Graphics by: Lady in Black
Graphics by:
Lady
in Black
Now your probably thinking what is
she getting involved in this stuff for?
Well, I've really been "into" this stuff since when I was a little girl.
Only I really never had a name for it nor did I ever know what it was called
or why I am so drawn to this "stuff" ......
I've chosen "two" totems for this
site, or perhaps "they" chose me.
I've always been a strong believer in basics
and nature. Personally, I feel we need to get back to some of them. That
in this world today and the race to compete for power-money-control etc,
we have lost touch with many of the simple "basics" and therefore, I believe,
losing touch with ourself. Our "inner" selves.
Since I can remember, I've always been drawn
to nature, indians and animals. Basically, I was raised a "city girl" all
my life, but I would always managed to find myself hooked in with
nature.
While I was raised in NY, my grandparents had
a farm in N.H. where we would spend our summers, when school let out.
It was something I looked forward to all school year. My grandfather raised
turkeys mainly. Lord are
they noisey.. But he also had rabbits (so cuddly), chickens (so messy) and
a
few pigs (so smelly). I still remember Jake.. He had to have been the ugliest,
the biggest and God awful smelliest thing I ever laid eyes on.. YUK!! I
never knew how much land Grandpa had, but when your little, it seemed to
go on forever. He had apple orchards too. I remember, you had to walk down
this long, long, long, dirt road to get the mail. And across from the mailbox
was
a field with cows.. I would spend hours just walking and picking berries.
Catching glimpses of little critters that would rustle through the woods.
Watching the trees and amazed at how the leaves would sway. Almost like
they were dancing. Watching birds fly in and out of the branches. I'd lay
in
the grass fields and watch the clouds float by and the planes and birds that
would fly by.. All things that I feel we all connect with at one point in
time
or another.
When I got involved in Veteran's Issues,
I remember many things taking on a new diminsion for me.. And soooo we come
to the Eagle.. I always thought of the Eagle as a Majestic and Regal bird.
But as I got deeper involved in Veterans issues and with Veterans themselves,
the Eagle kept popping in my thoughts and a parallel was forming.. Eagles
vs Veterans.
The following is an excerpt taken from my journal writings
"Where Eagles Fly" and explains why, "what better choice"
than "The Eagle," for VetCenter's Guardian
Totem.
I've always had a fascination for flying and for Eagles. Photos and pictures I'd seen of them always made me think how proud and regal they looked. When troubled or confused by some of the issues I'd be working on, I found I could get my head clear by being outdoors. In the open, with space and sky about me, giving me a less confining feeling.
I would either sit out in my field or lay on the grass emptying out the confusion in my thoughts. Approaching things from a clearer perspective. I'd find my eyes always looking to the sky, perhaps because of it's vastness. Some days it would be so blue. I also found, my thoughts always drifted to our military, our veterans. Wondering what our pilots where seeing when they where up there. Did those that where in far off lands see this same blue sky I was looking at or was the sky above them darkened from bombs going off. A news chopper going over head, caused my thoughts to drift to Vietnam and the chopper pilots. All that they endured in maneuvering the choppers with bullets whizzing by.
As I would watch the birds soaring overhead, I would think how very much like our veterans and military they were. And then that is when it clicked. The Eagle Image flew into my mind and I knew.. Yes!
They, our Veterans and Military are very much like Eagles.
According to Compton's Encyclopedia, the Eagle:
Eagles are proud and watchful, as are our Military and Veterans. They are regal looking birds as are our Military in Uniform. Eagles fly in wide circles, scoping the area below. As do our Veterans as they "silently" watch and listen to things going on around us.
You see a soldier doesn't stop being a soldier, just because he retires or leaves the service. While the uniform and duffel bag may get stored in a closet or attic, the soldier within, remains forever. Watchful, ever protecting and defending their homeland. Our "Warrior Eagles", a very "Special Breed".
Copywrite©1998 by J.OLSEN
The other Guardian Totem I've chosen for this site is the Wolf.
This Site is for a specific group of people "Veterans" and "Family Members". Wolves gather in groups also.. and have a "brotherhood" amongst themselves. Same as Veterans do.. So I think you can relate as to why I chose this splendid animal, as a Guardian Totem for VetCenter's Directory Room. ----> The Wolf
.
