Today we have a guest post from Mountain Rants reader, Ginger, who has responded to Maddie's Letter Challenge. Originally written in the comments section, we have moved it to a guest post because it is a beautiful letter and should be enjoyed by all. A copy of this has also been placed in the "The Letters" section of our blog. Enjoy!
Thanks Ginger! The Mountain Rants Editors ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your letter inspired me to write my own. Here goes...3 Dear Dreams, Hear me out. I know this may seem a bit long winded and it's stuff you already know, but it wasn't so long ago that I finally figured you out. Dreams, you are like the gilt edged ribbons on the presents we get. The gauzy ones with the edge of gold that make the bow stand up and dazzle—like it’s saying, “Look at what I might be.” In much the same way, Dreams, you are the harbinger of “what might be” in my life. I confess; I am a dreamer—never to be confused with a daydreamer. Daydreaming is the fluff on the periphery of my mind. You, Dreams, start in the center of my brain and lodge in my soul. On the one hand, daydreaming is like a sailboat without a rudder, a vessel aimlessly carried by the wind. You, Dreams, on the other hand, have been greatly responsible for plotting the course of my life. My crazy faith in you, Dreams, is not unfounded. You are the stuff, not fluff, of my reality. As a kid, I dreamed of horses. My earliest recollection is of me at four, the youngest of three children, with a widowed mother and a father I don't remember, riding a radiator in a second floor apartment. Dreams, you were my rudder or, more aptly, my reins, and at seventeen “city kid me” with my newbie driving license bought a horse and drove fifty miles at night to care for it. Thanks to you, Dreams, my passion became a reality. Two more horses to follow, and it has both literally and figuratively been a great ride. Now I'll fill you in on the stuff you'd have no way of knowing. Only recently I've realized not to become complacent about “dreams realized.” Passions realized are not endings but rather the impetus to invite you to coffee, a walk in the woods, or out in a boat on the ocean. When one dream becomes a reality, it's time to start dreaming again. I had a dream of catching a big fish and landed a thirty-five pound striped bass which led to a seventy pound marlin. And because you are such a task master, Dreams, I've started strength training so I can land a tuna. I totally understand; dreams without work are merely daydreams. Yup, you're like the gilt edged ribbon on the present. Sometimes what's under the lid is a disappointment, but, more often than not, it's more than I ever could've dreamed of. Thank you from the depths of my soul, Ginger
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Hello Mountain Rant readers, For a special treat, we have our first Guest Blog post today. Today's Post is written by Michelle Armistead, who lives in Marlboro New Jersey. For those of you who don't know, Marlboro is in Monmouth county, near the first shore towns. Without further ado, let's hear from Michelle! Hello Mountain Rants Readers, I loved the idea of Wayne’s blog post “There is Beauty All Around Us”, and I knew immediately that I wanted to have my own pictures of beauty from the Garden State: New Jersey posted to the blog. New Jersey is often the butt of many jokes, but to me, it is a wonderful, beautiful place to live. We have mountains (ok—no pics of them this time, but I will add to this over time if Wayne’s willing), lakes, streams, farmland and perhaps my favorite, the beaches. No, not just the beach life seen in that awful show Jersey Shore. My pictures of the beach are from Sea Bright. This is a small public beach that I have been going to for almost 30 years! I love early morning there: a few bird prints left in the sand, a lone stretch of footprints from an early walker, and the flag on the life guard stand blowing in the breeze. The shoreline brings me peace and a sense of renewal. When I come home from the beach, whether it was a perfect day, or somewhat overcast, I feel like a new person! (This is how I believe my brother feels with his NH mountains.) The views of a long stretch of beach/foliage jutting into the ocean are of Sandy Hook Gateway National Park. They were taken from a stretch of road known as Scenic Drive, a road in the hills of Highlands with many beautiful views. This road leads to Mt. Mitchel, a place Wayne often visited and has brought his daughters to when visiting NJ. There is a monument here in honor of the people from the area who were killed on 9/11. A piece of steel from the twin towers is clasped in its talons. The Twin Lights rise above the ocean overlooking Sandy Hook and are still working today. Here are a couple of pictures from there. The great horned owl is a recurring visitor to our yard this summer. He sometimes comes so close to our window that we can see his bright yellow/green eyes and the feathers covering his feet! I often bring my dog to Holmdel Park, and took this picture of the trees reflecting in the pond as we walked. This is one of my favorite parks in the area. There are gardens in the park, too, that have many pretty flowers. Being I live along the shore, water is a recurring theme. Not all of our views are of the ocean, however. We have bays and rivers as well. I find the Atlantic Highlands marina is beautiful during the summer. We also enjoy boat rides along the Hudson River and sunsets over the Navesink River. Finally, I find beauty around my home too. The flowers and trees in my yard. Rainbows after a rain, and my Christmas tree! Last but not least, not all of the life has to be wild to be beautiful! Here is a picture of my dog Willie! Well, I hope you enjoy my ideas of some of the beauty found in New Jersey. Michelle Thanks, Michelle, Great post!
I hope you have liked today's guest post. If anyone else would like to do a guest post to show some of the beauty in your area, send me some pictures and a little bit of commentary. Beauty becomes more powerful when it is shared! My email address is [email protected] |
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