Some Irish Blessing

Irish Marriage Blessing

May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.

An Old Irish Blessing (My Favorite)

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A Gaelic Christening Blessing

Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.
Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

An Irish Prayer

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

An Old Cradle Song
(Song I sang when taking voice lessons)

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will lend thee,
All through the night
Soft and drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
Mother dear her watch is keeping,
All through the night
God is here, you'll not be lonely,
All through the night
'Tis not I who guards thee only,
All through the night
Night's dark shades will soon be over,
Still my watchful care shall hover,
God with me His watch is keeping,
All through the night

An Old Celtic Blessing

May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow...
I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain...
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight...
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there... I did not die...

Said when dressing

Lord, clothe me with the robes of innocence.

Said during thunder and lightning

O Lord, be between us and harm and protect us from the harm of the world.

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart,
and give me right faith,
certain hope,
and perfect charity,
wisdom and understanding,
Lord, that I may carry out
your holy and true command.
Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi

Images

Natalie's talent with the brush and the camera. They are lovely snaps of a person's inner beauty.

3 de Enero 1987

Mi Gonzalito querido
Este perrito te lleva todo mi carino, no te figuras cuanto deseo verte y estar contigo.
Vendras pronto? para verte quizas antes que me vaya?
Miles de besos de tu tia madrina.
Lucila
3 de Enero 1987

1985

Gonzalo
Speaks with accent
never minds.
Runs like a deer
Works like a horse
Always
Underneath the Southern Cross

Jim "Jaime" Pace

Many Days

Many days, months, and years have gone by
The cool winds of fall do not bring new hopes
They bring old memories back
Tears flow easily through my sould making my body shiver
My golden castles have turned gray
And only hopes of having hopes is left in me
I plead for help to God
I feel alone in this vast infinity
Dreams bring back old friends and times
Times which shall not return
And I think, think
I think about the past and dream about the future
Life is not as bright and gay as it used to be
Responsabilities rest in front of my path
To whom am i responsible?
Feelings fill my soul and they over flow
Spilling down the slopes of dispair, dishonesty, pain
Allow me to empty my love and feel nothing
Is life a burden or a precious stone?
I cannot find beauty
Wisth that desires for the vail of darkness
to sumone to my feet and to ingulf in its blackness
my life away
For ever

(It is thought that this is sad, and it is but when I read it I find hope for the future and I know that with just as much intensity life and love is around the corner. You are that life and love which has changed m life and now I can love.

Carelessly

I love you
no possible way to understand

I hate you
the only way to be free

Anything in between
confuses the mind and wastes time

Live life, be free
and carelessly HAPPY.

Desire

Desire
Wish
Death
Weak or strong
both reduced to nothing
weak

Today

Today I picked-up my old book
my book of memories
my book of the past
book of love
book of smiles
and childish games

Those good times
my old book is a good book
a simple book
a book ofr now
a book for the future

My old book is the book of God
a birthday present
a present of love.

P.S.

Uno de estos dias te contare aquella leccion que tu me enseñaste antes que nacieras. Tu tio Gonzalo

To be empty

Have seen many beautiful things
and I keep all of them within
Want to share them
let people know about them
I am afraid to be emptied

Frances

Hoy escuche tu voz
aunque los años pasaron
y yo no te vi
how te conoci de nuevo

No se de tu apariencia
o de tu sonrisa
pero se que ya no eres
aquella pequena sobrina
(tan simpatica ella)

Hoy mi corazon se paro momentariamente
y no supe que chisme decirte
o que cuento contarte
pero si

Hoy senti que tu estas en my corazon
y queria verte
ver tu apariencia y sonrisa

Hoy mi cariño por vos surgio denuevo
mi querida Frances

Hugo

Me ensenaste una leccion
aunque en es entonces no entendi
ahora si

Y mas que todo
te agradesco
por haber tomado pare en mi vida

Lagrimas caen por mis mejillas
cuando pienso en vos

Aunque son de pena
tambien so de alegria

Pues tu me ensenaste
a tolerar y amar

Gracias a esa bondad
con la cual la vida
te llevo por un camino muy estrecho

I hear silence

I HEAR SILENCE
IN THE BOISTEROUS WOODS
BUT IT IS A TRUE SILENCE

Human side to the Iraqi war

This picture is from AP "An Iraqi boy talks to a British soldier in Basra, southeast of Baghdad." It appears that the boy is giving a lesson to the soldier and the soldier is attentive listening. Wishful thinking to toy with the idea that adults would listen to the sensitive perception of youth.

Beat of Your Heart

Hayley Westenra does a fantastic job singing this particular song


Carry me away from this dark and lonely room
Light me in your arms - all I want to know is you
Chase away the darkness with everything you are
I will find my strength in the beat of your heart

Picture book of memories, how we used to be
Some people spend a lifetime waiting for their dreams
But I won't find the answers by looking at the stars
I will find my strength in the beat of your heart

Time held in our hands
Will change into years gone by
If I can hold on to you
I'll leave all my fears behind

Holding on we drift like two flowers on the sea
Riding on the waves letting go of what will be
I won't find the answers by staring at the stars
I've found all my dreams in the beat of your heart
I've found all my dreams in the beat of your heart

Los barrios de La Paz

Foto y articulo publicado por el periodico La Razon. El Castillo Camacho es donde yo vivi mis primeros 12 anios de mi vida.

Picture and article published by La Razon. The Camacho Castle was where I lived the first 12 years of my life.


Foto: Arte Gismondi / Archivo La Razón. CASTILLO CAMACHO • Final de la avenida Saavedra, primera mitad del siglo XX.

Photo by: Arte Gismondi / Archive La Razon. CAMACHO CASTLE • End of Savedra Avenue, first half of the 20th century.

Como homenaje al 458 aniversario de fundación de Nuestra Señora de La Paz en un fascinante ámbito prehispánico, el equipo “Nueva Generación” de la Carrera de Historia, UMSA, presenta artículos que destacan las identidades y sentidos de la ciudad y su entorno. El propósito es que la fuerza del pasado inspire, ante los retos actuales de mantener y proyectar espacios de democracia y diversidad con sentido humano. La coordinación estuvo a cargo de Magdalena Cajías, Jorge Ocsa, Marcelo Ticona y Raúl Calderón.

o-neko-san

Life experiences teaches us differently but as humans we have many common elements that relate to each other...thus, the following words from a friend I find very admiring if not correct and beautiful...


"...we were too immature to grow together. To me, marriage needs respect to the extent of admiration... acceptance... incessant interest... mutual support and urge for self-perfection... common passions... feeling of reliability and value... sensual desire... so many things!"

Under the Moon Light

Part II: At Sunset

The warmth of the sun is gone
A bright and cheerful moon takes its place
Accompanied by a cool soft wind.

The memories of a passionate day is a reflection
A clear and melancholic one
A reflection rocking over a calmed and serene current

Deep within is a warm and happy heart
Longing for a new sunny day
Until then we hope

Hope for another sunrise
A never ending, sensual and happy one

Under the Moon Light

Part One: At Sunrise

Looking through clear waters
The river flows through reality and surprise
Bringing exciting colors and lives
All evolved by a new sunrise.

The day is nice
The sun shines over us
The breeze cools our spirit
To a perfect feeling of warmth and happiness

Is it what we see
Is the sun comforting our souls
Is our imagination interpreting what is beyond our eyes

Is that what makes this one time
The perfect moment in our lives

Life is a balance
Balance between what to take and what to give

Look at the balance
Take what we can and let us be happy
Just remember that happiness has a price
And the price will be measured by the balance of life

In the memory

The link from a child to an aging man
A simple memory of the past
The lack of future memories
But an intense desire of the past

There in the mind

People, events, places are one
Cherished, embraced, unforgotten
A song, a smell, a taste, a face, a memory
Bring forth memories of the past

Cherished, embrace, unforgotten
The link from a child to an aging man
Don’t let go but hang in there
Grasp them, hard and forever

In the memory

A moment in the life of a couple in Shanghai at People's Square. She was so happy when I offered to take her picture and so confused when I did not offer any modeling tips.

Her "honey" (gentleman with her) did not want their picture taken (together) but I stole this moment. He said I reminded him of his father, a very kind person. What a pleasant and nice complement.

I discovered that as a photographer I am a dream maker. I gave this lovely Shanghai woman the dream to be beautiful for a moment.

Thirty

Thirty one days
but it is not a month
it is just a thought in time

Thirty one days
Thirty one years

Jennifer

It has been an eternity since the first time I saw you but feels like it happened yesterday.

You probably don't think of me much and you must have your reasons. Regardless, you are the one that mixes with my happy dreams and at times you become those dreams.

I could not talk about perfection but there exist other images that comes to mind whenever I dare to drift into conceiving your image - an image that overcomes my soul. It is not only an image but a feeling, something that emmanates from within.

Many times I wonder if I should feel so wonderfully about you.

Maybe we both are beyond rational explanations - more likely we are. The fact remains, my love for you.

Love? Many have my battles suffered to find the meaning of love. Conclusively, I love you...

Within me you are more luminous than the stars. To think about you is like bringing down the stars from the sky allowing them to shine in me with a sparkle of celestial light and a warmth of peace and happiness.

Such a great feeling.

It does not matter what occured in the past. When you are in my mind I only see the kindness and caring that you possess which augments my like and love for you.

At times I wonder if it is possible to like someone completely, not because of pefection but as an individual, fully. Thinking over and over I conclude that it is possible simply because all those wonderful qualities that you have are so great. There is neither time nor room to think of anything else but how lovely and wonderful you are.

The time you were kind and loving with me are deeply engraved in my memory. Only could I thank the creator for giving me such experience.

To know you have taught me a different view and feeling about life. Now I find the cool breeze of winter the warm rays of summer to be wonderful and make me happy. If there is only one thing that I am most grateful is having had the chance to love you and care for you - feelings that have taken over me and have changed eery moment of my life in a joy, an opportunity to thank the creator for life.

You brought much life to my being, peace, happiness, and beauty.

Playing the radio

10/21/90

The radio is playing "Am I Loosing You" by Tony Milsap and my mind cannot help it but to think of you.

It must be the thunder sounds that make me think of you and the time when the opportunity of sharing some time with you was what was in my mind 24 hours a day.

The thought does come and your whereabouts puzzled me.

Life continues and only God knows best.

Love

No answers

This is not even close to a literature class and it is short. You will not be tested over the material and best of all, nobody has the answers.

Sarah in India

Sarah trying her new Indian outfit. Nice. Looking almost like the locals.

Iraq War "Inhuman" ?

At one time the United States of America might have represented democracy, freedom, and human respect. This is no longer the case. And we who allow this to happen either by not taking action or by participation are just as guilty as the executioners.


"An Iraqi man comforts his 4-year-old son at a regroupment center for POWs of the 101st Airborne Division near An Najaf, Iraq Monday, March 31, 2003. The man was seized in An Najaf with his son and the U.S. military did not want to separate father and son. (AP Photo/Jean-Marc Bouju)"

To be happy

Like a stone falling in space
There is nothing to hold it back
Just the ground at the end of its flight

As the stone falls through the air
Not because the stone is near but because it is real
The course of our path must continue

Lets not wait or try to stop
The turn of events is like time in our lives
It comes and goes but never stops

Like a pendulum that swings to and from
And we hear the tick, tack, tick, tack
There will be a moment we will hear no more

It is not that the end of the road is near
It is only the approach of a turn on the road
Take the turn my dear

Open your wings like you always have
Travel the space of happiness
And find a rest in turbulent winds

You are born to be happy and free
Take to the sky to gather the stars
Live life the way you deserve to live

You deserve to be happy

Part I, II, III

Part I
Without the sun
The east and west merge into nowhere
Without the moon
The path at night becomes obscure
Without the wind
The sailboat is stranded between the waves

Part II
It is a stare in space waiting for an answer that is not there
It is a memory of the past that is not there
It is a moment of light in the darkness of the journey
It is a road that leads ahead of time leaving the past behind

Part II
Can I tell you something?
I miss you and love you very much
You had no words to reply
You had your reasons
Just tell me one more thing
No, it is okay
At this moment
Silence is the right answer

Sunset over Houston

Unique Houston landmark. The vision of a man that made Houston great. What came after, generally people with limited vision, gold diggers "Killing the golden goose" for self gratification.


An a new Houston landmark. Instant gratification and the heroes of modern Houston.


Looking past the obvious, color and urban shape. Perhaps a road that has more meaning to local culture than what meets the eyes.


What man makes is almost nothing to the creation of nature. Look for gold but will never find enough. Admire the beauty in nature and gold becomes insignificant.

Voy A Dormir (poem)

Of course, the prelude to the song Alfonsina y El Mar is the poem "Voy a dormir" by Alfonsina Storni.

VOY A DORMIR

Dientes de flores, cofia de rocío,
manos de hierbas, tú, nodriza fina,
tenme prestas las sábanas terrosas
y el edredón de musgos escardados.

Voy a dormir, nodriza mía, acuéstame.
Ponme una lámpara a la cabecera;
una constelación; la que te guste;
todas son buenas; bájala un poquito.

Déjame sola: oyes romper los brotes...
te acuna un pie celeste desde arriba
y un pájaro te traza unos compases

para que olvides... Gracias. Ah, un encargo:
si él llama nuevamente por teléfono
le dices que no insista, que he salido...

Alfonsina y El Mar (lyrics)

Por la blanda arena que lame el mar
Su pequeña huella no vuelve más
Un sendero solo de pena y silencio llegó
Hasta el agua profunda
Un sendero solo de penas mudas llegó
Hasta la espuma.

Sabe Dios qué angustia te acompañó
Qué dolores viejos calló tu voz
Para recostarte arrullada en el canto
De las caracolas marinas
La canción que canta rn el fondo oscuro del mar
La caracola.

Te vas Alfonsina con tu soledad
¿Qué poemas nuevos fuíste a buscar?
Una voz antigüa de viento y de sal
Te requiebra el alma y la está llevando
Y te vas hacia allá como en sueños
Dormida, Alfonsina vestida de mar.

Cinco sirenitas te llevarán
Por caminos de algas y de coral
Y fosforescentes caballos marinos harán
Una ronda a tu lado
Y los habitantes
Del agua van a jugar pronto a tu lado.

Bájame la lámpara un poco más
Déjame que duerma nodriza, en paz
Y si llama él
No le digas que estoy, dile que,
Alfonsina no vuelve
Y si llama él
No le digas nunca que estoy
Di que me he ido.

Te vas Alfonsina con tu soledad
¿Qué poemas nuevos fueste a buscar?
Una voz antigüa de viento y de sal
Te requiebra el alma
Y la está llevando
Y te vas hacia allá como en sueños
Dormida, Alfonsina vestida de mar.

Alfonsina y El Mar

Alfonsina y El Mar is the title to a very unique and everlasting song. Following is a quote from Wikipedia on Alfonsina Storni.

"Alfonsina was born in Sala Capriasca, Switzerland to an Argentine beer industrialist while in Switzerland for a few years. There Alfonsina learned to speak Italian. Back in Argentina the family was forced, after the business failed, to open a tavern in the city of Rosario, where Alfonsina would work at a variety of chores.

In 1907 she joined a traveling theatre company which took her around the country. With them she performed in Henrik Ibsen's Spectres, Benito Pérez Galdós's La loca de la casa, and Florencio Sánchez's Los muertos.

Back in Rosario she finished her studies as a rural primary teacher, and also started working for Mundo Rosarino and Monos y Monadas local magazines, as well as Mundo Argentino.

In 1911 her son Alejandro was born to an unknown father. She then moved to Buenos Aires, seeking the anonymity of a big city, and deepening her image as a woman constantly challenging society.

In spite of her economic difficulties, she published La inquietud del rosal in 1916, and later started writing for Caras y Caretas magazine while working as a cashier in a shop.

Alfonsina soon became acquaintanced with other writers such as José Enrique Rodó and Amado Nervo, and established friendships with José Ingenieros and Manuel Ugarte.

Her economic situation improved, which allowed her to travel to Montevideo, Uruguay. There she met poetess Juana de Ibarbourou, as well as Horacio Quiroga, with whom she would become great friends. Her 1920 book Languidez received the first Municipal Poetry Prize and the second National Literature Prize.

She taught literature at the Escuela Normal de Lenguas Vivas, and she published Ocre. Her style now showed more realism than before, and a strongly feminist theme. Solitude and marginality began to affect her health, and worsening emotional problems forced her to leave her job as teacher.

Trips to Europe changed her writing by helping her to lose her formal models, and reach a more dramatic lyricism, loaded with an erotic vehemence unknown in those days, and new feminists thoughts in Mundo de siete pozos (1934) and Mascarilla y trébol (1938).

A year and a half after her friend Quiroga committed suicide in 1937, and haunted by solitude and breast cancer, Storni sent her last poem, Voy a dormir ("I'm going to sleep") to La Nación newspaper. The following day she committed suicide, by entering the sea at the La Perla beach near Mar del Plata, Argentina.

This tragic death inspired Ariel Ramírez and Félix Luna to compose the song Alfonsina y el Mar ("Alfonsina and the sea"), which has been interpreted by Mercedes Sosa, Andrés Calamaro, and many others."