Love Will Find a Way is the theme for the movie entitled “The Illusionist”. Starring Jessica Biel and Edward Norton, their cleverness and commitment is unparalleled in this beautiful period piece.
You will never forget their love or the lengths they go to to be together.
If questioning would make us wise
No eyes would ever gaze in eyes;
If all our tale were told in speech
No mouths would wander each to each.
Were spirits free from mortal mesh
And love not bound in hearts of flesh
No aching breasts would yearn to meet
And find their ecstasy complete.For who is there that lives and knows
The secret powers by which he grows?
Were knowledge all, what were our need
To thrill and faint and sweetly bleed?
Then seek not, sweet, the ‘If’ and ‘Why’
I love you now until I die.
For I must love because I live
And life in me is what you give.
-Christopher Brennan
Is there anyone that doesn’t smile at the face of an angel? I recently connected with a very loving, caring, and deeply committed mother named Alexandra. Her daughter Andrea has cancer. With Alexandra’s permission, I am posting a few excerpts from our recent emails so that all of you can also connect with this wonderful mother.
“As a mother, it is not easy to have a child so ill with cancer. It is so hurtful to see Andrea in pain and knowing any time soon she will be gone forever. My little angel will be leaving soon. And it really breaks my heart.
As for me and Andrea, time is running fast and I’m scared of losing her. If I can only give my life in exchange, so my daughter can live longer. Thank you for your prayers.
Your letters and you are helping me to be strong for my daughter because God will never give us any problem that we cannot handle.
Your baby must be a beautiful angel like you. I’m sure she is in God’s hand watching over you and your son.
I like all your posts and I’ll be happy to see what you have for me and for my daughter. Thank you so much. “
Dearest Alexandra,
Now that we are connected mother to mother and I have known such loss with my Courtney, I want to share with you what I feel to be true. You will never lose your daughter dear as she is with you now and all eternity. When you feel that you’ve lost her, know that the only place she has gone is right inside of your heart – a place where she knows she is loved and safe. You will feel her with you every day. Her lightheartedness, playfulness, innocence and love will bring you such peace and joy. Your bond is eternal.
Go and hold her tight, kiss her beautiful face, and believe in this as I do. May my readers on Victorian Affair send you all their love and prayers as you know you have mine.
The following is for you Alexandra and your little girl, your angel Andrea.
The Angels
May angels rest beside your door,
May you hear their voices sing.
May you feel their loving care for you,
May you hear their peace bells ring.
May angels always care for you,
And not let you trip and fall,
May they bear you up on angel’s wings,
May they keep you standing tall.
May they whisper wisdom in your ear,
May they touch you when you need,
May they remove from you each trace of fear,
May they keep you from feeling greed.
May they fill you with their presence,
May they show you love untold,
May they always stand beside you
And make you ever bold.
May they teach you what you need to know
About life here and here-after.
May they fill you always with their love
And give you the gift of laughter
Where Did You Come From ?
Where did you come from, Baby dear?
Out of the everywhere into here.
Where did you get your eyes so blue?
Out of the sky as I came through.
What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?
Some of the starry spikes left in.
Where did you get that little tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.
What makes your forehead so smooth and high?
A soft hand stroked it as I went by,
What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?
I saw something better than anyone knows.
Whence that three-comer’d smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.
Where did you get this pearly ear?
God spoke, and it came out to hear.
Where did you get those arms and bands?
Love made itself into hooks and hands.
Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?
From the same box as the cherubs’ wings.
Where did you get that dimple so cute,
God touched my cheek as I came through.
How did they all come just to be you?
God thought of me, and so I grew.
But how did you come to us, you dear?
God thought of you, and so I am here.
- George MacDonald
The meadow and the mountain with desire
Gazed on each other, till a fierce unrest
Surged ‘neath the meadow’s seemingly calm breast,
And all the mountain’s fissures ran with fire.
A mighty river rolled between them there.
What could the mountain do but gaze and burn?
What could the meadow do but look and yearn,
And gem its bosom to conceal despair?
Their seething passion agitated space,
Till lo! the lands a sudden earthquake shook,
The river fled: the meadow leaped, and took
The leaning mountain in a close embrace.
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
For all those who felt that love passed them by, and that they would never experience the magic, wonder, passion and romance of it all…the following poem is for you.
It is entitled ‘At Last’ and proves that it’s never too late to love.
At last, when all the summer shine
That warmed life’s early hours is past,
Your loving fingers seek for mine
And hold them close – at last, at last!
Not oft the robin comes to build
Its nest upon the leafless bough
By autumn robbed, by winter chilled,
But you, dear heart, you love me now.Though there are shadows on my brow
And furrows on my cheek, in truth,
The marks where Time’s remorseless plough
Broke up the blooming sward of Youth,
Though fled is every girlish grace
Might win or hold a lover’s vow,
Despite my sad and faded face,
And darkened heart, you love me now!I count no more my wasted tears;
They left no echo of their fall;
I mourn no more my lonesome years;
This blessed hour atones for all.
I fear not all that Time or Fate
May bring to burden heart or brow,
Strong in the love that came so late,
Our souls shall keep it always now!
- Elizabeth Akers Allen
The following poem makes you realize how your scent lingers on your loved one’s mind long after you are gone.
The only perfume I have ever worn in my entire life – and have stayed true to until today – is Chanel No. 5.
Ladies – if you are seeking its equal in strength and sensuality – but not overwhelming – for the man in your life, then I suggest Code by Armani. It is perfection!
As a perfume doth remain
In the folds where it hath lain,
So the thought of you, remaining
Deeply folded in my brain,
Will not leave me: all things leave me:
You remain.Other thoughts may come and go,
Other moments I may know
That shall waft me, in their going,
As a breath blown to and fro,
Fragrant memories: fragrant memories
Come and go.Only thoughts of you remain
In my heart where they have lain,
Perfumed thoughts of you, remaining,
A hid sweetness, in my brain.
Others leave me: all things leave me:
You remain.
- Arthur Symons
They said to him “Speak to us of Love.”
He looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them.
And with a great voice he said:When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his feathers may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams.For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so he is for your pruning.Even as he ascends to your height
and caresses your tenderest branches,
So shall he descend to your roots
and shake them in their clinging to the earth.All these things shall love do unto you
that you may know the secrets of your heart,
and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.But if in your fear you would seek only
love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you to cover yourself
and pass out of love’s door,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh,
but not all of your laughter,
and weep, but not all of your tears.Love gives nothing but itself
and takes nothing but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.When you love you should not say,
“God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”And think not you can direct the course of love,
for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
- Khalil Gibran January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931
Pictured above is an exquisite creation made from one of the most talented women I’ve ever known. Her name is Angela and she and her husband David are the masters behind Amarah’s Chocolate Company in Vermont.
The first Victorian piece that I sampled was bought by my family for my birthday at Thanksgiving. It was a white chocolate Victorian Christmas tree that was embellished with green garland, red bows, and she sprinkled white confection sugar on it to make it look like snow. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Angela can make you almost anything that could be a centerpiece for your table or as party favors for a bridal or baby shower, special occasion, wedding, etc.
Some of her most impressive works are English cottages, wishing wells, and gazebos. I chose the apple above that was filled with truffles because fall is my favorite time of year, and apples also remind me of Vermont – the most beautiful place in the world to be during the autumn.
Victorian lovers, you must visit her shop as she also has everything that you would expect from a fine chocolaterie. Angela is a very warm, loving, and generous soul who will do anything and everything to fulfill any special request to make the dreams of you and yours come true.
This holiday weekend and throughout the summer ahead, between the parades, beaches, festivals, clambakes, barbeques, and most of all the fireworks- embrace the silence.
Find a few brief moments or entire afternoon to quiet your mind and revel in the silence. The following photographs I believe portray this concept beautifully. They were taken recently by my favorite photographer and son, Christopher O’Donnell.
Enjoy and God Bless.
Timelessly Yours,
Sallyanne
“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”
- Robert Frost
“Love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”
- Aristotle
“Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience. Falling in love is not.”
- M. Scott Peck
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun on both sides.”
-David Viscott
“We were written in the stars my love.
All that separated us was time.
The time it took to read the map
which was placed within our hearts.
To find our way back to one another.”
-Anonymous
