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Mr Bill
USA
1390 Posts
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 Posted - 01/11/2008 : 9:09:55 PM
 Location: Meeks Park
Time: 10:00am
Following a Native American Smudging Ceremony and some spoken words with music, everyone is encouraged to hike/walk around the park on the nature trail as a way to cleanse through movement and take the steps that Meredith was not able to take.
It is the hope of the hiking community that many people will strap on their boots,
dust off their hiking poles, and make a path to Meeks Park to remember Meredith Emerson and light up the mountain with the joy of life.
Children are welcomed and encouraged
For more information
Phone: 1-888-MTXINGS (689-4647)
Email: winton@mountaincrossings.com , ron@ronjones.org , or margparg@yahoo.com
Website: Mountain Crossings |
Cherry Blossom
USA
18932 Posts
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Posted - 01/11/2008 : 10:21:36 PM
Ingenius, clever idea and memorial!Cherry Blossom S°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°M°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°I°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°L°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°E
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HoneyBee
USA
4364 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 08:45:48 AM
January 20th Guess I am going for a hike. I don't do hiking, but look's like a good reason to start. What a wonderful tribute and a way to take our trail back. Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion. Edited by - HoneyBee on 01/12/2008 08:48:54 AM Edited by - HoneyBee on 01/12/2008 08:50:20 AM |
honeybear cubs
USA
1436 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 10:07:30 AM
This is a wonderful and beautiful idea.
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Lavender
USA
2797 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 10:22:03 AM
Yes, a wonderful idea!Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. |
mtn2sea
6 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 10:35:18 AM
what is a "NATIVE AMERICAN SMUDGING CEREMONY"? it says on the stores website, they will be having one at the walk.
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mad4martinis
USA
13730 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 11:16:14 AM
Hope this helps...
Our Native elders have taught us that before a person can be healed or heal another, one must be cleansed of any bad feelings, negative thoughts, bad spirits or negative energy - cleansed both physically and spiritually. This helps the healing to come through in a clear way, without being distorted or sidetracked by negative "stuff" in either the healer or the client. The elders say that all ceremonies, tribal or private, must be entered into with a good heart so that we can pray, sing, and walk in a sacred manner, and be helped by the spirits to enter the sacred realm. Native people throughout the world use herbs to accomplish this. One common ceremony is to burn certain herbs, take the smoke in one's hands and rub or brush it over the body. Today this is commonly called "smudging." In Western North America the three plants most frequently used in smudging are sage, cedar, and sweetgrass. Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) |
mtn2sea
6 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 11:50:21 AM
thanks for the information.
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Mtn Xings
USA
10 Posts
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Posted - 01/12/2008 : 6:29:12 PM
Thank you Mr. Bill for posting this, but there has been a change of VENUE for this Hike/Walk.
We've gotten SO much response from the community, news, counties around here, hiking community & such that we've had to brain storm with Mr. Paris and the help of others, and have decided to move this to
Meeks Park. Please know that the safety of everyone is our first priority and this is the reason for the move.
Thank you, and we do hope that y'all can come out for the silent walk for M.E. She was a sister of the trail and will be missed by all.It ain't about the miles, it's all about the smiles! |
HoneyBee
USA
4364 Posts
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Posted - 01/14/2008 : 09:34:53 AM
WOW! that is excellent news.Thanks to Mountain Crossings for undetaking this memorial walk.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
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Mtn Xings
USA
10 Posts
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Posted - 01/16/2008 : 4:56:25 PM
We're helping with this since Mr.Jones is in CA & his wife is in ATL. She's been up here this week & we've talked to Mr. Paris. He's been a huge help and we've gotten permission to have dogs allowed for 2 hours on Sunday as long as they are on a leash and everyone scoops their poop. A huge thanks to everyone in the county and city for their help.
There's a Cherokee Chief coming from "Touch the Earth" to perform the ceremony. "A comrade has fallen, and a trail angel has risen…. one whose gentle kind spirit will endure the passing of time forever. At this moment an angel dances along a path of peace and joy forever watching over those who simply want to walk… who simply want to live." It ain't about the miles, it's all about the smiles! |
Admin
USA
1484 Posts
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Posted - 01/16/2008 : 5:46:57 PM
A post (and reply to it) has been removed that was off topic.
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swissroger
USA
7923 Posts
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Posted - 01/17/2008 : 1:20:00 PM
what an nice idea.in my mind im over there and walk with you. "after an long time i see the sunlight at the end of the tunnell" |
mad4martinis
USA
13730 Posts
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Posted - 01/19/2008 : 6:18:42 PM
The walk is still on. Weather has played a role in this event, but as my hubby says, "Rain, Sleet, or Snow, it's still a GO". Meredith put the "white carpet" out for us all.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
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Mr Bill
USA
1390 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 1:39:57 PM
It was very, very cold this morning as we waited for the walk to begin, but there was good participation and a surprise face or two there *cough* Gray & MAC *cough*. The walk itself was brisk and warmed us up again. After a brief prayer, there were heartfelt words said by Steve Segar (Meredith's boyfriend), Julia Karrenbauer (her roommate), Winton Porter of Mountain Crossings, our Commissioner Lamar Paris, and a hiker who didn't know Meredith but was moved by her ordeal to write a poem in her honor along with a personal commitment to continue to hike and remember Meredith when doing so, and Diamond, the Cherokee Indian who afterwards performed the "smudging" ceremony.There was a fire to warm ourselves up by as folks went through the "smudging" line and the Humane Society offered coffee, hot chocolate, doughnuts, and pastries as fuel against the cold. For this brief walk, dogs were allowed in the park and it seemed fitting to allow the animals she loved so much to participate also. I'll try and make some pictures of the event available shortly.
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mad4martinis
USA
13730 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 2:38:58 PM
Very special morning. Thanks to all who showed up and supported this walk. It was very cold, but it was a good turnout.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
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MthArabs
USA
69 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 3:01:20 PM
I was extremely moved by Winton's words, and wish that I could read them again. Would it be possible to put them on this forum so I could remember them always? I was happy to be there today!
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honeybear cubs
USA
1436 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 3:11:48 PM
I was sorry to have had to miss it. It sounds like it was a lovely tribute, and it was a great thing for you all to do! :)
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mad4martinis
USA
13730 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 3:52:12 PM
*(i got permission!)
An Elegy for MeredithMeredith, whose kind and loving spirit was cruelly taken from all those who knew and loved her, has joined the ranks of trail angels.
She will forever be our guide. Because trail angels dance along the path of peace and joy forever.
Because trail angels watch over those who merely want to walk forever.
Those who simply want to live.
Those who want to live simply.
And beautifully as Meredith did.
Meredith’s light once illuminated the path of hundreds of friends and family members as well as among the many, many she touched along the graceful trail of her life.
The light Meredith brought us has not been extinguished.
It has risen.
It now illuminates the path of millions
Across our nation.
Around the world.
And as her light rises, we come to know its source.
A source inextinguishable.
An inner source.
It came from Meredith’s compassion.
Her kindness.
Her love of outdoors.
Her love of animals.
It now fires our love.
Our compassion.
Our resolve to live better lives.
Kinder lives.
It warms us, consoles us, unites us here and now.
And as her light rises,
It ignites in us the good of our natures.
It reveals to us the beauty of these mountains.
It fires in us a renewed joy for living, for those around us, for the walks we share today.
Her light reminds us not to wait but to love while we still can.
Now.
Stop.
Listen.
Hush and truly listen.
Hear the drums?
Feel them on the wind?
Hear the human tales of triumph and sadness that echo through these vast and ancient mountains?
These are human tales, bouncing off the cliffs,
Reverberating among the high tree lines,
Following the deep gaps.
Filling our hearts.
Separateness is an illusion, my friends.
There is no me.
There is no you.
There is only We.
We of this earth.
We the one.
I am you.
You are me.
Together , we are bound by common experience:
Love.
Life.
Hope.
Joy.
Sorrow.
Pain.
Memory.
Meredith Emerson is you.
You are Meredith Emerson.
Follow her light.
It will guide you well.
Remember.
Out on the trail, when a comrade falls, a trail angel rises. Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) |
MthArabs
USA
69 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 4:03:40 PM
Thank you so much for putting it here. I am so glad you received permission. I am again moved to tears.
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snowflake
109 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 4:52:41 PM
that was beautiful thank you for posting it!
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Lavender
USA
2797 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 5:03:34 PM
Very beautiful and moving! Thanks for posting it Maddy.Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. |
Mr Bill
USA
1390 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 5:34:56 PM
We've got pictures from today's memorial event available here: http://blairsville.com/glimpses/rememberme_walk.php
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nelly
USA
2816 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 6:38:39 PM
Winton, blessings.What a wonderful job you did. We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey.
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coosa creek
USA
39313 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 7:11:49 PM
Yes, that was very touching!
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honeybear cubs
USA
1436 Posts
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Posted - 01/20/2008 : 7:44:26 PM
That was a beautiful, very touching and remarkable speech/event. Wow! You guys are amazing! 
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January 20 Updated: Meredith Emerson Memorial Walk
