AWESOME WORDS AT A TIME OF LOSS

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


    In a previous post titled 'THE JOYS OF PEN-PALLING' I mentioned the wonderful meeting that my mom had with her American pen-pal Dorothy Pratt whom she corresponded with for over 60 years. I also included pictures of us all at The Ruins Restaurant in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This morning we heard the sad news of Dorothy's death. I must say how much I admire the positive and uplifting spirit that her daughter Jane has at a time like this. It helps to lift my spirit as someone who has lost loved ones including a twin sister.


     As a writer I have had my say in poems and articles about ways of dealing with the death of a loved one but I have also come across some awesome poems and quotations that I have found most uplifting. I will share these from time to time.


     Today as my family and I think about Dorothy Pratt and her family I share these wonderful words that I got from Twin Loss NZ's publication 'HEARTS & WINGS'


"Do not stand at my grave and weep
           I am not there
           I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints of snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
When you awaken in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds circled in flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die." 
                                                 Author Unknown


Dorothy Pratt's obituary can be seen at the following URL:- www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com

SPORTS FAN - A POEM

In my previous post I wrote about the struggle to regain my deep interest in sports since the death of my identical twin sister. Here is a poem that I wrote about my love for sports: -


SPORTS FAN
BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


I can tell you I am a real sports fan,
It is good when someone believes 'I Can.'
Set out steadfastly on a plan,
Never giving up until success is at hand.


Sometimes feeling the pangs of defeat,
Even coming under intense heat.
But oh, what joy as victory is sweet,
Accolades then come in a heap.


My favourites include athletics and football,
Then I am most enthralled.
Glued and ready to take in all,
When my side wins I have a ball.


I also like the bat and ball game of cricket,
Great to see a bowler on a bouncy wicket.
All celebrate as if they have a winning lotto ticket,
Spirits of supporters take an instant lift.


Sports is always a cause for celebration,
Players and crowds feel the exhilaration.
Supporters ready to give exhaltation,
As persons proudly represent a nation.

REGAINING MY INTEREST IN SPORTS

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


       Janine and I have been big sports fans over the years with our favourites being athletics, football and cricket. We both would be glued to our television sets when these games were on. It has been a real struggle for me to regain the interest that I used to have as we were always watching these events together. Anyway I am working real hard at it and I know that Janine would want me to continue to enjoy these sports.


        So far the sport that I have managed to show the best level of interest in is athletics. No surprise really! We have some great Jamaican athletes - Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Brigette Foster-Hylton, Kaliese Spencer, Melaine Walker, Kerron Stewart etc.  Believe me, with a line-up like this, once you are a big athletics fan, it is not too difficult to regain one's interest, especially when it comes on to the Olympics and World Games!


         Football comes next. I show some interest in local and international competitions and watched the last World Cup. I basically watched the key games. When Janine was around I watched many more games.


         Cricket has been the most difficult one for me. It demands sitting and watching a game for long hours and that still isn't easy. The fact that our West Indies team has not been doing very well in recent times has not really helped. Anyway the Twenty Twenty matches have been rather exciting so I have watched part of these games from time to time.  Yesterday The West Indies team seemed to be hinting to me to get back as they won their first test match since February 2009! This came after 17 matches.


         As I discuss sports, I remember that Janine and I were not  good at it during our high school days.  I can recall us playing these games during our Physical Education classes - volleyball, netball and softball. Did I say playing?!


        Our first cousin, Lister Haughton-James, was a very good coach at St.Mary High School with this school winning Girls, Boys and Eastern Champs a number of times. While we were students at Marymount High School some of the Physical Education teachers wondered if we were really related to him.  Ah well, we were not good at sports but were big sports fans over the years. In another post I will publish my poem titled 'SPORTS FAN.'  


         In the meantime I hope Lister gets to come to Jamaica this year so that I can do an interview of him for the St. Mary High School website. I already have a battery of questions supplied by Otis Sinclair, one of the founders of the site. Of course I will have a few of my own. I wonder if he can explain why Janine and I did not get this knack for athletics!:)

INSPIRED TO WRITE ON!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


       Over the years Janine and I wrote many articles together for local and international publications. Right now I can just picture her with the usual bright smile about my writing success at Writing.Com this week.


      In the previous post I wrote about the impact of some of the submissions by members of the Power Reviewers group, especially blainecindy's lyrics.


      Well, my spirit has been further lifted as I submitted 4 pieces to the group and got many positive reviews. It got even better as I received an Awardicon for my article about Mother's Day 2011 and I was not even able to add the picture of the card that I have here with the post.


      For my poem 'A TRIBUTE TO MOM' I was listed among persons who were winners for the Best Dedications Posted.  I also got the Community Spirit Award for doing the most reviews.


       Life certainly has its ups and downs and it helps when things happen to lift our spirits. The awards and prizes have inspired me to get a good amount of writing done this weekend. Look out, I will share some of them here real soon. 

OH WHAT A SHINING STAR CAN DO!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


        Those of us who are members of the Writing.Com Power Reviewers group have just had 2 very busy days. This month we decided that members of the group would present and review items based on a Mother's Day theme.  I must say that I was impressed with the poems, articles, essays, lyrics etc.  However I was particularly struck by the lyrics of a song by member blainecindy, titled 'JUST ANOTHER STAR IN HEAVEN.'


        When I reviewed this piece I had to tell her that I love the line that said "I know Mama's another star in heaven."  It  certainly lifted my spirit as I immediately recalled what happened during the nights a few days before the second anniversary of the death of my twin sister last year. About 3 nights prior to the date I went into my mother's room and sat alone for awhile. Suddenly I looked through the window and there shining down was a very bright star. It had an amazing impact, so right to the anniversary date I stood at the window for quite some time each night and looked at this very bright star.


     I can't explain why, but the thought came immediately to me that this was Janine telling me that everything was going to be alright. It may be that my imagination was running wild but it certainly helped me through that second anniversary.


     As I read most of the material at Writing.Com about departed loved ones they brought back such special memories. As our ProCom Link Captain Eyestar always states 'Power Reviewers Rock!'

ANOTHER WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!

       Yesterday when I woke up it seemed as if we were in for a bleak day and probably some rain. However the sky became bright and blue which was no surprise on my tropical island of Jamaica. My 2 brothers and I had an enjoyble day with our Mom in the cool hills of Boyne Park. Of course Janine was also here with us in spirit. 


      Above is a picture of the card that we presented to Mom early in the morning. Janine and I always liked making cards for her so I have continued this tradition. I got a cream sheet of cartridge paper and pasted a picture of the Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) on it. This was taken from the January section of a calendar featuring Australian wild flowers.  Strangely enough most of the pictures that I took of it showed a bright light at different sections of the flower. I saw this bright light as indicating that there is always a brighter future ahead.


      You will notice that I have Janine's name listed on the card with these words 'Janine (looking down from heaven).' As I have always told Mom "While you are here on this earth I will be listing Janine's name." She is very pleased about this. 


      It has not been easy for Mom to see only one of us over the last 2 years and 7 months. As she told me after returning home from my Aunt Prilly's funeral, several times she just kept looking beside her and it seemed so strange to have only one of us there. Therefore every opportunity I get I keep Janine alive in her eyes.


     Mom has also done a good job at this. She reminds me that Janine is not in her grave, she is right here with us.


     Well, I am not blowing my own horn but I must say that I was pleased with the Mother's Day lunch that I prepared. It consisted of fried chicken, rice and peas, corn bread, baked ripe plantains and a vegetable salad. Mom and my 2 brothers commented on how lovely it was. They also enjoyed the home-made chocolate ice-cream I made and the cake I baked.


      Throughout the day we had the pleasure of hearing a wide variety of songs especially for mothers on our radio stations.  Some of them were songs using the pulsating reggae beat which is the national music of my country.


     A big part of making the day enjoyable was discussing things about Janine and our celebrations over the years that made us smile. As I said to Mom "Everything went smoothly and quickly that it seemed as if Janine was here helping me. The only thing, I was doing most of it as usual."


      I am happy that I decided to start this Blog and was able to pay special tribute to my mom with posts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I also thank all my friends who took time out to read the posts and indicated that they liked them and wrote comments to me in emails and on Facebook. Furthermore I thank everyone who sent Mom good Mother's Day wishes. She sends her heartfelt thanks to you all.
       

A TRIBUTE TO MOM

By JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


My mother is amazingly great,
That is one point I won't debate.
She makes me oh so proud,
Never one to follow the crowd.


All my life she has taught me right from wrong,
And never to be too quick to join the throng.
Her direction has kept me on the right track,
I have no regrets as I look back.


A lady who has endured life's knocks,
Has had more than her fair share of shocks.
Despite all these personal blows,
Has held her head high and it hardly shows.


I see her as a tower of strength,
Someone who has never lost faith.
For many more years I hope she is around,
Ready and able to give advice that is sound.

A VERY SPECIAL MOTHER!

PICTURES OF MOM WITH HER CHILDREN!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


    From the early age of 13 years old I have only had one parent, my mother, Kathleen Naomi Haughton-James ( nee Lindo).  She became a widow on August 14,1975, when my  father Harry collapsed and died of a heart attack while performing his duties as a Councillor in the St.Mary Parish Council on the tropical island of Jamaica.


    Since that fateful day I have been amazed at the strength that she has displayed when she encountered what I call the valleys on this journey called life. It is not that she did not display sadness for the loss of her husband when she was only 47 years old but managed to have the strength in holding it together and taking care of her family. It was a strength noticed not only by her family. I can never forget the words that someone said to her shortly after my father's death - "Mrs. James, there are so many beautiful things about you, but probably the most beautiful of them all, is your ability to take knocks."


     The person who said this died some years ago, but little did he know that come October 16, 2008 mom would have suffered yet another blow, that of the death of her youngest child and my identical twin sister Janine.  Again she showed all the signs of loss and it was more difficult then as she was now a lady in her 80s.  However again she held it together and was a tower of strength for me. I keep saying to her "God certainly knew how important it was for you to have been around when Janine died." We have been through our trials together and her strength has helped to pilot me through my darkest hour.


     Of utmost importance is her strong Christian faith which has never faltered despite the circumstances that she has encountered. This has been such a good example for me who in turn leaned on this faith to carry me through the most challenging period of my life. I am truly blessed to have her as my mother.


    Every Mother's Day she gets a card and despite the fact that Janine is no longer around I never fail to write in it - "From your children: Richard, Sutcliffe, Judy and Janine (looking down from heaven)."


    I know the day will come when my mom is no longer around but I hope I will get the chance to celebrate many more Mother's Days with her. Every day I give God thanks for giving me such a special mother.

THE WORD MOTHER

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


This Sunday, May 8, will be celebrated as Mother's Day in Jamaica and many countries.  I take this opportunity to wish all mothers a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Today, Saturday and Mother's Day I happily post tributes to my own mother Kathleen Naomi Haughton-James.


More than I could ever ask for,


Overcoming so many obstacles in life,


There with me as I traverse life's hills and valleys,


Holding my hand every step of the way,


Ever sure and ready with strong faith,


Really a tower of strength for me and all to see.

PICTURES OF MOM OVER THE YEARS!

DAILY WORD - A POWERFUL LITTLE MAGAZINE!

BY JUDY HAUGHTON-JAMES


    Ever since I was a teenager the Daily Word magazine published by Unity has been subscribed to by my family. It is a most inspirational magazine that always has a message to uplift your spirit at the very right time.  When my twin sister was ill she still found time to read it in the morning or have it read to her. I have also found it to be extremely helpful since her death and never fail to read it early every morning.


     There are monthly affirmations, the Editor's Note as well as an inspirational article at the beginning of every month. The poems and Letters From The Heart are also very good. From day to day each month you get a message about FAITH, DIVINE ORDER, HEALING, GRACE, HARMONY, PROSPERITY, ILLUMINATION and so much more. When an entire issue is finished I even sit and read the entire month's messages again. I am really happy that my parents introduced me to this magazine.


   Speaking of Unity, over the years I have read several books that my parents bought which were written by one of their authors.  I also remember how my twin sister and I eagerly looked forward to the Wee Wisdom magazine when we were children.


   I eagerly recommend this powerful little magazine. It is definitely worth the read whether you are experiencing good or bad times.