Moods

Quieter And Yet More Quiet

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1 Sunrise side_010

“The moon went slowly down in loveliness; she departed into the depth of the horizon, and long veil-like shadows crept up the sky through which the stars appeared. Soon, however, they too began to pale before a splendour in the east, and the advent of the dawn declared itself in the newborn blue of heaven. Quieter and yet more quiet grew the sea, quiet as the soft mist that brooded on her bosom, and covered up her troubling, as in our tempestuous life the transitory wreaths of sleep brook upon a pain-racked soul, causing it to forget its sorrow. From the east to the west sped those angels of the Dawn, from sea to sea, from mountain-top to mountain-top, scattering light from breast and wing. On they sped out of the darkness, perfect, glorious; on, over the quiet sea, over the low coast-line, and the swamps beyond, and the mountains above them; over those who slept in peace and those who woke in sorrow; over the evil and the good; over the living and the dead; over the wide world and all that breathes or has breathed thereon.”

― H. Rider Haggard, She

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about these photos. Something about the moonlight, the coming dawn, the night into morning. Of waiting and patience. Of observation and possibly inspiration. But I am not a storyteller. I am, at best, a chronicler of life in a virtual world. So, as I often do, I looked for a song or a quote to inspire my tale.

I stumbled upon this passage from Haggard’s book, She, a story I read several years ago when I was on a Classics binge. While the plot is intriguing, exploring a realm of adventure, fantasy and feminine mystique, what spoke to me was Haggard’s lyrical prose: the way each phrase is lovingly crafted, each word building upon the previous to create a literary masterpiece. It evokes feelings of suffering, uncertainty and finally, hope. The story of Horace, Leo and Ayesha was ground-breaking when written, but the emotion I felt when I read these lines is timeless.

1 Sunrise side_013

To sit on a deserted beach, the moon giving way to stars and finally to the promise of dawn, whether in the real or virtual world, allows the soul a chance to reflect and heal. When the crashing of the waves, the wind in the trees, the beating of one’s own heart becomes quieter and yet more quiet, peace comes at last.

Unexpected Unicorns

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1 Pink Fuel Harley Peach Arcade 2

This was going to be yet another fashion post. I shot and processed the photos to be about the shoes and my skin. I had even started writing the entry. But something kept going through the back of my mind, and I decided to share it instead. So no, the pictures don’t illustrate the story. But I’m not going to apologise for that.

I suppose this is what I would classify as a “Mood” post. Normally I write those when I’m sad or upset. I’ve had a few knocks in recent months, but this blog, and more importantly, the people in my virtual life, have helped me to weather them. I see so many people complaining, whinging and moaning in Second Life, on Facebook and other social media platforms. All. The. Time. And it does make me sad, which in turn makes me angry. I know that a lot of people feel the need to express their hardship with a torrent of emotion to anyone within earshot (or viewing distance, as the case may be). But when all you hear from a person is vitriolic spewing against their partner, family, circumstance or whatever (perceived) injustice may have been dumped upon their head, it’s easy to become immune to the suffering they may actually be experiencing. It becomes a bit like the boy who cried wolf. Or being trapped in a cave with a never-ending echo.

Now, before you start giving me a hard time about being cold or insensitive, hear me out. I am not without compassion. I am not without empathy. And I am not without fault. I, too, have carried on about some horrible occurrence(s) in my life. But I do try to confine it to one or two people. Preferably, those who are directly involved. And if not, to a confidante whom I know I can pour my heart and soul out to, and he or she can do the same with me. I’m a private person, and I try to shield all but the closest to me from any outpouring of emotion.

So here’s the skinny…I’m happy. I’m smiling. And I’m so blessed to have those few wonderful people in my life. And I have this blog where I can express myself freely. My wish for those of you who seem to have nothing but one horrible thing after another happen to you is for peace. And the ability to see that there are silver linings and unexpected unicorns everywhere, just waiting to be discovered.

1 Pink Fuel Harley Arcade 2 FL

You just have to be willing to look for them.

Credits:
Skin: [PF] Harley – Arcade 02 (The Arcade)
Hair: tram C407 hair / maroon (size40)
Top: DN Mesh: Bodysuit
Skirt: DN Mesh: Pleated Skirt
Shoes: [Gos] Mae Platform – Polka Dot (FaMESHed)
Necklace: MG – Necklace – Summer LadyBird – White (The Arcade)
Earrings: .:* LOULOU&CO *:. – Earring :: HESPERIDE ::
Eyes: Mayfly – Liquid Light Eyes (Glacial River, w3)

Poses:
Top photo: Glitterati – Backed Up 10
Bottom photo: [Ca.co] Lusty 10F

A Mother’s Gift

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1 A Writers thoughts

The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.
~Norbet Platt

Today has been a difficult one. I spent all morning working on what turned out to be the most challenging client photos I’ve ever done. I finished them, but I’m not sure if I succeeded – my client hasn’t seen them yet. So I’ll worry until she sees them and gives me her feedback.

But more difficult is that it is Mothers’ Day. My Mom passed away last year, the day after Mothers’ Day. So this is my first without her. I’ve tried to keep my mind off of it, but it’s there, always at the edge of my thoughts. I’m well and truly a grown woman, but when I think of her, it’s always as her baby. I also lost my sister this year. She was much older than me – she was married before I was born and I have nieces very close to my age. Growing up, she was a surrogate mother. It wasn’t until I reached adulthood that we came to have a relationship of sisterhood.

I miss them both.

So what does all of this have to do with the quote I opened my post with? Well, while I rarely actually ever write with a pen and paper any longer, I often express my feelings by putting fingertips to keyboard. My avatar, on the other hand, is quite content to sit under a tree in her garden, scratching her thoughts into a notebook. I sat watching her and suddenly, I heard the birds singing, I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face, feel the gentle breeze against my bare toes.

And most of all, I felt my mother’s love. And my equilibrium settled slowly back into place. Her Mothers’ Day gift to me.