Message in a Bottle
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posted by Michael at 1:30 PM
Thursday, July 24, 2008
About Me
- Name: Michael
- Location: New Jersey, United States
I work as a copy editor on the news desk of a big daily newspaper. That means I correct other people's grammar and spelling, and write headlines for their articles. I love to write, I love to read. My photography fills the gaps when words fail (as they often do). I've lived in England and Japan, and consider myself more of a wanderer than someone with roots, even if I don't get to travel as much as I would like. My primary interest is Japan -- its religions, history and culture. In 2002, I was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer, and my perspective on everything was changed permanently. My blog provides the details but tries not to dwell upon them. (If you would like to purchase gallery-quality prints of some of my photographs, please click the "View my complete profile" link below and then click on the blue e-mail link that will appear to your left.)
Previous Posts
- Farewell
- daiku
- Thinking about my brother
- Beyond words
- Thank You
- March 23, 1962-January 15, 2008
- Daiku
- Fatigue
- Progress
- The Raj
15 Comments:
I was looking at my brother's photos and became totally fixated on them as never before. Suddenly, the natural rapport he had with his subjects made me understand why his photos did not just show faces, but the inner depth and beauty of his subjects. Michael approoached photography as an interested student. He left this realm a master.
NT
I discovered this site shortly before Michael's death. I come back here from time to time because he and his writing touch me deeply.
Thank you for leaving the site up.
I find courage here.
Libby
Dear Libby,
Your beautiful sentiments are very much appreciated. It's good to know that my brother can still touch people even after his passing. Thank you!
Nancy Thaler
I've been thinking a lot about Michael this week. He and I started our blogs around the same time, in autumn 2005 ... he, to write about his interest in Japan as well as about his illness, and I after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the town I was living in.
So we were fellow travelers on a similar path ... or more precisely, we were on different paths but meeting at a crossroads, for a brief but important time when our paths were the same.
As I said in the comment I posted to Michael's final post ("Fatigue") in January 2008, I still carry him with me, in my heart and mind. When I think of that time in my life, he is there.
In spring 2007, I took a hiatus from blogging. This summer has been another turning point, and last weekend I had a dream in which I revived my blog. I decided to listen to the dream, so this week I have been working intensively on re-working my blog.
In so doing, I have been going through my old blog posts, and reading comment after comment made by Michael over the course of more than a year ... and I'm smiling, and looking, and seeing.
Thanks for leaving his blog up, Nancy.
Hi Kitty!
Thank you so much for your beautiful entry. This is precisley why our sister Valerie is "tending" to it and why I am happy as well, that she is taking the time to keep the blog somewhat active. Although Michael doesn't add to it anymore, it's nice to see that he continues to inspire with his photos and words.
Nancy
I still come back to look at Michael's photographs and read his poems. He touched so many of us in a deep way. Like Libby, I'm grateful the blog remains.
Hello Nancy,
I've just stumbled across this blog from a link on a sidebar of another blog - I decided to take a few quiet moments at work and find something lovely on the internet to try and calm myself down - I'm so glad I did. I will take some time to read the poems and look at the photographs. A friend of mine has cancer which is terminal and her illness has prompted me to make more of an effort to be mindful, present and appreciative. I think Michael's words and pictures will help me to do that too. Thank you to you and your sister too.
Sparkly in the UK
On behalf of myself and my family, I want to thank everyone that keeps Michael's light shining by reading and responding to his blog.It means so much to know that his energy and inspiration still exists in this forum. I too, visit often. It makes his presence obvious which is a huge comfort.
Nancy Thaler
There are still those of us who stumble across the site and sense Michael's honor and calm, although he was a stranger to us.
Thank you for leaving this blog up.
Like Kitty I've been thinking about Michael a lot lately.
I always found Michael's comments on my blog invaluable.
You have my appreciation for leaving his blog up - it's a treasure to many of us.
I come back to Michael's writings from time to time, when I need to be refreshed.
Thank you so much for keeping these here.
Mungo
Oh,Micheal. I didn't know that you have gone this summer. I really wish your soul rest in peace.
I come here from time to time. I'm grateful you are leaving Micheal's blog up. It's a small, peaceful virtual temple where I feel home – and blessed.
Loree
Knowing that it is around the anniversary of Michael's passing, just dropped by to pay respects.
Going for long walks during these holidays over frosty ground, I have thought often of Michael, a true and genuine soul.
Mike,
It's been exactly one year since you left us.
Always thinking of you.
Jay
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