An Artist, Photographer, Writer, Poet

Category Archives: Loss of a Friend

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Daffodil painting from Peace Post Card series


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Thinking of Mimi on her birthdate
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Daffodils are being sold
A sign of spring reminds me
of Mimi so full of joy
and enjoying the changing
of the season.
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What a blessing the world received
the day Joan was born.
Laughter in the rain
the sun in her spirit.
Missing Joan, with each daffodil of spring.
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3/23/2019 … born 1940
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Daffodil painting from Peace Post Card series
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# 1 photo: Tiffany Stained Glass Window
For Annie Kane 1926
One of tryptic:
Alpha: Angel of the Nativity


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# 2 photo: The small intimate chapel to the left of the main altar
inside St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church, Bar Harbor, ME


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Last week, I went to St. Saviours Episcopal Church in
Bar Harbor, primarily to hear Chimesmaster Ilia Karp play
St. Saviour’s bells church bells.
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I planned enough time to walk thru the church
and take time looking at the stained glass windows.
Joan, myself and often Ralph with us,
over the years spent many occasions at the church
for various programs.
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The window that I have here is the one that started me
down memory lane about the times at the church with Joan.
It is near the front door and amazing. Another particular
space was the small chapel where Joan and I had attended,
I believe it was Morning Prayer, during a workshop.
The feeling of intimacy and the Holy Spirit is what I recall now.
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Carillon bells
heard over the village
Amazing Grace
memories stirred
sentimental journey
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written June 13, 2018 // Joan died April 13, 2018
TPOS prompt: June 29 tanka prose
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TPOS prompt: February 4 2013 memory/experience
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# 1 photo: Tiffany Stained Glass Window
For Annie Kane 1926
One of tryptic:
Alpha: Angel of the Nativity
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# 2 photo: The small intimate chapel to the left of the main altar
inside St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church, Bar Harbor, ME
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self prompt: thank you
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long three weeks
waiting for final goodbyes
memories swarmed
the kindness of friends
sharing my loss together
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I started daily thoughts in
writing thinking it would be for a few days.
It turned out to be three weeks until the memorial
service for a close friend.

The day of Joan’s (Mimi’s) memorial service seemed
to be fitting, not for ending, but letting go for now.
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Thanks to all who read my posts and wrote kind notes.
Peace and love to all.



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rainbows after storms
sunbeams and twinkling stars
whisper of a breeze
dragonflies and butterflies
lady bugs bringing luck
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rest in Peace, dear Joan
reminders of you in nature
give all comfort
you’re here with us in spirit
from your Forever Home
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Amen. Hallelujah !!!
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TPOS prompt: May 3 rainbow Sandi Pray
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photo taken at the Ellsworth Waterfront Park
(c) 7/30/2005 Saradunn



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marriage well lived ~ love to last breath
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husband and wife start as two
become matriarch and patriarch
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have legacy of seventeen ~ nineteen with them
through thick and thin ~ in sickness and health
though parted by death ~ still together in spirit
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TPOS cherita form ~ May 20, 2016 prompt: “quiet affection….”

photo: Joan and Ralph, April 1, 2018
Married August 10, 1963
Joan ~ born March 21, 1940 ~ Died April 13, 2018



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always young at heart
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not a surprise to see Mimi rolling along
all decked out in safety gear

laughing all the way
when we hear thunder in the sky
maybe it is Mimi roller blading across the sky
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……….cherita form
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One of my favorite memories of Joan (Mimi)
was the grand-children helping her put the skates on,
the knee pads an helmet …
skating from the kitchen thru the dining room and beyond.
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TPOS August 2016 prompt: the unexpected
…………cherita form
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photo; Saradunn 3/21/1999



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after years of hard work
beside themselves with joy
Joan and Jessie
solemn ceremony shared
ordination to the deaconate
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TPOS prompt: November 8, 2014
the loss of a friend

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Joan’s Anniversary
May 3, 2003 Ordination as Deacon
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Joan had a laser like focus on her goal
of becoming a deacon. She wanted to
minister to the people, which is why she
did not go on to be a priest, who has many
administrative duties (like budgets and
hiring staff, other concerns that would
take ones focus off of being able to
be there for people in their time of need).
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It was a clear call, as far as Joan told me,
to be a deacon and not a priest. The road
to being a deacon is long and difficult with
many of life’s tests along the way, Joan
did not seem daunted by the amount of
study or travel.
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Ralph was her silent partner, without complaint,
by her side,as she followed her faith’s journey.
It was always amazing to see them together,
lovingly supporting each other.
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TPOS prompt: November 8, 2014
the loss of a friend



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loss of a prayerful friend
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Joan was faithful in prayer
She believed in the power of prayer
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turning needs over to God
in prayer and “letting Him take over”
accepting His will not hers
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……………..cherita form
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Joan would show me how she learned
to pray, clasp hands in prayer and open
the fingers of one hand one finger
at at time ~ a reminder of each
prayer petition:
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1. Praise
2. Thanksgiving
3. for Someone Else
4. Confession
5. Request for You, last, maybe for strength, comfort
the right words, thoughts, emotions in a situation
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TPOS prompt: November 8, 2014
the loss of a friend
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originally written for
May 3, 2018 National Day of Prayer

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For myself, giving prayers of thanks
for when Joan,
~ way back in the last century ~
Joan invited me to be on a prayer chain.
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Back before the internet,
and before cell phones,
an ongoing confidential list
was kept and updated by Joan.
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I kept my list in a small notebook …
that I still have with my journals.
Then the list kept
on an e-mail kept a special file.
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With the discovery
of computer post-a-notes
my prayer partner, and I,
keep each othersfriends and family,
the needs of the world
in lifted prayer each day.
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I call it “Joan’s Prayer list” still.
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photo: free use image from internet



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Remembering Joan
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Joan, teacher to all ages ~ especially the young
loved the stories from the Bible

The Nativity story dear to her
Noah’s Ark a favorite
she firmly belived God’s promises kept
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……………………… (cherita form)
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Joan’s sermon’s always well prepared and delivered.
Not to be missed… the message and how she kept
our attention.
Between her sermons, adult ed at church, Church School,
Sunshine Nursery School, the Girl Scouts
… and special
presentations Joan taught untold numbers of people about
her faith, in word and how she lived her life.
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Photos:
3. Joan, Christmas 2003, ready for the Nativity pageant.
2. Noah’s Ark in my kitchen window… don’t even know how long..decades..
always think of Joan when I look at it
3. The Nativity book that I remember Joan getting so excited
about … she loved the story all her life and this was a modern
take on illustrations

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TPOS prompt: November 8, 2014 …the loss of a friend
Cherita form



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love of shared enthusiasm creating memories
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Joan and Ralph ~ two peas in a pod
loved a good adventure, traditions a must

off to the Common Ground Fair 1989
hurricane HUGO no problem with rain gear,
enthusiastic we set off ~ had a grand time
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……..cherita fom
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Not much would stop Joan from something she had
planned. Not even a hurricane… tho snow and sleet
and chance of black ice the exception.
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I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know
Joan’s parents since if we were near Augusta,
we would stop in to at least say hello and visit a
short time.
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On the way home, from trips that were south of
Augusta, after a visit with Joan’s parents, later,
just her mom, we would stop at Perry’s Nut
House in Belfast. Ralph would buy at least some
chocolate covered nuts, Joan and I would roam the store
looking for fun and odd things and laugh.
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TPOS prompt April 8, 2014: adventure
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photos: 1. Common Ground poster for 1989
2. Perry’s Nut House (c) 9/1989 Sigrid Stevens ( Saradunn)