« Older Archive for August, 2009

Thanks For My Eyesight

Monday, August 31st, 2009 by Alyice

I just got through watching an episode of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, in which a photographer was in danger of losing his eyesight for good. Determined to get the most out of the vision he had left, he set out to take photographs of all the beauty around him—even at the expense of his health. He said that if all he was going to be able to see is darkness then he wanted his memories to be of something beautiful and pleasant, not of the war he covered.

It was at that point I felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude for my own eyesight. Sometimes I get so annoyed with having to wear glasses that I wish for perfect vision—or at least the guts and funds to remove my astigmatism with lasek eye surgery. Sometimes, I just want to wake up in the morning and not have to reach for a pair of glasses. But at that moment, I realized that imperfect vision is far better than no vision at all.

Think about it. What would the world be like if all of a sudden all you saw was darkness?

What if you could never again watch white, fluffy clouds gracefully float across the sky, forming various shapes, figures, and scenes? What if you could never see the smile on your children’s faces? What if you could never see colors, or textures, or diversity? What if you could never look into your loved one’s eyes again? What if you could never paint another painting, or sew another quilt, or build another craft? What if you could never see the cinematography in another film? What if all you saw was darkness?

Our lives are enriched every day by the sights we see. I can’t imagine never having my sight, and hope to never have to experience such a loss. So yes, today I am grateful for my less than 20/20 vision.

Give thanks…

Posted in It's Gratitude, Dude! | Comments Off

Featured on akg Mag

Friday, August 28th, 2009 by Alyice

I was featured on akg Mag: a website dedicated to helping artists and writers promote their work.

Here is a glimpse into the interview:

…I am truly inspired by relationships. When my relationships are going strong, I feel more motivated and inspired. When my relationships are suffering, for whatever reason, so does my creativity…I also find that spending time with nature is very inspiring. There’s something very intoxicating about smelling the fragrance of flowers in the garden, or listening to the birds sing, or watching the trees dance with the wind, or observing animals in their natural habitats…

To read more, click here.

Keep Creating

Posted in Find Me Online | 2 Comments »

Thanks For The Little Things

Friday, August 28th, 2009 by Alyice

Yesterday afternoon, we dropped our son off at college, said our good-byes, and commenced to make the long drive home. This morning, I woke up in his room—where I had fallen asleep holding his pillow and looking up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on his wall—feeling his absence.

I tried desperately not to call him, but by mid-afternoon I couldn’t contain myself. I called his cell, but there was no answer so I left a message. Then I dropped him a really quick email that simply said, “How was your first night away from home? Did you eat breakfast? Are you doing okay?” So far, I haven’t heard back from him. I suspected I wouldn’t as he’s away for the ROTC camp-out, but I just needed to reach out to him—to let him know that I love him and that I am thinking of him.

This is the first time he’s been so far away from home and for so long. He’s 18 years old; a man in the sight of the legal system and a college student to everyone else. But to me, he’s still my baby boy, and always will be.

It’s hard to let him grow up and find his independence. It’s hard to let him be a man and make his own decisions without mom there to back him up—whatever the outcome. It’s hard but I know it’s his right of passage. And he’s worked so hard and so long to prove himself to me, to his dad, to himself.

I knew this day was coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier. For 18 years I took care of this boy. For 18 years he lived in the same house with me. For 18 years thinking about his needs, desires, and wants were second nature to me. For 18 years he was a big part of my life. For 18 years I looked after him and now, I must let him go—to find his own way in the world.

And right now, at this very moment, it feels as though part of me is missing.

I went to the grocery store today and it was hard. There were certain food items that I would always buy just for him and now there was no need. Then I came home and walked into the bathroom where I found his favorite toothpaste and it became hard again. Then I washed a load of laundry and found a pair of shorts we forgot to pack, and again, it was hard. Then my daughter came home from school, and the house was quiet—there was no horseplay, there was no laughter, just silence—and it was hard again. Then we went to Subway® to pick up dinner and there was no need to buy his favorite sandwich—Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki. And that’s when I realized, as the tears gently streamed down my face, that this letting him grow up is going to be tough.

And yet, I know that he’s only a phone call, an email, or a 6 hour drive away. And for that, I am extremely grateful.

Give thanks…

Posted in It's Gratitude, Dude! | 2 Comments »

Pages: 1 2 3 Next

AlyiceEdrich.com
I'm a mixed media artist and freelance writer. Need web content? Want to commission or license art? Let's Talk.

All images and content are copyright protected.

Shop My e-Stores

Coming Home

My Blogroll

Return To Home Page

Follow Me

Become A Facebook Fan

Need A Guest Blogger?

an email

Need A Guest Designer?