Another Passing...

Hello,
Today, I am deeply saddened by the news that another creative talent has been taken from us.
The great graphic artist, Frank Frazetta, passed away on Monday May 10, 2010, in Ft. Myers, FL, at the age of 82, after suffering a stroke.
Frazetta was best known, in artistic circles, and among fans, for his bold, graphic illustrations which have graced the covers and pages of the works of such popular writers as Edgar Rice Burrows (famous for his 'Tarzan' and 'Mars' stories), and Robert E. Howard (best known for his 'Conan' novels). Frazetta's skill bestowed a lifelike quality and realistic sense of movement and action to his drawings and paintings.

Yet, only a small portion of the public is aware that Frank suffered a series of strokes during the mid to late 1990's which left him with minimal use of his right hand. Being right-handed, Frazetta actually practiced and retrained himself to the point where he could draw and paint as well with his left hand as he had ever done with his right. An amazing achievement for an amazing man which just goes to show what perseverance and determination can accomplish.
Frazetta is survived by his children and grandchildren; his wife, Ellie, having passed away last year. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and a large, international fan-base, including yours truly. R.I.P., Frank.
Anna

(Footnote: The reason I had not written this posting sooner is because I wanted to get the words just right in order to make this a fitting tribute to a truly wonderful and talented man. A.)

Baring My Soul, For A Good Cause...

Hello.

I am going to talk, briefly, about something which happened to me when my mother died. I have a dear friend who is facing a crisis in life, and I hope this will help that person to find the inner strength needed to deal with what is happening in my anonymous friend's life, at this point.
Some years ago, after my Mother's death, and the birth of my second child, I hit bottom. Hard. I took care of my babies by instinct alone, or so it seemed to me. I put up a brave front for the rest of my family, yet, inside I felt as though a part of me had died along with my mom, or that that part was frozen. I laughed on the outside, but inside I just wanted to die. I actually considered taking my life, in spite of my little ones who needed me.
To make a long story short, it took seeing the courage and inner strength of a man whom I had never met to help me look inside myself and find my own inner strength, and to be able to move away from the dark place in which I found myself, back toward a brighter spot where I could begin to live again.
I am writing this in hopes of being able to help my friend see that we all have adversities which can overwhelm us if we let them. But, we should also remember that there are people out there who love us, and will help us; if we let them. The most important thing is not to try to face our difficulties alone. There is always someone who cares enough to listen, and talking is one of the best ways of coming to terms with a problem.
My friend has many people who love and respect that person. I just want to offer my help in any way possible, and I know there are others who feel the same way. We are here when we are needed. Please, dear friend, all you need to do is reach out. We're here. Love, Anna

Scenic Beauty...

Hello.

Today, I have been inspired by a special friend, whom I care about as though she were my sister, to post some photographs of one of the most beautiful places in the state of Tennessee; Cove Lake State Park. This is one of the great natural wonders in the eastern part of the state. The lake and its surrounding woodlands cover almost a thousand acres in the Tennessee Valley. The lake, itself, is so huge it is impossible to take one photograph that gives a view of the entire thing. It is situated in a cove, (hence the name Cove Lake) which lies between the mountains just off of Interstate highway 75, at the Caryville, (pronounced care-uh-ville) exit.

As you can see, by the fisherman's size, the lake is very large. Yet, this is just a small portion of its true size. Although you can't tell from this photo, the mountains in the background rise as high as a thousand feet in some parts.

Here is a better view of those towering heights. The clouds often obscure the tops, giving these peaks their nickname "The Smokey Mountains". As a frequent visitor to the lake, I fell in love with these peaks many years ago.

There are numerous waterfalls in the area; many of them only appearing after heavy rains, while others, like Triple Falls (above) are present year-round. This lake area and the surrounding mountains truly are some of Tennessee's most breath-taking natural attractions. If anyone is interested in visiting this area of the state, there are many websites on the internet where further information may be obtained. Please, come and visit our beautiful state. You may even run across a few 'friendly natives'--Tennesseeans, that is. Regards, Anna

(Photos courtesy of Cliff Williams, Knox News, and Tennessee Tourism)