------------------
4 "Trees of Life" for Marilyn (beachzz).
Marilyn was one of the first people I met on RR. She was also one of the first I ever met
in person:
She came here in 2009 with Tara (auntietk), Chip (chipka), Corey (CoreyBlack), Cheri (elfin14doaks), Dave (elfin12u), and Juanita---who was Dave's mother I think: All I know is, we had an incredible time.
Tara always says that certain people are the same in person as they feel on the phone or in email:
Well Marilyn was one of those people. In fact, she was
moreso: She's as spontaneous, heart-ful, loving and totally creative in person as she is, long distance. I'd call her "earth mother" but she's far too hip for that: She's more like a very mature person who never lost the child in her, and who dances on clouds as much as walks on earth. She ran a business, raised a son, managed her home and had a rock-core of responsibility and reliability...yet she could step off a cloud and fly at the drop of a hat. And she was totally easy to be with.
When I discovered her here, I learned about her jobs redecorating people's gardens with all kinds of creative stuff. She hauled truckfuls of stones and god-knows-what for her work. This was a shock to me, as I never owned a pickup truck, and I sure as hell didn't haul
stones. (Artists I knew didn't carry stones.) But for Marilyn, this was "tuesday". And she was excited 'cause she got a 'great deal' on them...can you imagine? I wouldn't even know how to
find a great deal on stones. They're
stones! Who the hell knew about these things???
She had massive glass balls all over her land, and a menagerie of things I didn't know existed, yet which were 100% her. And her photography was the same way: She captured angles and saturated hues and objects and pov's that most people would walk away from; and all w/ her unique design-sense, and a vitality that pretty much knocked my socks off. She had me at "snap"...
I also heard her experiences when she began traveling and datin) after years of marriage: This was major because, when I first dated (after losing a woman to illness), I felt like I were 12 years old, fumbling mercilessly and praying I'd be struck by a falling piano. But Marilyn was so fearless, she just jumped in and met people, traveled all over, and bounced back and did more. Then she met Marcos---her present lover---and they've been together ever since. (I also must add: She lost her dog recently, which I didn't realize, as I was offline at the time, and never got an ebot: Mea culpa, Marilyn...I know how deeply you loved Odie. My great sympathies...)
---------
For a lady close to my age, M has the energy and spirit of someone half that---and she's in really good shape! She's a ball of sunlight and passion, she's great fun, and I'm grateful to call her my friend. For the image, I chose the Tree of Life because it seemed fitting. I re-worked 4 photos, then "nuked" them in order to capture Marilyn's spirit.
May you soar and spread your wings and always send light to everyone, Marilyn! A great big hug and the wish that radiance stay with you forever...with love, gratitude and lots of blessings, Happy Birthday! Mark
(Please zoom, it's huuuuge!)
------------------
Comments (17)
Faemike55
wonderful and energetic description of Marilyn. love the photos and the way you combined them - Happy Birthday, Marilyn!
bakapo
this is a wonderful and heart-felt dedication. you always do everything from the heart. I'm sure this beautiful dedication will please.
alida
sure you are good at dedis
auntietk
I just put up my dedi for Marilyn a minute ago, and purposely didn't look at yours beforehand. I'm glad I didn't, because we both talked about that weekend in Chicago in 2009 as this seminal, life-pivoting thing. I might have felt like I had to say something else in order to not "copy" you. It's fascinating to me, looking at what you and I both wrote, to see what an impact Marilyn has made on both our lives. How much memory each of us has that is wrapped up in our respective friendships with her. She's one-of-a-kind, for sure! :)
Your artwork reminds me that the City of Chicago had brought in palm trees and planted them along the shore of Lake Michigan. Another unique and strange memory from 2009. :)
This is a wonderful dedication for Marilyn's birthday! It evokes her spirit, her joy of life, her passion for the moment, and her seemingly boundless energy. In short, it's terrific, and it's totally HER.
eekdog
What a fantastic array of works, Mark. You are a master of manipulation on photos. In the docs office now waiting. This is a beautiful dedi and thoughtful for your friend.great story!
ArtistKimberly
Fantastic Work,
vdallas
Five images... 5 WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! and finally WOW!
npauling
A fabulous creative image for Marilyn. She will love this amazing work. You chose well with the tree of life it is so enduring. I love how you have reworked all the images with such happy colors and then 'nuked' them into one glorious frame. Superbly created with a lovely vibrant feel. :)
Richardphotos
outstanding sunset and post work. after many years here (2003), I have found most members to be just as true as online
wysiwig
Four stunning images followed up by a fiery explosion. Such warm memories and a wonderful dedication for Marilyn. Makes one a little jealous for your friendship.
beachzz
Dang, Mark, I hardly know what to say about all this. Your fotos and images are fantastic, simply jump off the page and into my soul. The tree of life is truly inspired and that palm tree----well, I know they planted them there and them them in for the winter (who DOES that????), but that one shot could be on any of my beaches. The trip to Chicago started out as just a trip, but it turned into SO much more. Thank you for all of this; I'm simply blown away.
Freethinker56
Your dedi's are one of a kind Mark.This is very beautiful and sweet. Gorgeous images your created for beachzz. LUV them. Cheers my friend
durleybeachbum
Fabulous words and pics, and I LOVE the top image!
helanker
OH WOW! Well, I am also blown away from all these wonders. I wouldnt know where to begin and where to end. I just know you are an amazing Person, Mark and you do wonders with your photos. I have said it many times before, but this cannot be mentioned to often in my opinion. Love every one of them too much to be able to point one out, that should be better than the others. I simply can not do it. MAn you could have gotten awesome comments a whole week with these LOL but I am sure, Marilyn deserves them all on her Birthday. Happy Birthday, Marilyn
LivingPixels
A beautiful dedi to your dear friend and what a spectacular Image you have created it some her up to a T a kinda free spirit I love this image its sensational the colours are awesome!!
nickcarter
Beautiful dedication. Fantastic and imaginative work of "Collage" and graphic elaboration!!!!
RodS
What a delightful collection of images - a beautiful dedication for Marilyn! I'm not sure how I managed to miss her gallery, but I'm following her now - she has some wonderful images in her gallery!
As always, your art and words are a treat - not only for the Birthday Girl (Happy Birthday, Marilyn!), but for the rest of us as well. Another winner, Mark!