Let me begin this post by asking someone to get the smelling salts and a cool cloth for our wonderful hostess. Reason being is that because as soon as she realizes that I am actually posting something here she will no doubt faint and fall from her chair. Lol!

This post is way overdue. I had been asked some time ago to post something, anything, that ran thru the cavities of my mind but as I usually do, I procrastinated. But this past weekend a wonderful post was published and I wanted all to know it reached one of its intended targets. Now I am positive, knowing how our hostess enjoys to motivate and inspire us all to achieve our greatest potential, that this post was intended for all, yet when she fired that shotgun, one of those pellets was aimed at me.

I know this to be true because this Lady knows the passion that I possess. She knows the fire that burns within my soul. She knows the joy I am filled with each and everyday because “Life is Simply Good”. And as her post of this past weekend stated, we have to be careful to keep passion alive. She knows that a few years ago my passion almost died.

Life itself can be very cruel. Day to day living can become our worst enemy. I struggled for several years in darkness wondering what had happen within me that was creating the misery my existence had become. Visits to doctors and counselors did nothing to help. Drugs only compounded the problem by turning the pain and emptiness into numbness. Then fortunately, miraculously, I met a man who helped me understand that the basis of who we are is defined by a fire, a fire that burns within us all, a fire that defines who we are. And that life, as great as it can be, can be the one entity that will put that fire out. The “day to day” can become wet, smothering blankets, snuffing our fire, strangling us, suffocating us, depriving our very soul of life itself, if we allow them to pile upon our fire.

My friend knows that I now guard my fire, she knows a great passion burns within me and she helps me protect it by reminding me to cast away those smothering blankets. Her goodness, her kindness, her love…drives her to protect the very passion that has singed her soul…

And for her, and for me, I wish to take a moment to let everyone know, that come the morning, you can find me upon the top of the world. (Or as close as I can get to it in Georgia). I may be covered in a blanket of clouds or I may be witnessing one of the greatest sunrises known to man or I may just be standing there looking around me marveling at the world in which I live. And that later in the day, I will look upon the innocence of my grandson and delight in him as the two of us explore together the world of tractors. And tho he is only 23 months old, I will do all I can to show him how to love and enjoy, his own passions.

Whether I am basking in the golden rays of warmth, delighting in the coolness of the moisture laden morn, or watching his blue eyes beam with shear happiness, two things will be certain. I will have my camera in my hand and my heart will be bursting with a passion that few can understand.

Dear Lady…Never will I forget…to take time for me. Thank you.

Now take time for yourself…

William