Sunshine was for others. This man, this sad and lonely man, did not deserve the sunlight, the reassuring warmth. The ravages of a tormented mind, dismissed the sunshine, dismissed his own validity. And the madness of this man with a broken heart, a broken soul, nearly killed me, nearly saw the sun set on his life forever.
I reached out. The last fragments of a shattered dignity called my name. Slowly, with racing heart and gasping for air, I pulled back the covers to see a wondrous sight. Through the tiny gap between my curtains came forth a streaming shaft of sunshine, glorious sunshine. At that moment, that frozen moment in time, the tears trickled down my face and I began to live once more.
With the support of you, my journey along the highway, destination hope, grows ever strong. I am bathed in sunshine where once there was darkness. I am profoundly grateful.
I have been honoured to have received the "Sunshine Blogger Award" from the lovely and thoughtful Suzanne Bean. Suzanne resides in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia. It is, if you didn't know, the capital of that fair Province and is situated on Vancouver Island. This dear lady is a wonderful writer and an artistic talent to behold. I would kindly suggest, if you have never had the delight of visiting her site, to check it out via this link : Suzanne Bean
If you are down or just need some sunshine in your life, please know that my gift to you is this Sunshine Blogger Award and my heartfelt friendship.
Hello sunshine, my old friend.
You are sunshine to all of us. Keep enjoying the warmth of the sun.
ReplyDeleteHi middle child,
DeleteYou are so nice to say that. Thank you and may the warmth of the sun shine on all of us.
Have a lovely weekend.
Gary
Yes, you are the sunshine for so many. And so is Penny! Congratulations on the award, Gary.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex,
DeleteAnd a good Sunday morning from England. I like to think I am one of countless rays of sunshine within this wonderful community. And indeed, Penny is a shining example of warmth, very much like your good self. Thank you for the congratulations, Alex.
Have a peaceful, positive weekend.
Gary
Congratulations, and what a cool award! Thank you for sharing your sunshine, you've brought a bit of it into our lives just with this post. Even more so, over time with all that you do. Shine on, dear friend :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
DeleteYour congratulations are warmly welcomed. I'm trying to spread a bit of sunshine, metaphorically or for real for some of us. I know we can all be here for each other and wish for sunnier times in our hearts and minds :)
Thanks Kim and may your sunny rays of hope bring further inspiration.
Your friend, Gary :)
What a beautiful award, Gary. Well deserved too.
ReplyDeleteJai
Hi Jai,
DeleteIt is a most meaningful award. Thank you for such kind words.
Sunny hopes and dreams, your way, Gary :)
Congratulations on a truly deserved award. I have also hidden in the shadows and know that it takes a lot of courage to pull back the curtains and greet the new day. Courage that you have to spare. And in reaching out to others have won so many hearts here in the blogosphere that you and Penny are neck and neck in the most loved stakes.
ReplyDeleteHi The Elephant's Child,
DeleteThank you kindly for the congratulations. And you, my friend, understands the courage and determination it takes to move out from behind the shadows.
Your words and transparency are truly touching. Penny and myself are grateful to know you. Sunshine thoughts for a peaceful environment, your way, Gary :)
Congrats on the award and also thanks for passing it on. A bit of sunshine will be welcomed this way.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Hi Yvonne,
DeleteThank you and I pass this onto whoever may need a bit of metaphorical or actual sunshine in their lives. May the symbolic warmth of hope shine from your blog. And yes, a bit more sunshine on this isle that has experienced such a dreadful summer, would be truly welcome.
Warm wishes, Gary :)
What a lovely award - congratulations and long may that sun shine on you :-) x
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
DeleteIt sure is a lovely award and thank you for the congratulations. Long may the sun shine on you, also. Especially after this um 'summer' :)
Gary x
Hello Gary:
ReplyDeleteYou light up the lives of your fellow bloggers in so many ways that the 'Sunshine' award is well and truly deserved. We have enormous admiration for how you have determinedly overcome adversity in your life and how supportive and loyal you are to others who need or welcome your comforting and inspiring words.
Sunshine came softly through the window today......
Greetings Jane and Lance,
DeleteHow very nice of you. I am flattered by your very encouraging words. My ideal, through such transparency, is to show that we can truly be here for each other and that nobody need feel alone.
Through my adversity and through the shares trials and tribulations of others, we embrace hope and the power of friendship. Thank you, my dear friends.
And now the music of Donovan floats through my mind....
With warm wishes, your way, Gary
I, too, share the same admiration and affection towards lovely Suzanne, she was very inspired to give you this award, since it suits you so well. I could never imagine you down Gary, I always discover optimism and joie de vivre on your blog...and here I include beloved Penny :). Shake his paw for me :).
ReplyDeleteHi Petronela,
DeleteOh yes, Suzanne is a lovely, inspirational lady, very much like you. I know that she bestowed that thoughtful award upon your dear self. Which doesn't surprise me at all :)
I have my agonising moments of despair. I know that we all at some point, can experience dark moments. I try to display that we can work through this. Turn a negative into a positive. And to be part of such a kind, caring and supportive community is a magical positive.
I have duly shaken the paw of Penny. She gave me a strange look and then demanded a doggy treat! :)
In peace and sunshine thoughts, your way, Gary :)
Let the sun shine in Gary...let those warm and golden rays touch your heart. It is healing. And ANOTHER award for your rapidly filling shelf. This one is truly appropriate. Now I am going to wander away because the sun is shining here as well....ta da da sunshine, on my shoulders makes me happy.....
ReplyDeleteHi Delores,
DeleteI surely do. The warmth and the reassuring glow within my heart and the dazzling rays from this beautiful community, give me profound strength and inspiration. I'm most grateful to you, Delores.
Oh my, all the song references. Now, a certain song by John Denver is circling in my head :) Here comes the sun...
Oh, Klahanie. I just hit the depths again. Brain chemicals have won, in spite of a good fight on my part, and anything with the word SUN in it is destined to give me a headache too.
ReplyDeleteHey lotta joy,
DeleteAs you will know, when I read your comment, I immediately went over to your blog to see if I could be of support. I believe that your candid verbalisation on your article gave you a modicum of relief. My hopeful thoughts are with you.
In kindness, Gary
There is no shortage of sunshine in Northern Colorado...drought and heat is terrible for those of us who sometimes need a dreary, rainy down day to unwind. :D
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia,
DeleteOh yes, for sure. The weather extremes in the world have been most worrying. At least this can be considered a metaphor for a sunnier time within our well being.
I wish for you much needed rain. As for us, we have just had the dullest, coldest and wettest 'summer' on record. So we could use a bit of sunshine in a literal sense :) Thanks, Patricia.
In kindness, Gary
That was such a beautiful piece. The moment when you are able to feel again, to appreciate... such relief you have to catch your breath. I think the Sunshine Blogger Award was made for you, Gary.
ReplyDeleteHi CarrieBoo,
DeleteThank you. And yes, the "Sunshine Blogger Award" was most appropriate. It made me recall those dark and dreary days and yet it reminded me that I managed to get up from behind the darkness of the covers and see the sunshine. Literally and profoundly for the better.
Thank you, my friend.
Gary :)
you are a ray of sunshine to many congrats on your award
ReplyDeleteCome Say HI
Hi becca,
DeleteThat's most kind of you and thanks for the congrats. I am but one of many, such as you good self, a makes up the rays of warmth and hope.
Thank you, becca.
In kindness, Gary :)
to me the gift of your friendship is the BEST blogging award I could ever hope to receive! Thank YOU for baring your soul with us and huge congratulations on your award!
ReplyDeleteHi Caren,
DeleteThank you and I reckon the friendship we share does indeed go beyond any award. I am most grateful.
I try to use a different angle on awards and this award was a powerful way to show my honesty and my fragility. Thank you very much for the congratulations.
With kind wishes, your way, Gary :)
Congrats on this award given to you, my friend. You are most deserving of it because you represent the positive and uplifting message you try to transcend and imbue others with.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those awards that means a lot, I believe, because of the meaning behind it. I think what you said, regarding the light behind the curtain or seen from far off, no matter how bleak your world or anyone's world seems at times, still exists. That light, that support, that glimmer and power of light still remains in the hearts and minds of others.
You say you offer this award to others. I may accept it. I don't know if I'm worthy these days. I'm troubled, in truth. I will comment on your other posts later, my friend. I have to go. Take care.
Hi Kelly,
DeleteMy good friend, thank your for the congrats. Your words are truly appreciated and yes, you are so right, I try to convey a message of positivity and a shared sense of helping each other.
As you know, much like you, I try to use the awards as symbolic gestures. Or even break the 'rules' when it comes to awards.
This was a statement of hope that I know you would understand. To verbalise, to be candid, is powerful not only for myself, but I so wish it to be of some comfort to others. Yes, my friend, we can all truly be here for each other. This is what you do so well. Your friendship is a treasured gift.
If you wish to accept this award as a ray of symbolism of better times, than so be it. You are going through trying times. You are worthy.
And Kelly, although I admire and appreciate your efforts to go back through my past posts, please do not worry about it. Most importantly is that you look after yourself and your loved ones.
Thank you, Kelly.
In peace and hope, your way, Gary
It's okay, dude. Today, I'm able to do more blog hopping/commenting today because my wife is off but cleaning the house. It's rare that she gets to do this task because of all the days and hours she works. We made an agreement long ago. I don't help clean the house because she doesn't like the way I do it and I'll do everything else- changing the cat litter box, washing dishes, cooking the food, shampooing the carpet and so on. Normally, house cleaning will take her only four to five hours, but unfortunately, her sister is here. That means too much talking (which allows me time on the PC) but it takes her usual time of 4-5 hours and stretches it to 8-9.
DeleteAren't you glad I explained all of this fascinatingly useless info?
Anyway, to conclude, I agree with all that you said in your reply back to me and I will comment on your earlier posts here, anyway, but thanks for the compliment about 'friendship' and I'm going to comment on your previous posts. I feel the same towards you, dude, about our friendship, btw. And maybe my upcoming trip will provide even more rays of sunshine and positivity for me.
Always here for you, too, (remember that)
Kelly
Hey Kelly,
DeleteThank you for the follow on comment. I was glued to the screen reading about your domestic dispersement of duties in your domain. Wow, that was quite good for me, eh :) Anyhow, in between cleaning out the cat shit and chatting away, somehow, with every fibre of your amazing being, you, my illustrious friend, found the time to go around and comment on blogs. Seriously, I'm most flattered that you revisited this article and left comments on my older postings.
I'm really hoping your upcoming holiday brings much sunshine in a literal and peace of mind sense to you. I am truly grateful for your friendship. Good buddy, you are a positive ambience on the other side of this computer screen I'm um 'glued' to :)
Thank you, Kelly.
Sunny wishes, your way, Gary
The most appropriate award for you yet! You are a Sunny Sunshine kind of guy, seeeing things clearly, showing others their true colors and spreading warm wishes.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, keep shining.
Laura
x
Hi Laura,
DeleteYou are very kind. Thank you. Like your kind and sunny self, I'm trying to emanate warm rays of hope and brighter light to all.
Shine on, Laura.
Gary
x
Thanks for the link to Suzanne Bean. Congratulations on the award!
ReplyDeleteHi Dixie,
DeleteYou are very welcome and I know that Suzanne and you share a common love of the arts, of nature, of the magic of words. Thank you for the congratulations.
Dixie, you are a treasure of sunny wishes.
In peace, your way, Gary
Hi Gary;
ReplyDeletecongratulations on the award. Natural clock works and may there are more high noon times on your sundial.
Much Love,
Aliza.
Hi Aliza,
DeleteThank you, dear friend, for the congratulations. Ah, the wonder of a sundial. And may the sundial cast a shadow of noon in the most happiest of ways.
Here's to a sunny time in the hearts and minds of you and your loved ones.
Gary :)
Congratulations. What a perfectly-named award for you. Anyone who's faced and survived the darkness has a special appreciation for the return of sunshine. I'm glad the sun is still shining in your heart, and admire your quest to share some of that sunshine with others.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
DeleteI thank you kindly for the congratulations, dear lady. I reach out for the sun that shines in my heart and I reach out to spread the sunshine hope to all who know of the dark shadows of despair.
You are joy to behold, Susan.
In kindness and sunny wishes, Gary
Dear Gary,
ReplyDeleteSo, another award, and a particularly appropriate one for you, my hairy friend. As Susan says above, anyone who has faced the darkness, like you and, of course, my intellectual beast of a self, can only have more appreciation for the light, when it eventually reappears.
So, here's to many sunny moments and days, your way,
David.
Dear David,
DeleteYes sir, another award and may I add, I'm now caught up with the award announcements.
As you will understand, I do try to use different angles with awards and I thought I could use some profound symbolism with this one. You know of the dark and the dreary. You are now a twinkling, sparkling ray of hope and inspiration.
May we continue to have such sunshine in a fulfilling and positive way. And heck, in a real sense of the word, over here.
And thus, my nocturnal buddy. Here's to you and all the other night owls.
Talk soon,
Gary
I think of the sun as my magic pill. It lifts me up and gives me energy. May your days be filled with the warmth and joy of its rays. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHi Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe,
DeleteAnd that magic pill has been but a fleeting glow where I live. Yet, luckily my inner sunshine will see me through. Thank you for the congratulations and may the rays of happiness shine upon your very good self.
In kindness, Gary :)
Sunshine is there for everyone, I'm glad you chose to let it back into your life.
ReplyDeleteAnd how appropriate that you got this award from someone in sunny Victoria.
Hi Ian,
DeleteEven on the cloudiest, dullest of days, we can still seek out some positive sunshine :)
I thought so, also. A sunny award from sunny Victoria on beautiful Vancouver Island. Thank you, Ian and may you and your loved ones have a sunny weekend on Vancouver Island! :)
Gary
Well deserved too Gary, I think you are a light for many folks on here, and the blogosphere is a better place for you :) Congrats.
ReplyDeleteHey All Consuming,
DeleteThat's very nice of you. I really do try to demonstrate a bright outlook even during the darkest of times. I'm honoured to be part of this great blogging community. Thank you :)
Gary