IAT NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2001
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"IT'S ABOUT TIME WE BEGIN IT,
TO TURN THE WORLD AROUND . . ."
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ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
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Co-Founder/Former President - Marcelle Orswell
Co-Founder and Secretary -- Theresa Shea (Tree1A@aol.com)
Co-Founder and Webpage Designer -- Sandy Clark (tybrenn@mediaone.net)
Co-Presidents -- Ann Schnitz (aerie01@sprynet.com)
and
Mary Ledford (eagleshorses@yahoo.com)
Newsletter Editor -- Marcia C. Porter (mport@netnitco.net)
Web Site -- http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tybrenn/iat/
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Dear Friends,
Happy New Year all! I hope that this newsletter finds you well and that the holidays
were peaceful and relaxing for you. I personally ate too much à but then, what else
is new?!
Driving home from work the other night, I couldn't help but stare at the enormous
yellow moon that had risen just over the treetops in the frosty evening sky. It was
spellbinding à I couldn't take my eyes off it. And just the sight of it gave me so
much pleasure. The lights from the shopping mall I passed dropped away. The traffic
wasn't there. No street lights. No Denny's. No Mobil. No McDonald's.
I came to think about the beauty of our world, its fragility. How much we take for
granted. And just like in the words of a great song à my favorite love song, I might
add à I wondered who else might be looking at that same moon (and stars) at that
very moment, and possibly even thinking the same thing as I was. The world needs
those souls who recognize the value of the precious blue ball we float upon, whose
resources on the surface are of far greater worth than those that lie beneath. Souls
like the great Mardy Murie, whose story you can read below. Souls who have already
leftus...Jacques Cousteau, David Brower...and of course, John Denver.
So many times we say "It's up to us". But now, more than ever, it is. This
is a call to arms, folks. We need to fight, and fight hard. Not for individual gain
and gloryS.but for peace. For the environment. And ultimately, for the family of
man. It's about time, and it's about changesS.and it's about time.
My heart to yours,
Ann
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A LETTER FROM MARY: ACCOUNT OF PRESENTATION TO MARDIE MURIE
Mary Ledford shares this account with IAT members:
On December 28, 2000, The Daystar Commission was extremely pleased to conduct a ceremony
in Moose, Wyoming in order to confer its PhD degree on Mardy Murie, a dedicated environmental
leader who worked hard for many years to preserve as wilderness precious untouched
areas of Alaska and North America. I want to express my deep appreciation for the
generous cash donations from several John Denver fans. Without their help, we would
not have been able to make this trip. Their efforts made it possible for Mardy Murie
to receive her degree from us at a time in her life when she can still take pleasure
in having received it. And I will always be grateful to those fans.
The Murie Center, located on the Murie Ranch in Moose, Wy., continues to expand Mardy's
work of environmental preservation and education. The following is an edited version
of Corie M. Campbell's account of the presentation of Mardy Murie's degree from the
Daystar Commission on December 27-29. For the full account please e-mail Corie at:
cmcampbell@dmacc.cc.ia.us
*
A trip to Wyoming for the presentation of a degree from the Daystar Commission to
a wonderful woman named Mardy Murie was one of the greatest pleasures of my life.
I am sure most people reading this will know who she is.
I had read her book, Two In The Far North, as a youngster and gained a notion from
her - and also a wish - that my life could be as truly adventurous. I have always
thought Mardy Murie heroic, adventurous and strong, but I found out she is also the
most loving person I have ever met, something I did not fully realize until I met
her face to face one magical day. I cannot write about presenting the degree to Mardy
without writing about visiting her northern paradise, her world. As President of
Daystar, I have now conferred many degrees, but this one was the most adventurous.
My task to travel in mid-winter and deep snow into the most astounding winter wilderness
on the North American Continent, Teton National Forest where Mardy lives, was an
eye-opener.
Staying in a log cabin at the Murie Ranch meant I could see personally the kind of
work and environment of the Murie Center. I was very excited. No one could go to
that part of the wilderness in the middle of winter and be able to predict everything,
and I longed for that kind of experience! You could get snowed in or have an avalanche
or meet up with a large wild animal.
Melanie Trondson, a singer/songwriter from Colorado Springs, also a Daystar associate,
offered to accompany me to Moose, Wyoming and to sing John Denver's song to Mardy
- "A Song for All Lovers"" and any other songs Mardy might wish to
hear. We knew Mardy loves music.
Melanie and I, in her van, made our way north on windy, snow-covered roads. As we
drove into the wilderness we encountered a gigantic bull moose, taller than the van,
standing in front of us. Neither of us was able to utter a coherent word as we searched
for our cameras and Melanie tried to keep the van on the road. Melanie managed to
videotape the moose as he wandered into a nearby field.
The cabin on the Murie Ranch proved to have a very comfortable bed in a bedroom where
my favorite features were huge icicles outside the window, and a group of old, dark
green wooden file cabinets with the top drawer labeled "Olaus' Work". Yes,
I was truly in Olaus' and Mardy's world, the world of people who were greater and
more heroic than any I had ever met before. I was deeply moved and humbled.
The next morning, we were told that Mardy was having a "good day" and we
could do our presentation that afternoon. That gave us time for a thorough tour through
the compound of authentic log cabins. We donned snowshoes for a several-mile trek
through the forest with our guide, Mike. We traveled up and down exciting ravines,
over and under tree limbs. Our original plan was to cross the magnificent Snake River,
but it wasn't frozen quite enough, so we walked along it - looking at the Eton Range
to the east and taking turns running in the snow powder. This bright wilderness was
what I needed deep in my soul. This was Mardy Murie's blessing and gift to me. Actually,
it is her gift to each of us. She is part of a very small group of pioneering heroes
who long ago insisted on saving wilderness for us and our children. The work she
has done in her life and the focus she has brought to wilderness give us the chance
to find our way back home to it. It is now our generation's turn to take up this
work.
As our little group entered Mardy's front door, we were met by a larger group of
people inside, including people from the local newspapers. Despite the crowd, I was
amazed at the peaceful feeling that greeted me, almost of being in a church. Mardy
was very peaceful herself, very loving and kind. She sat in her chair, watching me.
Some of the people who take care of her made a place for me to sit beside her. I
was so moved by being there with her I could barely speak. I began the presentation
with a greeting for Mardy, and we completely connected eye-to-eye and soul-to-soul.
I surely did not expect it because I knew she was very old and unwell. But she was
deeply present and distinctly open-hearted.
I was suddenly aware the reporters were there and other people were taking pictures
of the moment. I was concerned Mardy would be stressed by this, surprisingly, she
seemed content with it. I began to read a prayer of the Dalai Lama that we use as
our humanitarian prayer. Then I spoke about Mardy and her work. Mardy seemed to fall
asleep for a few minutes during this, but I knew beyond any doubt I was speaking
to her soul - I could feel it.
Mardy opened her eyes when someone handed me her diploma, now unwrapped from its
official Daystar blue tissue and pink ribbon. As I turned the gold-framed diploma
around so Mardy could see it, I read to her what it said. She reached her frail hand
to touch the diploma and look at me. She carefully took my hand and said, "I
can see you really care." As our eyes met, I knew I had found a friend as though
after a long search. I have never seen more love in a person than I did in Mardy.
I knew then what had been the force in her life, what had driven her, what had guided
her, and was deeply surprised by this. I don't know what I expected, but I surely
never expected to know it - or to feel it so certainly and so deeply.
When Melanie began to strum her guitar and sing "A Song For All Lovers",
I felt my heart breaking and tears welled in my eyes. I moved behind the small crowd
and covered my face with one hand. Someone hugged me from the side and patted me
on the back and said "That's OK, darlin'. I feel the same way." A moment
later, when I had regained control, I looked up but found no one beside me. I do
not know who had comforted me.
I moved forward again to present Mardy with a small pottery pin with our Daystar
sunrise logo on it. Mardy liked it, and someone pinned it on her clothing. We gathered
around for pictures. Melanie sang a few more songs and suddenly it was time to let
Mardy rest. We said good-byes. It was hard for me to say good-by since I knew it
is probably be the last time I will see Mardy.
I believe everyone in the room felt the depth of being in Mardy's presence. I think
we all felt the blessing.
(Thank you, Corie, for sharing what sounds like a magnificent day with us! AS)
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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Indiana is covered over with winter in all its hushed glory. We've had an incredible
forty-two inches of snow since December first. Our little town has one-lane streets
piled high with snow as there's nowhere to put it. Reminds me of my childhood when
Daddy would drive us out to Grandma Stoner's farm. The road was heaped with snow
so high we couldn't see - we drove through a tall white tunnel.
Bitter cold accompanied our snow and ice storms and has made it difficult to get
out for one of winter's greatest pleasures - walking in the stillness of cold, especially
in the brightness of a full winter moon. Being indoors for long spells gives each
of us what some term "stir-crazy" and others call "cabin fever",
and I guess they are pretty descriptive terms when the winter weather keeps us prisoners
inside our warm homes.
It's also a time for getting caught up on things - cleaning out drawers, tossing
stuff too-long saved for the future, sorting some of the memorabilia we've clutched
far too long. I've been clearing out my office - tossing things as though I were
dead. It occurred to me one day - my children won't be as thrilled about all I've
saved when they have to clean out this big old house.
Perhaps they won't truly care about the books I've cherished since childhood - they
certainly won't want the boxes of faded newspaper clips marking a journalistic career
spanning nearly forty years. And I'm sure there is no room in their lives for correspondence
from people, some of them long-dead, friends, supporters - and yes, even critics
- of mine in past days.
For this new Millennium (whether it's 2000 or 2001 makes no matter) we need to be
about clearing our minds and souls for the future. What's ahead? My Grannie used
to tell me, "You don't want to know - if you did, you wouldn't go there!"
She was probably right so I'm going forth into the New Year lighter in several ways.
One of them is a resolve to be better to myself and my loved ones in the months ahead.
So may it be with you as you sojourn into another year.
Rainbows and hugs,
M
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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Charlie Zahm in Concert, March 16, Doylestown, PA
Annual Earth Day Concert, April 21, Annapolis, MD
Getting-To-Know--Each-Other-Day in Oberhausen, Germany
May 19, 2001, John Denver Fan Club
John Denver Fan Club annual John Denver Weekend -
September 29-30, 2001 in Sinzig near Bonn, Germany
See details on calendar events below
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
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A man's feet should be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world.
George Santayana
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NEWS
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COLUMBINE TRUST FOUNDATION SEEKS AID
The first objective of the Columbine Trust Foundation is to help heal the physical
wounds of the Littleton, Colorado community, whose children were victimized while
attending Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. The Trust will reimburse the uninsured
physical medical costs of each family whose child was struck.
After that has been done, the Trust Foundation will turn to the national community,
to work toward the lessening of violence in our society, especially as it affects
children (i.e., working with national educators to create a program that will become
a part of public grade-school curriculums; funding weapons buy-back programs to reimburse
students for turning in their guns; participating in medical costs for youth victims
of weapon violence; etc.)
"The Flower That Shattered The Stone" -- the image and symbol of The Columbine
Trust Foundation - communicating that no matter how daunting the brutal part of our
nature, that which is beautiful that is also within us, will prevail.
Joe Henry
President and Founder
www.columbinetrust.org
The Columbine Trust Foundation
P.O. Box 11807
Aspen, CO 81612
ColumbineTrust@aol.com
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BORN AGAIN CARD RECYCLING
Thirty years ago, Father Ward, wanting to show donors his appreciation for making
St. Jude's Ranch for Children possible and having no money to buy gifts, came up
with the idea of turning the previous year's Christmas Cards into Christmas ornaments.
Father and the children worked diligently at recycling the cards. The recipients
were so delighted with their recycled cards they asked Father and the children to
recycle more cards, but, this time, the donors wanted to buy the cards. St. Jude's
Born Again Card(tm)Recycling Program was born.
People from all over the world send used card fronts. The children precision trim
the cards and glue them onto pre-printed card backs which are then sold to the public
through a newsletter, gift shop or by word of mouth. Each child is paid fifteen cents
for each card he or she makes. This money is divided between spending money, savings,
and the Cottage Fund (for special group outings).
As part of St. Jude's commitment to break the vicious welfare cycle and to teach
the children to learn to earn the recycling program has been expanded to include
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day, Easter and other special occasion cards, as
well as all occasion greeting cards, postcards, Christmas ornaments or just about
anything else that starts with a used greeting card front.
Most popular requests are for angel and teddy bear cards. Custom orders with special
printing, fancy cards, gold trim, etc., are also available.
Used card fronts that can be attractively trimmed to fit on 5x7 card backs, and that
do not have writing on the back of the card, may be sent to:
St. Jude's Ranch for Children
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005-1618
To purchase Born Again Cards(tm), send $6.50 per package of ten (10), along with
the type of cards desired, to:
St. Jude's Ranch for Children
P.O. Box 60100
Boulder City, NV 89006-01000
1-800-492-3562
1-702-294-7157
Call 1-800-492-3562 for Visa, MasterCard or special orders.
St. Jude's Ranch for Children for abused, neglected and molested children, does not
depend upon funding from government entities.
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WINDSTAR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
Sunday, December 31, 2000 6:41 PM
Subject: A Special Windstar Announcement
On behalf of all who share the Windstar dream, it is my pleasure to send you the
following announcement. Please be encouraged to share this statement with members
of your local press and other media (and, most of all, with friends of Windstar!).
Both Ron Deutschendorf and I are available to talk with the press, should that be
of assistance. If an article does run in your local paper, please send a copy to
the Windstar Foundation, in either Colorado or New Mexico. Best wishes for a peaceful,
healthy, and productive New Year -with friendship, laughter and love in our hearts.
Warm Windstar regards,
Cheryl Charles
Chair, Windstar Foundation Board of Trustees
Since all of you received Cheryl's press release and Ron Deutschendorf's letter as
separate emails, they won't berepeated here. However, to join Windstar, go to the
following link to find the mail-in form to be printed, completed and sent in: www.wstar.org
**********
Hi All,
After the 12/31 press release, I called a friend who is the news director at a local
radio station and suggested that he might like to do an interview and report on Windstar.
We arranged for him to interview Ron yesterday (1/11) and it will air either Sunday
or Monday (1/14 or 1/15). I am to be interviewed today to give the story a local
connection. I'm excited about the opportunity. This station is the most popular station
in Southern Illinois, even though it's format is talk/sports. This year it received
the Illinois Broadcasters Association Station of the Year Award.
I would like to suggest that people on the list find ways to inform their local media
about Windstar and hopefully you'll find people that will report on it.
Take care,
David Marx
dtmarx@siu.edu
(and look for the transcript of Ron's interview next month on our website and possibly
in the newsletter, depending on length)
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BOOK REVIEW
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Christine Smith's book "A Mountain in the Wind - An Exploration of the Spirituality
of John Denver" is a sensitive, comprehensive, intuitive and inspiring book
delving deep into John's soul and spirituality. Christine's extensive research and
keen insight of John's relationship to the universe and his place in it, how he evolved
as a spiritual being, who his mentors were, and how he learned his belief in miracles
and of hope are all written with utmost affection and in pure honesty by the author.
Throughout the book, Christine often refers to lyrics in John's songs to further
witness his spirituality and to provide more in-depth analysis of his message. She
has also included eight (8) pages of color photos of John and ends the book with
a series of moving essays comprising a beautiful memorial to John by the author herself.
I truly believe you have to be a spiritual person to fully appreciate John Denver
- his music, his message - the man himself. So kudos to Christine for enlightening
us about the inner John, plus also for portraying a powerful blueprint for us to
transform our own lives through spiritual discovery and growth. Since I do not want
to give the whole book away, I'll simply say you have to read it!
Thank you, Christine, for your time and effort in writing "A Mountain in the
Wind"! I know it was a labor of love for you. And thank you, John, for being
her inspiration. It's a treasure!
Peace.
Carole Romanowski
Whispjesse@aol.com
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COMING EVENTS
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CHARLIE ZAHM IN CONCERT
Salem United Church of Christ
186 Court Street, Doylestown, PA
March 16, 2001, 7:30 PM
Charlie will be performing a concert to celebrate the release of his 11th CD, "A
Walk In the Irish Rain", which will be available at the show. Joining Charlie
will be fiddler extraordinaire, Tad Marks. And the last set of the evening will be
ALL John Denver songs! You won't want to miss this (and this will be your ONLY opportunity
to see Charlie perform John's music for months to come).
Email PAHough@aol.com for more information
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ANNUAL EARTH DAY SHOW
Ram's Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD
April 21, 2001
Mark your calendars for our annual spring show. In honor of its rejuvenation, all
proceeds will benefit The Windstar Foundation. Details to follow so stay tuned!
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GERMAN JOHN DENVER FAN CLUB NEWS
Hi friends,
This is just to let you know that we set the date for the "Music and Communication"
(John Denver Fan Club in Germany) Getting-To-Know--Each-Other-Day in Oberhausen for
May 19, 2001.
Further information on the event may be secured by contacting Inge Kaminski at: inge@johndenverclub.de.
The Club's annual John Denver Weekend is planned for September 29-30, 2001, in Sinzig
near Bonn. To obtain further information: e-mail weekend@johndenverclub.de.
Pictures from the John Denver Fan Club in Germany Weekend 2000 may be seen at http://community.webshots.com/user/inkaistda. The comments are in German, but the photos will give an
idea of the atmosphere at the Weekend. There are also pictures with English comments
. . . from Inge's trip to the USA in 1999. There are also some John Denver pictures
on the site.
The John Denver Fan Club in Germany will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Jan,
10, 2001. Unbelievable!! We are working on the anniversary issue, any contributions
are more then welcome.
All the best,
Inge
John Denver Fan Club in Germany à
Schaut doch mal auf unsere Website: http://www.johndenverclub.de
Inge Kaminski ikaminski@t-online.de
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FOR SALE
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NEW JOHN DENVER VIDEOS AVAILABLE!
The Eagle and the Hawk, 1971
The Day of the Bighorn, 1972
These two landmark environmental documentaries starring John Denver, are now available
commercially for the very first time!
To order, go to www.aspenteddybear.com
and search all products. Videos are $14.95 each + shipping
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TEDDY BEAR AUTOGRAPHS FOR COLUMBINE TRUST
The Columbine Trust Foundation was established this past summer by Joe Henry to provide
funds for on-going medical expenses for many of the victims of the Columbine High
School shooting tragedy.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind you a very special auction is now
taking place by mail to benefit the victims of Columbine. All sealed bids must be
received no later than January 31st.
Four teddy bears were autographed by former band members, performers, producers and
family members of John Denver. The autographs were secured this past October during
a musical tribute in Aspen, Co.
Information and bidding forms may be found online at
http://members.nbci.com/ctfbears
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(For Sale Reminder à Autograph, January 23, 2001!)
DENVER ALBUM GOES DIGITAL
NEW YORK (BILLBOARD)
A cult favorite John Denver album from 1980 will be released on CD for the first
time this month. Due Jan. 23 from RCA, the original 11-track lineup of "Autograph"
will be bolstered with two additional tracks - "Dance Little Jean" and
"On The Wings Of An Eagle" - each recorded during the same sessions that
produced the collection.
In creating the set, Denver was joined in the studio by an impressive array of musicians,
including guitarist James Burton (Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Gram Parsons), drummer
Hal Blaine (Presley, Beach Boys, Steely Dan), and pianist Glen D. Hardin (Johnny
Cash, JJ Cale, Hoyt Axton). "Autograph" peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard
200 in March 1980, and produced two singles that hit The Billboard Hot 100 - the
title track (No. 52) and "Dancing With The Mountains" (No. 97).
Denver, who was killed when a private plane he was piloting crashed on Oct. 12, 1997,
first found chart success in 1971 with his album "Poems, Prayers & Promises."
The set spawned the hit singles "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (No. 2) and
"Sunshine On My Shoulders," his first No. 1 hit.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
One of the most important decisions facing us in the near future is the fate of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Recognizing the need for people to make an informed choice on this issue, The Windstar
Foundation reprinted the letter that John Denver wrote in 1995, when discussions
about drilling in ANWR first came to the table. To quote Windstar's site: "Before
his death,John never failed to speak out when its status (i.e., Alaska) was threatened.
Today it is time to speak out again. We feel that John's eloquent and passionate
letter is an appropriate and timely means of continuing to educate those who are
still uncertain as to the importance of preserving what few pristine wilderness areas
remain".
For those who have never seen it or would like to read it again, go tohttp://www.wstar.org/alaska.html
to view the complete letter.
**********
Hi All,
Sending a link to a terrific page. At the bottom of the page are links you can use
to send a pre-stated letter of support for making the Arctic National Refuge a National
Monument.
I know a few messages have already been sent through the Parks Service, etc., but
this is from a different direction.
Maybe, just maybe, if we can bombard the powers that be enough, they will HEAR US!
You never know until you try, right? Keep on trying and keep the faith.
http://www.wilderness.org/arctic/why/
Thanks, Steve Segorman
segorman@email.msn.com
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POETRY
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|
THE EAGLE ENCOUNTER
|
|
I looked for him one day in the
mountains;
I wanted to find a way to communicate
and so I climbed to the
highest of heights,
all on one golden fall afternoon.
I sat beside the
rippling water
hoping to hear his voice in the breeze.
High overhead an
eagle was watching
perched in his nest hidden deep in the trees.
In silence I sat waiting for answers.
Where could I find him? Where should
I go?
The eagle took flight and beckoned to follow
to show me the things I needed to know.
|
In my descent he showed me the flowers
their grace and
their beauty, how gently they sway.
It was almost as if I never had seen
them
now they were new on that glorious day.
I saw the smiles on the faces of children
their laughter brought joy to my heart as it grew.
A radiance shown forth from the faces of strangers;
I knew he was there, my
spirit's renewed!
He lives in the mountains, the streams and the
forest.
He lives in the sky of indigo blue.
His spirit shines forth from
the stars in the heavens.
He lives in my heart, he lives in yours too.
|
|
Carolyn Reineke Matthews
"Dedicated to John Denver"
December 30, 2000
MyMountainSpirit@aol.com
|
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NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
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If you would like to submit articles, news items, stories, poetry, or any other pertinent
information to IT'S ABOUT TIME, please e-mail any of the IAT staff. The submission
deadline for the February edition is February 19, 2001. Please be sure to include
any contact information so that members can e-mail or snail-mail for further details.
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The content of this newsletter is entirely at the discretion of the "It's About
Time" staff. Contributions, as always, are welcomed, although inclusion is not
guaranteed.
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".
. . IT'S ABOUT TIME WE START TO LIVE IT,
THE FAMILY OF MAN,
IT'S ABOUT TIME
AND IT'S ABOUT CHANGES . . .
AND IT'S ABOUT
TIME."
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