Without Remorse

I have been dying to share this poem. It has been on my mind a lot lately.

Ascension 
by Colleen Hitchcock

And if I go,
while you're still here...
Know that I live on,
vibrating to a different measure
--behind a thin veil you cannot see through.
You will not see me,
so you must have faith.
I wait for the time when we can soar together again,
--both aware of each other.
Until then, live your life to its fullest.
And when you need me,
Just whisper my name in your heart,
...I will be there.

Now for the story behind this poem. When I was in stationed in Germany, I met Sgt. Mitchell Owens. He seemed to be on overnight duty, on the nights I was wide awake after work. So, I would hang out by his desk and we would talk the night away.  He was a really great guy. We just got along like old fishing buddies from the beginning. We could talk about any and every thing for hours. We used to discuss the books we were reading all the time. We definitely considered each other kindred spirits.

I don't remember the exact time frame, but he was returning to the U.S. to get custody of his young sons. His goal was to get reassigned stateside. So, before he left. He had been reading "Without Remorse" by Tom Clancy.  The above poem was included in the forward of the book. Mitch had typed it up along with a letter and gave it to me before he left. It was his way of saying even though we wouldn't be seeing each other (until Lord knows when) that we were still connected.

He didn't get reassigned stateside and later returned to Germany. We resumed our friendship, and I had the privilege of meeting his boys. They looked so much like him. As time went on, we kind of drifted as we got involved with other people. He married a lovely girl from England. And I married Daniel, my husband. I would say life was going good for both of us. Then the unexpected happened. Mitch was killed in a freak accident leaving a club one night. (I don't know if it is appropriate to share details, so I won't).  It was so sad. And periodically, I think of how strange it was for him to give me a poem that most consider about dying. I don't think either of us would have guessed his time would be so short.

So that is how I was introduced to the poem. I have always used the words of this poem as comfort when I couldn't be with those I loved, whether it was someone who had died, or someone just far away, or someone I would never see again. The poem makes me think of how there are people you meet, that you are just connected to. There's not a logical or tangible reason. You just feel bound to them, like they are a part of you. There aren't many people like that in my life. But those that I consider to be kindred spirits, I love them dearly even if they don't know it.

Whether you believe in past lives, reincarnation or an afterlife, I do. I like to think I have crossed paths with these kindred spirits before, and that I will see them again. And even though, I may not get to keep them in my life all the time, that we are meant to be together for a time.

Poem: Meant To Be

By Xellina Wieland

In another time and another place,
We would have been happy together,
Living a dream for a few short days,
It would not have lasted forever
Time passes quickly and feelings fade away
But loving you for a moment is better than never


But we can never know what might have been,
We can only hope we are meant to be,
We can never know a touch or kiss,
We can only hope for an eternity,
To be kindred spirits, joined by fate
We have to be meant to be

Am I to be your guiding light,
Showing you the way to you must go,
Let my love brighten your life
Let it be the sun in your world
If only for a moment in time
Let me heal all the pain in your soul

But, we can never know what might have been,
We can only hope we are meant to be,
Every moment and every road
That has led you back to me
Is this a dream or Fate's cruelty
We have to be meant to be

It may not be the way we dreamed
But it could be the answer we've looked for
We are so much better than before
Having grown from our sorrow and pain
This love can be so much more


As my friend, I can keep you forever
Love you as I was meant to be
Care for you and cherish you
Without the pain and heart break
It may not be what we wanted,
But it's what we need

Love, we can never know what might have been,
We can only hope we are meant to be,
Trusting the journey we've taken,
That has led you back to me
Is this chance or destiny
We have to be meant to be

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I love "Love Stories". I am a big romantic at heart, and I am a firm believer in soul mates. However, I am always taken with stories of when love doesn't work out. In this case, this poem was inspired by the Vampire Diaries. Up to this point in the TV Series, Damon is trying to be a better man for Elena, and not cross the line even though he lovers her. He knows she loves his brother Stefan, and he accepts that he can't have her. Not all love stories are about getting what you want and everything works out. In this instance, I felt like their journey is about accepting that things didn't turn out as a perfect romance. But they love each other, and sometimes just being in someone's life is enough.

When I Think of You - Video

This video was inspired by a conversation I was having with a friend about the places we would love to see. This particular conversation focused on Hawaii. So being the OCD girl that I am, later I began obsessing about what I would want to do/see in Hawaii. Then, it struck me that I could make a video to highlight what I would like see and in a way it would be like having gone there. I included my picture at the end as a kind of signature.






As for the song selection, I have to share a little back story. I have periods where I feel melancholy and dwell on what could have been and those people no longer in my life. I love this song in that the message is about being reunited even if only in thoughts. So, in my mind, I thought it went well with the idea of a virtual trip to Hawaii. Lol. I know, it probably sounds silly.

A New Year

Every year, I attempt to do something new. In recent months, I have been feeling more and more inspired. As a teenager, I used to write poems all the time. I hadn't written anything in years; and then last month, I was struck with a message my heart had to get out. And now, I have all these ideas coming to me it bits and pieces.

I really wanted to share that poem on my blog, but found it didn't fit in with my other blogs' themes (Crafty and Techie). So I pondered if I felt like putting the effort into a new blog. But since then, there are so many  different things I have come up with or come across that I wanted to share. So, now that I have plenty of material, I am starting this blog.

My goal for this blog is to post at least once a week.

I will be sharing the following:

• My own poems
• Videos I have made using photos and my favorite songs
• Poems that I love
• Stories that I find inspiring
• My thoughts and memories
• Songs that I love 

So, Happy New Year! Here's to a year filled with inspiration.