Macros of 'Black Knight' Delphiniums

These are macro shots of the tiny flowers that make up a delphinium bloom.  They were taken back in August of this year, and though summer has gone, I think they are still worthy of a feature here.  I hope they brighten your day.

(Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman, 2009)

(Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman, 2009)

(Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman, 2009)

This is the way of it

The phone rang its special ring that signals a long distance call.  A dear friend from France.  Third sentence informed of a sudden, unanticipated death.  I did not know him well.  Matters not.  It still shocks, pains, sobers.  Tenth sentence told of the diagnosis of cancer in the dead man's thirty-something daughter.  Beyond the sorrow, I was struck by how, in the last few years, death seems to hover.  This poem dripped out with the tears.

What?

Her last breath?

She could not hold on?

He fought the good fight?

It won't be long?

He was only . . .?

How?

Why?

Breathe?

Now?  How?

I am

Breathing. Trying.

Gasping.  Grasping.

Holding 
reluctantly

this bitter pill.

A heavy stone

That won't go down.

It won't!  I won't.

Okay . . . I will.

And so

life and earth

offer

a foretaste

of what will be

Yes, I know . . .

it will be

but surely not for me

or mine
yet.

Heartbeats

whisper

"Yes, sweetheart

for you and yours.

Sooner or later."

Inhale.  Exhale.

Recycle.

Return.

Reconstitute.
Rest.

Mind balks

Heart knows and holds

Body accedes

Soul sits

Life serves life

Always making way

for new life

This is the way of it

Don't fight the inevitable

Embrace life as life presents itself.

LIVE NOW

Until you don't.

This is the way of it.

Fearing Paris

photograph from travelzones.net

Fearing Paris

Suppose that what you fear

could be trapped,

and held in Paris.

Then you would have

the courage to go

everywhere in the world.

All the directions of the compass

open to you,

except the degrees east or west

of true north

that lead to Paris.

Still, you wouldn't dare

put your toes

smack dab on the city limit line.

You're not really willing

to stand on a mountainside

miles away,

and watch the Paris lights

come up at night.

Just to be on the safe side

you decide to stay completely

out of France.

But then danger

seems too close

even to those boundaries,

and you feel

the timid part of you

covering the whole globe again.

You need the kind of friend

who learns your secret and says,

"See Paris first".

~~Marsha Truman Cooper~~

Photographs of Sunny Spain

It's a dreary November day here in the NorthEast, and while sorting and editing photos I came across my daughter her partner's photographs taken in Spain last Spring, 2009.  I have their permission to publish them here.  The ones I have chosen are a few street scenes, buildings, archways found in Seville, Grenada and Cordoba in the south.  Join me on a leisurely stroll through narrow streets in warm, sunny Spain . . . 

Charter for Compassion, TED.com

I'm sure most of you are aware of the wonderful website, TED.  If not, do check it out to discover exciting people and ideas that will inspire and motivate you.  TED has just completed a "Charter of Compassion" at the behest of author Karen Armstrong (The Battle for God;  A History of God;  Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths;  Buddha . . .).  To introduce you to The Charter of Compassion, I quote from TED.com in the rest of this post:


" . . . TED Prize winner Karen Armstrong's wish is realized as the Charter for Compassion officially launches...    http://charterforcompassion.org/  (Click on this link to add your name to The Charter for Compassion.  You can read its 4 short paragraphs below.)

This is a document created by thousands of people around the world. It is capable of enabling a new dialog between the major religions and between religious and nonreligious people.  

Karen's wish was that TED should create and propagate the Charter. That's where we need your help. Email your friends, and do whatever you can on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. We would love to see thousands affirm the Charter. It's truly an idea worth spreading."   http://www.ted.com//

CHARTER FOR COMPASSION

A call to bring the world together…

"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.


We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.


We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community."

(Photographs by Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman, 2009)

AFTERNOTE I:  
From a few of your comments I see that some of you are not familiar with TED.com.  You have been missing something beyond great.  But it is not too late.  You must discover TED.

What is TED?  The best answer is to visit http://www.ted.com/.

TED is an annual event where some of the world’s leading, cutting edge thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design — three broad subject areas. And in fact, TED has moved beyond those three categories, showcasing ideas from a wide range of disciplines. Attendees have called it “the ultimate brain spa”.  The audience is as diverse as are the ideas — CEOs, scientists, creatives, philanthropists — almost as extraordinary as the presenters, who have included Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Frank Gehry, Paul Simon, Sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck and Bono. However, it is most often people I have never heard of who give the talks that excite me the most.  Don't miss out on http://www.TED.com!

AFTERNOTE II:

Bonnie,

Thank you for affirming the Charter for Compassion.
Help spread the Charter more broadly by sharing it with your community: http://charterforcompassion.org/share
Engage in compassionate action: http://charterforcompassion.org/act
Sincerely,
The Charter for Compassion

Paintings & photographs donated to raise $$$ for cancer research

As some of you may know, from reading earlier posts, my daughter was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumour in her bronchial tube in 2008.  Last November she underwent major thoracic surgery and the tumour was successfully removed and her lung saved.  (I made 3 posts about the diagnosis and ensuing surgery and the effects on our lives in early July, 2009.  The first post is entitled, "cancer - my daughter - WHAT???".  You can find it in my archives.)

Carcinoid tumours are a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer with some peculiar properties.  Being related to the neuroendocrine system, they can emit hormones that cause problems (infections, high blood pressure, allergies, blood sugar fluctuations, etc. etc.) in other organs not even close to the tumour site.

My daughter came through her difficult surgery with flying colours and is living her life as normally as possible, albeit with frequent visits to a variety of specialists and with frequent tests.  She has benefitted greatly from her involvement with the Carcinoid NeuroEndocrine Tumour Society of Canada, and is currently helping organize their Montreal 2009 Conference.  Doctors from all over the world will be in attendance as will many neuro-endocrine cancer patients.

There will be a silent auction at the conference to raise money for research into this insidious form of cancer.

I have donated two of my paintings and two of my photographs - published with this post.  Unfortunately, the photographs of the paintings are not the best - they do look good 'in person'.  I hope they attract bidders at the conference who will be generous with their funds for this worthy cause.

Carcinoid NeuroEndocrine Tumour Society Canada

Montreal 2009 Conference on NeuroEndocrine Cancers

November 14 & 15, 2009

Building towards a cure for Neuroendocrine Tumours and Cancers through Research, Education, Awareness and Support.

The Montreal Conference for our NET Patient and Medical community

Our theme for this conference is:

The Case for Research, Education, and the Expert Team.

Conference Learning Objectives:

•Explore diagnosis and treatment options, medically, surgically, and through targeted nuclear and radiotherapeutic options, for patients suspected of having neuroendocrine tumours.

•Examine fundamental and clinical research aimed at understanding the causes of, and possible therapies for, neuroendocrine malignancies.

•Recognize the benefits of a team model approach to health care and the collaborative interaction between health care professionals and patients in the assessment and treatment of NeuroEndocrine malignancies.

I would call you . . .

If I discovered

a magic carpet

of ruby leaves,

waiting

in the middle

of nowhere,

I would call you

to come

and make

a hide-away 

in it

with me.

And there

we'd breathe

until

soft white drops

caressed 

our skin

telling us

it was time,

to

pack up

 ruby-red memories

and go.

Bonnie MacEwan-Zieman

(photograph by www.fabulousnature.com)