Nature's Message for the New Year

I was the editor of the yearbook staff of my junior high when I was in the 8th grade. Funny thing about 8th graders is that they really do not understand the meaning of a deadline until the deadline is upon them...And, thus it should come as no surprise that when I was the editor of the yearbook staff when I was in the 8th grade that I had a freak out moment one afternoon when I realized that we had our final deadline with the publishing company at midnight, and I was short 4 spreads...the 4 spreads that we had saved until the end for a reason...the 4 spreads that were to help define the theme of our book...the 4 spreads that were my sole responsibility...

4 spreads...8 pages...I thought I would be able to whip them out. Afterall, all I needed were pictures and some words that would adequately capture the theme of our book and the year as a whole. Pretty easy for an 13-year-old! Right?

In tears I called my mom.

And, I am not real sure why, but she called my Nana.

A little over an hour later my mom showed at my school with a poem my Nana scrawled on a napkin.

A poem fitting for the final spread, my 8th grade year...and more...

And, as I welcome 2011 I reread and and hope to give honor to those words.

Nature's Message
by Nancy Stanton Holloway

In quiet contemplation I stand along upon the shore
Of a vast and angry sea as it emits a thunderous roar.
My thoughts take me forward to a time yet to be,
And I search for the wisdom to accept gracefully.

My future, and that, in my life noble plan
I will summon the strength and courage to say, "I can! I can!"
The sands of time flow quickly
through the hourglass of life...
My goals, my dreams, my human wants fill my head with strife.
I have so much to accomplish...to study...to learn...to do...
Then suddenly I shout: "Today is my beginning!"
And, "To thine own self be true!"

I am so grateful for this message
as I move onward to the unknown
For the world out there awaits my gifts...
and they are mine and mine alone!

Thanks Nana...thank you for saving me on that April afternoon in 1991 and for so, so, so much more.

Oh, and we had a pretty spectacular time with you at lunch last week as well.
We admired your things...and sighed a sigh of relief that none of my children broke anything in your home this time around! (We really do not have a good track record with that!)Learned more about our heritage...
Laughed at this...I mean, I is pretty funny that this picture shows on Eric's phone every time that K-Dan calls! :) I so with you could see the back...there is an incredibly long tail with feather-like things on the end! And, we gave great thanks that Ballerina did not knock down this Christmas tree! That would have been tragic! Swaying is fine...as long as it stayed standing!

Happy New Year all!