The Family Search: Margaret & Michael

I have had some success this past week. I found Margaret first of all, and a newspaper article announcing her and Dad's marriage on November 20, 1941. Since then, I have found Michael and William online, and it has been quite stunning and somewhat shocking to say the least.

In this search I have found out some information that I have been wondering about my whole life; or at least since my awareness of their existence. I actually found an audio recording of Michael's voice where he is telling his life story. This was very emotional for me, as it was him explaining what happened in the early years of his life, and when Dad left. He was about 67 years old, only a few years ago.

This is the terrible reality of how violence can go on from generation to generation. The violence that Dad experienced as a child, the lack of love from his father, the sight of his own father walking away and never coming back - this was the horror that his children experienced and the awful reality that Dad had to face knowing what he had done. I don't know how he could live with himself all those years. But I do believe that to cope with what he had done, and to go on in his life, he eventually must have decided that he would never let that happen again, and he didn't by the time I came along. He loved me, and I new it. He was always there for me. And he never harmed me.

Horoscope

Someone who is making a lot of changes in their life is looking to you for guidance on what to do next, and you are more than ready to give it. The true sense of purpose for the alliance you are building with this person is not completely clear yet, but you will understand why you are so compelled to help them out soon enough. All you need to do is follow your instincts, stay present in the moment, and be ready to gain inspiration from their remarkable transformation.

Logo for Washington Wild

I'm so pleased that my logo design was chosen to be the new logo for Washington Wild! They will be using it on their website, facebook page and in print.

Letting Go

To find the courage to let go...that is what I wish for someone I know. It is a person who needs to find in themselves the center of their being in order to release those things that hold them back and hold them down. How do you save yourself from the toxic environment of such a person, while trying to keep from hurting said person?

Word of the Day

The word of the day is Content. Content in that I am content with my work for now, at this point. Content, as in content in my daily life, for now, as it goes along, and I feel thankful that I am employed and we are doing OK. Content, as in the content of something; that which is contained in; the content and how the content is part of what I do, what I manage, what I must go through. Content with the content. Does that make sense? It does to me...but then I am writing it. Content. Happy. Content. That which is contained within. Both and each, different and in relation to each other. Content. The word of the day.

I Love Designing

I thoroughly love designing. I recently completed a logo for a competition. It was a fun project and I felt satisfied in the challenge of it. I think I can expand my creative mind by taking on occasional projects, even if it is just for the sake of doing the work itself. The reward is the expression of color and form and line to attain a certain outcome...that is the challenge, and that challenge is always a tough one. But it reminds me that it is not always about the outcome, but in the doing, that we gain and learn, and feel the creative energy stirring.

Twin Ponds Park

One of our local parks less than an mile from our house is Twin Ponds. We have seen a great blue heron there, many ducks, and just recently, a small family of ducks. Walked by the north side of the park and noticed a mallard in the water, and a female on the short carefully nesting with her young ducklings. We could make out 4 babies under her wings, with their little beeks poking out.
The path around the ponds has an almost ancient feel to it, with lots of roots in the dirt, many trees, and tiny forrest glades among the shore path. Twin Ponds is where Thornton Creek starts, and goes all the way down in to Seattle, to Matthews Beach. What a treasure!