THE JOURNEY: I definitely can't talk for everyone else that has lost someone, but for myself, holidays have been extraordinarily hard this year. The two big ones are coming up and of course they are the ones that Barb most treasured. I just realized yesterday that I have done nothing. I have not collected gifts for the past two months and hidden them in the closet. I have not gone to the Dollar store and bought out the candy section. I have not put any thought into what to get special friends and family members. And something I have personally done for 25 years was to decorate the outside of the house with lights and moving animals has not really crossed my mind. Now that I am thinking about it my question is what the heck is going on? I believe in my heart I have been doing my own version of a peaceful protest. Yea, I know.....flashback. Without getting too analytical on myself, I think that it is one of the few ways that I can still protest what has happened. A really close friend reminded me that traditions are not just mine but are a shared experience. The lesson here for those of us on this ship is to not forget the important things we have done in the past. Get involved, get input, make changes if you want to but don't let your protest change what is important to remember. It may hurt, but instead of protesting,think of the traditions of your life as a gift.

QUIET PEACE

FLOATING THROUGH TIME
WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN
THE LONGER YOU GET AWAY
DEATH STOPS TAKING SUCH A FIRM GRIP

REFLECTING ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL NOW
SEEMS SO HARD TO PLACE INTO PERSPECTIVE
BUT SO MUCH HAS OCCURRED
SINCE YOUR FORMER REALITY

THE ONLY RELIANCE
IS TO TAKE STOCK ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL
AND LET LOVE GUIDE YOU
TO A PLACE THAT WAS SO HARD TO GET TOO

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
WHERE ARE YOU?
I HAVE COME TO A PLACE THAT EVERYONE SEEKS
THE PLACE OF QUIET PEACE