Saturday 5 December 2009

Forever

Forever is overrated. Sesame Street, turning 40 this month, has been hailed as being forever young. "Water Forever" is the new pipeline plan for Perth. Good old Collingwood, goes the song are forever. Whatever.

Last time I checked the dictionary, eternity is not a month of Sundays but the absence of Sundays, of clocks in general. If Chris Brown is going to dance forever (ever ever), then he's going to need titanium knees.

How many days do you give a romance built on quick-fire txts saying I LV U 4EVA? I'm guessing 2WKS MAX ;).

Ignore James Bond. For the marathon smoothie to imply diamonds are forever is to neglect we burr the same stones into dust and clusters. Better to plump for Cockroaches Are Forever!

Permanent is forever-lite. Ask any salon - a good perm lasts two months.

While I have no beef with eternity the concept, I am intrigued by humans always abusing such sacred terms. Even for those of a Christian bent, wafting the word "forever" like incense smoke...I'd be inclined to add a rider to the Lord's Prayer: Forever and ever, we hope.

No matter the synonym, our tongue corrupts it. In a world of email, the postie's lucky to ring once, let alone always twice.

Just for an experiment, I walked to the corner store, shelling out $1.50 on a box of Nestle's Everlasting Gobstoppers. A single chewy ball lasted 6 1/2 minutes, and that was sucking it like the last morsel left on earth.

Can't say which is worse, pretending, like Frank Sinatra that his lover's cherry smile will always be there or camouflaging a calendar year as the going duration of permanence.

The question is set to gnaw me. Interminably.

"Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever."


I am eternally grateful that Charlie & Joseph are apart of my life. - Cromer January 2009




Postscript:

Nina P.....a brilliant blogger whom I love dearly, wrote this comment....it just blew me away!!!!

"What a thought provoking post......
Forever is a town in _____.
It's a song, a book, a word, endless, always, never ending...
Forever is a thought, a moment, a breath, a feeling...
Forever is waiting for a loved one to return,
The time it takes for an off key Karaoke singer to finish,
The time it takes for that favorite desert to finish baking,
Forever is not long enough for an optimist, too long for a nightmare, and just long enough for a day dream.
Forever is etc., etc., etc....
Forever is always, never and now.
Forever is the thoughts that were generated by your "Forever" post.
Forever is under rated, over rated, rated just right.
Forever is the Love (your Love) I see in your photo's of Charlie & Joseph.
They must bring forever smiles to that great big heart and soul of yours.
May you and yours be Blessed, forever.
Love and Light, Nina P"

30 comments:

Silver said...

"Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever."


That's a beautiful quote, Peggy and how true that is, indeed!

Cute picture! I always love taking pictures for the children. There are no bad shots or angles with them, do they?

;)love & hugs,
~Silver

HappyOrganist said...

I had a great comment and my four year old deleted it.
little brat

Unfortunately I can't recreate it.

I love your comment about txt relationships (or the kind of relationship you described). right on ;D

McMGrad89 said...

What got stuck in your craw? LOL Hope it's not stuck there forever?

U R My BFF!

Christine said...

forever is a scary word. I could never keep a candy in my mouth for so long, too greedy.

miruspeg said...

Silver - Isn't it a fantastic quote! It jumped out at me when I went searching for "forever" quotes. And yes I agree children can be shot from any angle and still look good....wish it was the same for us.
Big hugs to you always dear friend. :)

Happy Organist - Little brat indeed.....stop making me laugh! I'm like that too when writing comments, if they go into cyberspace I can never recreate my words of wisdom....maybe because they weren't words of wisdom!! :)

Annemarie - So you noticed I got out on the wrong side of the bed....LOL. I feel so tired at the moment, too much birthday and Christmas cheer.
So I am you "Best Freakin Friend"....or did you mean "Black Footed Ferret"??
We are going to have soooo much fun on holidays.

Christine - Forever and Never Ever, extreme opposites but equally scary words. I live on HOPE...always the eternal optimist!! It was a real struggle to keep the lollie in my mouth that long, I am usually a munch and crunch type of gal. :)

Frequent Traveler said...

Dear Peggy,
Happy holidays to you and your adorable grandchildren. May you have many many wonderful moments with them, as part of your life and your heart :)

Sarah Lulu said...

Gorgeous boys.

I do Peggy still believe in fairytales.

aynzan said...

I did enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed your sculpture by the sea. I'm glad I followed you here .. (forever! sure..)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Now that's deep! Forever really has no meaning. But hope, we can all have hope for each and every day. Charlie and Joseph are adorable. Blessings to you and yours, :) Tammy

Roban said...

You do sound a bit cranky here! But what a good txtr u r. (Do you know how hard it is for me to do that???)

Now I'm going to be looking at all of the "forevers" and "everlastings" in my world, and now, sigh, I'll know that it really isn't.

Your everlasting blog-mate,
Roban

Anonymous said...

You highlight something so interesting in this post. There is a constant need for all of us to find forever in some capacity. I think it's because that we all struggle with our own mortality. We all know that regardless of our station in life we will all face the same fate.

miruspeg said...

Annie - Thanks for your lovely greeting. These boys aren't my grandchildren (I don't have any children). They have been a HUGE part of my life since they were born as I have known their mother since she was little. I know I will ALWAYS love them unconditionally. :)

Sarah - I am not surprised that you believe in fairytales. ;) I know you also believe in love and dreams coming true. Well I believe in angels and even if I never see one I will always believe. Hope you meet your sweet prince one day soon. :)

Aynzan - I am soooo pleased also that you followed me here from Scrapblog. It is a wonderful place to share our thoughts and connect with people. :)

Tammy - As I said before I am a "hoperolic" (no such word but who cares)! Hope will always be apart of my mindset no matter what the odds. I love the expression "Hope springs eternal". :D

Roban - I am a happy little vegemite today....had a really good nights sleep, the sun is shining and I will be going out to play soon. :)
I learnt the advantages of txt msg slang since msg my nieces regularly. It is a whole new language....like MkeMyDaSa+! (make my day, say yes).
Oh and please don't stop believing in the everlasting :(
TLMeImDrmn (tell me I'm dreaming)
Big hugs to you blog buddie!

miruspeg said...

Des - Your comment certainly gave me food for thought. I feel it is a shame that people struggle with their mortality. Life and death are one. I suggest that how we mourn (what occurs psychically as we live the pain of loss) strongly influences our relationship to our own deaths.

Here is an excerpt from Kahlil Gibran's poem "On Death"

"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?"

"Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance".

Nina said...

What a thought provoking post.... Forever is a town in _____. It's a song, a book, a word, endless, always, never ending... Forever is a thought, a moment, a breath, a feeling... Forever is waiting for a loved one to return, The time it takes for an off key Karaoke singer to finish, The time it takes for that favorite desert to finish baking, Forever is not long enough for an optimist, too long for a nightmare, and just long enough for a day dream. Forever is etc., etc., etc... . Forever is always, never and now. Forever is the thoughts that were generated by your "Forever" post. Forever is under rated, over rated, rated just right. Forever is the Love (your Love) I see in your photo's of Charlie & Joseph. They must bring forever smiles to that great big heart and soul of yours. May you and yours be Blessed, forever. Love and Light, Nina P

miruspeg said...

Nina, Nina, Nina you write the MOST precious comments!
You are brilliant. :)
I am forever grateful, proud and blessed to call you my friend.
Big big hugs always. :D

Mike Smith said...

My wife tells me it's taking me forever to fix that shelf in the kitchen. Mind you, she has a point...

miruspeg said...

Mike - I was wondering what comment you would make on this post.....and you didn't disappoint!
Go and fix the shelf....put her out of her agony....she will be forever indebted. :) :) :)

Anonymous said...

Your post made me laugh! You're so funny. Makes me think of the song 'Until the 12th of never - and that's a long long time'. So 'Never' must be the forever month? Let's hope it's sunny.

I think we all have a sense of 'forever' in ourselves - because that is what we truly are. We are part of the Tao after all.

(In response to Des's comment, I saw a T-shirt the other day and it said: '100% chance of death'. It is after all the one certainty in life. But what if it only meant death in the Earth plane?)

Marja said...

Great post When we analyse words they actually often don't make sense because there is also feeling attached .I know a word which is used by everybody in Holland without problems, but when you use that same word in NZ it is a swear word.
Abstract words often have a whole story behind it. A simple one He is bad What is supposed to be bad in one country doesn't have to be bad in another. etc
That's why learning another language is so hard You blogging friend expresses it therefore perfectly A word can be expressed in many ways.
I love the word forever .For my feeling when we develop we change forever. We never return to our old state. Forever it is because I believe our spirit will never die

miruspeg said...

Stoneweaver - I just read the post again and laughed too! It was quite a rave wasn't it. And that song you mentioned "12th of Never" aren't you a bit young to know that song. I did like the bit you added about being a sunny day....now THAT was funny!!! :D
You know I am in-sink with your thoughts on death in the Earth plane!

Marja - What a great analysis of this post. For a person who's 2nd language is English you have expressed yourself beautifully and succinctly.
Thanks so much for adding more food for thought about abstract words such as Forever.

I believe that the spirit is eternal and when manifested in a body has a purpose to teach us something about ourselves. And when that spiritual mission is complete then we are left with their essence, their gift, their example. The spirit never dies. The spirit is eternal. The spirit is pure grace.

Nina said...

Oh Peggy, you are such a dear. It is I that get inspired by you. Whenever I come here I am energized, encouraged, and awed by your words and photography. You are one of earths angels and I'm sure we share many common thoughts. Sometimes I feel as though I've known you forever(as Stoneweaver said: "We are part of the Tao after all"... so maybe I have). There is such Joy, Love and Energy to be found in this Universe we call home. May your Joys be many, your hardships few, and may you forever be Blessed. Love and Light, Nina P

Unknown said...

forever is forever until something happens, then it's NOW

Personally, I only use forever when I really mean it. Like, I could sleep forever. I really think I could, I enjoy it so much. I could also snuggle with my puppy forever, if given the chance.

I also hate saying never, although I use that one more than forever.

miruspeg said...

Shannon - I tried to remember the day I forgot that forever and never don't really exist.
It was probably only a couple of years ago.
I used to be a huge "forever loved never forgotten" believer....but it ain't necessary so!!

I like what Nina P wrote:
"Forever is not long enough for an optimist, too long for a nightmare, and just long enough for a day dream".

Anonymous said...

I came across your blog via Silver visiting mine. I don't like to think about eternities or forevers. It is hard enough to hang on to the happiness of each fleeting moment - it is so worth the try though. Seems that you do too by the looks of those gorgeous litte boys.

miruspeg said...

Hello Kerry
Thanks for adding to the discussion. I love what you wrote about hanging onto the happiness of each fleeting moment.

This quote sums it up perfectly:
"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony."

Thanks again for visiting and I'll pop over to your blog shortly.
Cheers
Peg

Laura said...

forever (to me) is the ever changing moment that is NOW. Now lasts because it is all there is...only it changes endlessly...does this make any sense at all? I think it's past my bedtime.

gentle steps...but with awareness,
Laura

Caroline said...

What a post Peggy! I can't agree with you more...and Nina's comment!!! Fantastic. Just what I needed to read tonight :)

miruspeg said...

Laura - Your words make complete sense to me.
I feel I am changing, an ever changing, ever evolving moment that is NOW.
I am the possible, I am the moment where ambition meets results, dreams meet reality, today meets tomorrow.
I want to be the light that illuminates life, and the source that aspires many many more.
Thanks so much for contributing to the discussion. :D

Caroline - This post has taken on a life of its own. The discussion has been engrossing. I believe it has gone full circle.
Thanks for dropping by, always lovely to hear from you. :)

Chapter Forty said...

I love the photo!!!
This is a great post, will it last forever on the internet?

miruspeg said...

Chapter Forty - Will this post last forever? Well we have just established that forever is NOW, so if you can see it now then the answer is Yes!
I love that photo too. They are such happy little vegemites and they adore each other. :D