy and balanced,
to contribute to the light in simple humble ways
and to remain grateful for the wonder and blessings of life
***
Losses make our heart so much heavier. Thanks for the light you have brought to my dark days in 2018 ❤
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Rosaliene, and for the light you have also brought into my life. ❤
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Sincere condolences and prayers for those you loved who’ve passed on. Even though we know, spiritually, those we love are always with us, the absence of their physical presence is always felt. Wishing you and your family a wonderful, joyful, and happy year filled with grace and abundance.
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Thank you so much for your wise and kind comments, Skywalker. ❤
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Echoing what Skywalker just wrote! Thank you, Carol, for your lovely, thoughtful and reflective post.
I would also like to wish you and your family a wonderful festive season with a special post of mine at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/season-greetings-from-soundeagle-merry-christmas-happy-new-year-and-joyful-holiday/
Happy New Year to you and Skywalker!
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Thank you so much for thoughtful comments, SoundEagle, and for sharing the link to your beautiful poetry and artwork. Sending new year blessings to you, too. ❤
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You are very welcome, Carol. Happy 2019!
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❤
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Hello Carol,
Thank you for visiting my post entitled “Snowflakes, Tell Me Why You Are…” and for complimenting me. It would be very nice if you could kindly give your feedback at the comment section of the post too. To save you typing again, you could just copy and paste your previous comment to my post, if you like.
I notice that for some reason, you visited my Snowflake post entitled “Snowflakes, Tell Me Why You Are…”, but not yet the one that I mentioned in an earlier comment to you, which is available at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/season-greetings-from-soundeagle-merry-christmas-happy-new-year-and-joyful-holiday/
I look forward to receiving your lovely and esteemed feedback at the comment section of said posts. Please be informed that you might need to use a desktop or laptop computer with a large screen to view the rich multimedia contents available for heightening your multisensory enjoyment at my websites, some of which could be too powerful and feature-rich for iPad, iPhone, tablet or other portable devices to handle properly or adequately. A fast broadband connection is also helpful. 🙂
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And the same wishes to you, Sound Eagle.
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Carol,
I fully understand. It’s been at least a year since I last posted. Take care of yourself my friend. I’m hoping you will allow yourself some of the kindness you so generously give to others. You have taught me so much about Native American’s and what it’s like to walk in the margins between two cultures. You helped me to understand what it means to be humble and to nurture the good in other’s even when it’s difficult to see. This friend, your friend, in the foothills of NC would like nothing more than to sit down and give you a shoulder to lean on.
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Dear Kathy, thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely comments. I hope all is going well. I miss your beautiful posts and send deep gratitude to you for your kindness, dear friend, along with my best wishes. ❤
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I am so sorry you’ve faced so many losses, one after another. The nights are long these days. And rather than a humble contribution, you, dear Carol, blaze with light.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Diane. Sending my best wishes to you, dear friend. ❤
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Much the same and more in terms of love and blessings, your way, Carol. May you continue to shine light and caring into the lives of those for whom you cherish. May self-care be a deserving focus for you as we transition into a new year.
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely blessings, Eric. ❤
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Carol, I don’t know how you do it, but you may just be ultra prescient! My dear pal, Buster, went to the Great Doggie Park in the Sky last week, so I am feeling lonely and not particularly cheerful, of course, but your message about loss appeared at the perfect moment. Thank You!
Old Buster was almost 14, which is very old for a Basset Hound. He is going to commission me to continue his blog (since those in the GDP are usually not permitted to communicate with those of us down here on Mother Earth). So, he is very nervous because he knows what a great procrastinator his old pappy is, but he wants me to continue his blog to remind us all that there is only one good in the world, and we must keep applying it by our service and loyalty to one another.
Keep up your wonderful work, and have a Happy New Year!
walt, Buster’s really old pappy.
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Walt, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear companion, Buster. I send you my best wishes and thank you for your always thoughtful comments. May the new year bring you many blessings. ❤
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Thank you, Carol.
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❤
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I am sorry for your losses Carol and wish you A Happy & Healthy New Year!
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Thank you so much for your kind words and blessings, Cindy, Sending my best wishes to you and your family. ❤
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Sending lots of hugs and prayers to you and your family, Carol. ❤ May the New Year be filled with blessings for us all. xo
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Bette, and for sharing your blessings for all. ❤
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On, dear Carol…I wish for you an easier year, filled with joy, peace and lots of the love that you give through the offer of your gifts, to be returned to you. Blessing always. ❤️
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Dear Carrie, thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments and blessings. Sending my best wishes to you and your family. ❤
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I am so sorry. If you need anything, do not hesitate. Love to you and all your family.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Trace, and thank you as well for sharing your lovely new book. I look forward to reading it and chatting sometime soon. Sending hugs and love to you, dear friend. ❤
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My heart goes out to you, Carol. Your commitment of service in the face of hardship and loss is inspiring. I treasure your posts and I wish you peace and joy in the New Year.🌟
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Dear Joan, thank you so much for your kind words and blessings. I so appreciate your lovely poetry and send my best wishes to you and your family. ❤
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Happy New Year!!!
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Thank you very much for the blessing, Balles World. May your new year be filled with joy and wonder. ❤
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Thank you so much 🙂
Greetings, Balle
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❤
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Carol, I echo what others have said. Also, I can relate to what you shared in your post. May your heart continue to light up the lives of others.
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Xena. Sending you hugs and my best wishes. ❤
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Dear Carol, I’m sorry for your losses yet I am also glad for the Light that keeps shining through your Heart and radiates forth as you persevere through it all in this world of impermanence that we live in. My experiences with this started early on in the year when my wife passed away on March 3, her birthday, due to her deterioration from her dementia.
I have also lost several other friends through the year, yet I am still here, although I can definitely tell that I’m slowing down. I also have another friend who was experiencing internal bleeding and was sure he wouldn’t make it until Christmas, but the bleeding stopped as mysteriously as it started and he seems to be doing pretty well, reporting the other day that he had just walked a couple of miles. Life is quite a mystery in spite of all that we think we know about it.
May this new journey around the Sun be filled with much Love, Beauty, Wonder, Peace and Joy for you and your loved ones.
Carl
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Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, insights, and wisdom, Carl. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your wife and some friends this year. And thank you also for sharing such a lovely blessing for the new year. May your new year be blessed as well. ❤
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Poignant, honest and inspiring. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Your thoughtful words are much appreciated. Thank you for your kindness, Notes to Ponder. ❤
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Dear Carol, Happy New Year to you and to your family! No matter what happens, the life goes on and we must continue our way! And we should be happy for those who have left the Earth. Their terrestial jorney is over! But their Heaven one is only beginning! Greetings to Quennie! Chin-chin!
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Thank you for your thoughtful, lovely comments, Maria, and for your new year’s blessings. Queenie, Pinto, and I send our best wishes to you, too, dear friend. ❤
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🙂
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A hard year indeed, one of many here recently! I am sorry for your losses, Carol. It seems we are in that time of life, or at that time of life.
Let us hope for a better, less painful new year ahead, for us and all of humanity!
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Thank you so much for your kind, supportive comments, Dave. I, too, hope for better years ahead for all who share this pale blue dot now and in the future when we are gone…
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May 2019 bring you fewer (if any) losses and much peace.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Mister Muse. Sending you my best wishes for a wonder-filled year. ❤
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Much love, Carol… all the very best for 2019 and a Blessed and wonderful New Year! ♥️
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Iris, and for your new year blessing. Sending my love and best wishes to you, too. ❤
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♥️
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Happy, healthy and peaceful new year to you and your family, my earthling friend Carol! I hope these losses would be last for you, for your family and your loved ones! And for your friends who passed away I want to say that:
“I wish that they sleep under the lights, and the stars would be comrade of them!”
This is a Turkish saying-wish and it is said after a person died to his related ones, like “rest in peace” in English.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely comments, Migo and WD, and for sharing such a beautiful Turkish blessing. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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We are too sending our best wishes to you, my earthling friend Carol! 🙂
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I hear your heart in this, from grief to beauty and wrapped in love, such a wonderful insight into your way of being and an encouragement to others.
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Dear Paul, thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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Thank you so much Carol
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A nice reflectional share from 2018 into another new year. Thanks Carol for being part of the AOC journey.The very best wishes to you and your loved ones, this new year and always!💕
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments and blessings, AOC. Sending my gratitude and best wishes to you. ❤
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❤💕❤☕🍮❤
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The very best of wishes to you for good health to continue on your path further.
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments and blessings, Stephen. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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Yes. All the best.
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so sad
such losses, dear Carol!
may smiles & hugs
greet you,
after waking
every day 🙂
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Ah, David, please forgive my belated reply to such kind and lovely blessings. Wishing you the same, dear friend. ❤
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I’m so sorry to hear of your losses Carol.
We all send your our best wishes. And thank you for taking the time to bring “light” and sharing with us even during the dark times. Wishing you and all your loved ones a blessed 2019 ahead.
Best,
Takami
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Dear Takami, please for give my belated thank you for such kind wishes and blessings. Sending my gratitude and best wishes to you. ❤
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Mortality is a bitch. I think that’s why we write. So we can have a sense that some part of us will live on. Hang in there, Carol. Sending good thoughts your way. :0)
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A belated but nonetheless sincere thank you for your thoughtful comments and good thoughts, P. J. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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Back at you, Carol. 😘
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Joy and peace in 2019.
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A belated but sincere thank you for your kind blessings, Mary Ann. Sending warm wishes to you. ❤
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My pleasure. Hugs and blessings.
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❤
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😢
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Ah! Carol, my heart goes out to you. So much loss. I have had a huge loss as well so I know what you speak of. Thanks for touching the dark places with such beauty and understanding. I send light and love to you ❤
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Dear Lorrie, thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments. Please forgive my belated reply. ❤
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So sorry to read about your loss. It’s a bit late to wish you a happy New Year, though I can still wish you a wonderful Summer. lieve groetjes, Hanneke
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Kind words are never too late, Hanneke. I am deeply grateful from your thoughtful comments and blessings. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤
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