An unexpected gift from a stranger today while out eating with my daughter.

While eating a meal with Katie in a restaurant in Rock Hill, a man paid for our meal today, with a thanks for my service to our country. I had my Vietnam Era Veteran ball cap sitting on the edge of the table. The man, who was near my age thank me twice for my service and shook my hand upon his leaving of the restaurant. He also welcomed me back home. I think he made have thought that I was actually in Vietnam. From 1970-1974, I was in the Navy and had to put up with all the hate directed at the war, and the military anytime I was off base and in uniform.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I was one of the many people who enter the military during the Vietnam War that didn't serve in Vietnam. To my knowledge, no nuclear power submarines provided support to the Vietnam War. Most of the subs were too busy following Russian submarines, that were tracking our carrier fleet.

I do have 10 years of military experience in two different branches of the service, and was surprise that someone would take the time to thank me for that service.

Merlin the Magnificent

 May be purchased at the following web page
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/merlin-andy-lawless.html



Merlin is a gentle boy who loves to be petted but not held for too long

Magnificent Tiger Resting

Tigers (Panthera tigris) are mammals of the Felidae family, one of four “big cats” that belong to the Panthera genus, and the largest of all cats, living or extinct. The magnificent tiger is a heavily muscled, powerful predator that stalks and ambushes large prey, camouflaged by its stripy coat. Notice how well the tiger’s coat blends into the stone wall behind him. Photo taken at the Riverside Zoo and Gardens in Columbia SC

May be purchased at:

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/magnificent-tiger-resting-andy-lawless.html 

To sooth the soul

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order ~John Burroughs

What better way to relax and recharge our connection the Mother Earth, than a quiet walk in the woods. Landsford Canal, Chester County, South Carolina.

Suitable for house, home, office, studio, restaurant, or health care center wall art decor. All images are available as single photo prints, acrylic prints, metal prints or canvas prints.

Photo may be purchased at: 

 
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/to-sooth-the-soul-andy-lawless.html

handrail and shadows

To contemplate is to look at shadows. ~ Victor Hugo

Hand railing with shadows on stone walkway.

 May be purchased at

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/shadow-railing-andy-lawless.html?newartwork=true

Ode to Mom

Fourteen years ago today I received word that my mom, had walked on to the Summerlands. She passed on the Dec 29, 1999, but I was another day and world away, serving my country in Australia.  I spent most of that day listening to Kenny G's  Instrumental version of Titanic .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGS0diNJ5MY 

After 14 years the pain is still there, and I wish she had lived to see that I have found someone who loves me so much, to see the wonderful wife and  step-daughter, who have come into my life.

The following I read at my mom's memorial.

I have been nominated to write something about our Mom, by my brother’s Steve and Joe. The reason they gave me was because of my so called writing ability. I guess it was a mistake to write that article in the Monacan News, thanking my parents for what they have taught me. Now everyone thinks that I am a writer. Well Steve was always more poetic and Joe the individualist.

In that article I related how my parents have always taught me to be proud of my Indian Heritage. And how, they instilled in me the Indian approach to Life; a respect and love for nature; the principles of truth, honesty, generosity, equality, and brotherhood, as a guide for my conduct in everyday affairs.

I do not know how good my writing is, or how well, I will be able to articulate my feelings. However, I do know that if it wasn’t for my mom always reminding me to use correct English, and encouraging me to read and write, I would not be writing this.

Too often, we are remembered by our occupations. We can use the words like Model, Den Mother, Telephone Operator, Hotel Owner, to describe Mom’s occupations, but this isn’t who she was. These were additional duties to her primary job of being a Mother. Mom was a Mother who provided comfort, discipline, kindness, love, protection and understanding. She was a Mother, who gave unconditional love to her three sons, even when we made mistakes.

She encouraged and supported us to take risks, for she knew that the greatest danger in life is to risk nothing. By risking nothing we may think we are safe and are avoiding pain. But, oh, how boring a life we would lead and what a lie our life would be. Only through risk can we feel, learn, grow, live and love. She wanted us to love, to live life on our terms. She wanted us to believe in our self. For, she knew that if we believe in our self, so too would other believe in us. She did not want us to be carbon copies of anyone. Yes, she may have been disappointed when we faltered.  And at times, felt that she failed as a Mother. But she still loved us unconditionally. And Mom, you did not fail us as a Mother.

She taught us that everything that happens can teach us a lesson of Life. Happiness, sadness, advancements, setbacks, the greatest moments of grandeur, and those of sheer stupidity, forges us into the individuals that we have become. For without these test, our Life would be just like a Merry-go-round, Dull and pointless!

She took great interest in our Indian Heritage. Never seeking or expecting recognition, she was glad to make anonymous donations to the Monacan Nation. Just this past October, she gave several boxes full of sewing books, supplies and material to the Tribe. Sewing and quilting was something that she was very good at, until the arthritis in her hands became too painful for her. Yes, it was hard for her to let all of these sewing supplies go, for she never gave up hope of one day being able to sew again. However, I suspect that this past October she realize that her time remaining was growing shorter and these things could be better utilized by the Tribe than by sitting in the sewing room.

There are many things my Mom taught me; I would like to share 26 of them.

Admit your mistakes

Be happy

Continue to learn something new each day

Delight in the small things

Enjoy your family and friends

Follow your own path, while doing no harm

Give thanks for all that you have, all that you experience, the good and the bad

Hug often

It is easier to be helpful than harmful

Jump for joy as often as possible.

Know your limitations, and then expand them

Laugh from the belly, and often

Miracles are real, they happen every day

Never intentionally harm someone

Opportunities to do good are always present

Plant as many trees, and flowers that you can

Quiet time, spent alone is important

Respect tradition, respect the Earth, and take responsibility for your actions

Smiles are free, give them often

Take no one for granted, for tomorrow the may be gone

Use every second and every word wisely, neither can be retrieved

Visit family and friends often

Welcome big problems, for they help us grow and may also disguise big opportunities

Xmas is the time for families and gentle falling snow

Zoos are fun

I loved my Mother, she was my friend

My Mother, my friend has walked on

What more can I say

The poem ends

Softly as it began

I love my Mother, she was my friend

Good Night, God Bless, I Love you

USS Constellation

USS Constellation, constructed in 1854, is a sloop-of-war and the second United States Navy ship to carry the name. According to the US Naval Registry the original frigate was disassembled on 25 June 1853 in Gosport Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, and the sloop-of-war was constructed in the same yard, possibly with a few recycled materials from the old frigate. Constellation is the last sail-only warship designed and built by the US Navy. Despite being a single-gundeck “sloop”, she is actually larger than her frigate namesake, and more powerfully armed with fewer but much more potent shell-firing guns.

The sloop was launched on 26 August 1854 and commissioned on 28 July 1855 with Captain Charles H. Bell in command.

For more information see http://www.historicships.org/constellation.html

Photo may be purchased at http://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-uss-constellation-andy-lawless.html