My life closed twice before its close;
It yet remains to see
If Immortality unveil
A third event to me,
So huge, so hopeless to conceive,
As these that twice befell.
Parting is all we know of heaven,
And all we need of hell.
Emily Dickinson
Gunnar took these photos of one my toughest partings. July 23rd 2011.
The day after the right wing terrorist, whose name I will not bother to mention, robbed Norway for its innocence and turned our world upside down.
We were to meet with our daughter to watch a Shakespeare play in wonderful Rosendal. Our two day vacation. Serina had a summer job in TV2, Bergen. She was among the first to know. I forbade them to turn on the telly, if we were going to see the play afterwards. I simply could not do both. We only knew about the bombing then. I was hysteric about it. The news would reach us soon enough. We needed each other now.
While I was in complete denial, the murderer went around shooting young, defenseless teenagers through their head.
The next day the joyful summer village was totally silent. People whispered. I didn't want to part. I offered to go with her. I by and by understood my daughter was turning into an adult before my very eyes.
P.S. Like Emily Dickinson I know of Immortality.
I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.
I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.
Emily Dickinson
Pictures shot by Gunnar Jacobsen.
Magical Mystery Teacher is hosting Ruby Tuesday 2 together with Gemma Wiseman 
19 comments:
You have shared a very emotional moment, thoughts and poem also memory.
I find partings so hard too. Letting go is very tough.Specially losing loved ones to immortality. I sometimes feel I stuck to that parting moment, reliving it again and again.
The hoorid act of murder was so horrid - I wonder how the victims families are coping and the survivors too.
I know you miss your beautiful daughter
Letting go is tough - you and your children grow together, the little ones need you for guidance yet we learn patience and delight as they grow. They were bound to grow up...while we remain wistful when they do...
Letting go is really hard. I'm sure you miss her so much.
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I guess letting go also comes in various shapes and situations.
When Serina left home to study four years ago, she had been seriously ill the summer before she went. To me the only thing worse than letting her go, was that she had to stay home because of her illness.
I was happy to see her follow her dreams.
Last July she left to work at a TV station when the worst tragedy ever in my life time had just
struck our nation.
She did cope, and she coped well too.
I just felt so devastated by the thought of innocent, unarmed youths from all over the country being slaughtered without mercy; my only instinct was to keep my baby safe and sound.
She managed the parting better than I. She still does.
I am very bad in letting go or goodbyes. I'll cry a bucket full. I do remember what happened in your place it takes me weeks or two months to watch the videos. When I finally watch it, and after what I have heard I still cry I can't believe people can do such a horrible act. I don't understand it.
BM
A very somber moment captured beautifully by your wonderful Gunnar!
So many senseless atrocities in our world today that often leave us in denial of any goodness. At these times we want to draw near our loved ones and love them and be loved by them.
Dickinson - such a lovely author and good choice.
Oh....I remember that day in July...I prayed for you and your family when I heard the news....
And I can't imagine what it's like to be apart from your daughter. The day will come, all too soon, when Olivia will move from the nest...I don't want to even think about it.
When hearing this on the News...I immediately thought of you, Felisol. It was horrifying, to think of young innocence being destroyed in such a way. Letting go is never easy, this made it doubly so. Big Hugs,
Praying for you and your lovely Serina.
That was a horrible event.Many Americans prayers & those from all over this world were with you& your Nation. Yes, partings are hard.
I love Emily Dickinson ! Her poetry expresses the emotion perfectly.
Amen to the last poem ! The Holy spirit gives us that assurance.
I can imagine that you fell awful, I heard this on TV while I was in the UK.
Beautifully captured photos!
Ruby Pen, come and see.
wow! what a story this is :-( very sad and I am touch, emotional but priceless pictures :-) Hope thVisiting from Ruby Tuesdays 2, hope that you can return your red visit too.
http://www.homecookingwithjessy.com/what-does-say-in-your-fortune-cookie/at you find peace in your heart :-)
I remember that day last summer very clearly. One of my cousin's daughters was on the Island of Utoya during the shootings. She wrote her account on our family Facebook page. It was heart wrenching to say the least.
Letting go is hard for me too Felisol. Even now as I move for the second time in two years, I have difficulty. But God leads us to new pastures.
Love you,
Debbie
What a touching post this is, it brings tears to my eyes.
You have such a deep heart, Felisol.
The pictures are beautiful, but somehow, in their beauty... depict a sense of sadness.
Letting go has to be learned as an art... because it is so painful.
When you said you saw your daughter turn into an adult before your eyes, I could relate. This past month I have been in Manila... moved back to my father's house... and shortly after, had to nurse my daughter's broken heart. And she became ill as well, because of it.
Ah, yes... letting go... it happens in many stages.
ANd I remember that day very well... the day Norway had to say goodbye to innocence, and trust.
Much love to you
Lidia
Oh my gosh, Elise. This is just heart-wrenching. What a terrible ache.
parting is indeed one of life's hardest moments....so sorry you had to part with your loved one in that dark day...isn't it strange seeing our children grow into adults before our eyes...
they seem to always handle the parting better than we..perhaps it is the advantage of our years that we can see just how difficult it really is...they will come to know in time....
I'm sitting with tears on my face as I read this and see Gunnar's pictures and feel your heart. I know the sorrow of parting too, and it hurts so.
The shattering of so many Norwegians on that day of the murders, it's still unbeleivable.
The words, both yours and the poet's... fit my mood as I read this.
I know how you miss your girl, I also understand how happy you are that she is pursuing her dreams. Such a conflict in a mother's heart, we love so deeply that even the separation makes us glad, for the sake of our children. It's such an unselfish love. And then I think of God, and how He loves us...
Amazing grace!
Miss you Felisol, still praying for all of you.
xo
When my dad passed it was hard. I wasn't ready to let go. I still had more things to laugh with him about and tell him.
I was watching tv one day, and Dr. Phil was telling this woman who had lost her child, not to remember the time you have lost, but to cherish and celebrate the time that you had spent together.
so much emotion in the pictures ... and your words add to the meloncholy of it ... makes me think about farewells ...
(hugs) to you ...
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