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1,000 Paper Cranes for Mary Anne
3rd Place1,000 Paper Cranes for Mary Anne
Lydia


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Paper II (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon EOS-20D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Date: Feb 18, 2014
Date Uploaded: Feb 18, 2014

 These one THOUSAND paper cranes... painstakingly folded... one at a time... belong to my BFF who has Stage Four Cancer. Another of her friends made them for her and sent them in a beautiful bowl (she keeps it on her family room table) to lift her spirits and give hope for healing for her.

I don't think they "bring good luck" as the Japanese tradition says, but I do know that she cherishes them and loves what they represent: that some people care about her enough to fold one THOUSAND paper cranes, just for her.

I got tired from just SORTING them into color groups! Ha! ... I can't IMAGINE folding all of them.

One thousand is much more than I thought it was. *grin*


I'm thinking some will complain about the scissors. I tried it without them and ... the scale was lost.

I like them anyway... even if they're not used in folding paper cranes.


If you have a moment, will you please pray for my friend? Pray for her healing and her salvation... if you're into that sort of thing. Thanks!! (I am.)

She'll be on chemotherapy for as long as she is on this Earth.

She's a tough one! And... you'll never find a person who is more kind than she... or who has a more positive outlook than she.

She loaned me her precious 1,000 paper cranes... quite generously and without reserve.

:D


1,000 Paper Cranes

Me and my Bestie:


Life is good, even when it's not.



PaperCranesForMaryAnne3751cr


[Feb. 21st, 2014 06:43:43 PM]

Oh. Crap.

I just found out that Mary Anne's future here on Earth is not as long as we had hoped.

I am ... beyond... feeling at present.



[Feb. 25th, 2014 12:26:43 AM]

So... here's a question for YOU, friend who is looking at my comments after the challenge.

If you knew that you had less than two years... less than 730 DAYS... to live here on Earth...

What would YOU do?

Would you thank your mother? Wpuld you go to her and tell her everything you tell your therapist about her?

Would you finally go slap that person that's bothered you for years at work?

Or would you go ask that person at work what is it about you that rubs them the wrong way?

Would you want to know about you? About how you affect the world... or at least YOUR world?

Would you take up sky diving? Would you expand your photography world? Expand your relationship world? Or... close in and focus on a few things? Close in and focus on a few people whom you love and don't tell.


Would you go sit by a creek and listen... REALLY LISTEN... to it pass by you?

WHAT would you do?

It's time now to do it.

Now.

It's time.

Do it.

It may be today that you're told you now have less than 730 days here to live.

Oh! You've used up three minutes of that time already. Was it worth it??

Make your time count.



EDIT 9-1-14: Mary Anne's body died this morning. My heart physically hurts.


Statistics
Place: 3 out of 76
Avg (all users): 6.7823
Avg (commenters): 8.8000
Avg (participants): 6.5333
Avg (non-participants): 6.9241
Views since voting: 3103
Views during voting: 244
Votes: 124
Comments: 30
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 03/02/2014 10:47:50 PM
Lovely tribute Lydia.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/02/2014 12:02:46 PM
A big colorful congrats to you sweety!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/02/2014 12:02:26 AM
Beautiful entry, Lydia, and as Marion said, very touching notes. I am so very sorry that your friend is going through this. But I know that in many ways, it is also a blessing - a statement that anyone who has NOT gone through it will find bewildering. Tell her that a "sister" sends her love and strength, and understands.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/01/2014 10:05:27 PM
Lydia, I love your entry. Congrats on the ribbon. Your notes are very touching. My thoughts are with your friend in her battle and her loved ones, including you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 10:57:14 PM
So why there is still no cure for cancer?? So that the pharmaceutical companies can keep on making money on chemotherapy!?? Sorry but this situation could be made much better if the mighty $ did not run healthcare. Hang on Mary Anne, doctors are wrong quite often. One has to have hope!
Nice tribute, Lydia. I hope something can be done. Never lose hope.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 07:27:00 PM
very nice of you - the image, the story, the care. congrats on the ribbon! I hope your friend enjoys it too, these are her cranes after all.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 01:50:15 PM
Lydia, love your beautiful tribute to your friend, Mary Anne. Congrats on your ribbon, my friend ((hugs)).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 11:55:06 AM
prayers for your friend, Lydia.. and just as an anecdote of hope... when my friend Peter was dying this past fall, he was visited by friends of his, the wife of the couple had been diagnosed about 5 years ago w stage 4 breast ca w lytic bone mets.. prognosis grim. She is currently still alive and well, and the lesions have healed. So, not sure if this is science, miracle or a bit of both, but there is hope.

Sadly, my friend Peter didnt make it.. he died very quickly after diagnosis, of a different kind of cancer.
I hope your friend, however long she has on this earth is able to make the most of her time, however she chooses.
XOXOXOXO

Anni

oh, I forgot to add.. nicely done taking 3rd place!! congrats!

Message edited by author 2014-02-27 11:55:53.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 09:44:16 AM
Congratulations Lydia...very, very well done!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2014 08:51:25 AM
lovely
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 09:52:50 PM
A beautiful affirmation, Lydia!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 06:06:09 PM
Congratulations to you!!! So glad to see you one the FP!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 04:45:49 PM
Congratulations Lydia. Wonderful shot and some thought provoking comments too!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 02:24:03 PM
Congratulations on the yellow ribbon. It's a beautiful tribute to Mary Anne. I wish both she and you gentle peace and strength as you walk the paths you have found yourselves embarked upon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 10:31:09 AM
Congrats! Thanks for sharing the story behind the cranes. Praying for your friend.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 10:08:43 AM
beautiful. congratulations.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 10:04:05 AM
A moving display of love and support.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 08:46:02 AM
Congrats. This was my pick for the blue. Love it
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 07:49:14 AM
Yes, prayers are on the way. My BFF passed the same way and it leaves void. Cherish every moment. This is a great tribute and a lovely image. Thank you for sharing.

Message edited by author 2014-02-27 21:17:29.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 07:21:34 AM
Wonderful image which deserves that YR.

And what you wrote is so inspiring. I do live everyday of my life like it was my last, every conversation I have with my fiancee, I have it as if it were my last and and my son... nothing is more important than taking in every single moment I have with him.

I like how you say 'really listen', that's something I've been telling people lately, to stop and really take in the sights and sounds, not just to be there but to BE THERE.

Like you are there for your friend. :)

Congrats and I wish courage and happiness to you and your friend in this difficult period.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 03:22:04 AM
First of all congrats on the Yellow. An amazing beautiful and colourful image.
As for your friend, really sorry to hear this. I don't believe in praying anymore but I really hope that the time she still has left may be blessed with love and friendship!
And for me, ever since my best friend died on the age of 36, I lived my life as if it could end any day. Enjoy life whenever you can is my life's motto.

Thank you for sharing all this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 01:55:20 AM
Lyra and I will be praying for her (and you).

Good question about what would you do with 2 years left - for me I wouldn't change a thing, except to try harder to spend more time with family and friends (which I already do). This because I try to live every day as if it is my last or one of my last. (Oh, there is one thing - I would pray more). I write this because often one will read the "what would you do if you had x years left" thing, but the truth is I am living pretty much like that and it is definitely possible. Just do it!

The movie About Time also has this message and puts it well into perspective.

Oh, congrats on the ribbon! It's a beautiful image. :)

Message edited by author 2014-02-26 01:56:11.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 12:17:28 AM
Wow. Reading the story behind it, I am speechless.

What a beautiful way to commemorate your your friend as well as your friendship.

Very inspiring. I hope she finds healing and if nothing else, happiness in the days to follow.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2014 12:08:56 AM
Oh my, Lydia. You both have my prayers. And I hope you and she see this win as a tribute to her spirit. Congratulations and hugs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/25/2014 10:48:04 PM
What a great photo! The scissors and lone, red crane makes the shot for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2014 09:35:51 PM
Love it; however My name does not have an "e" on the end, lol. Nicely done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2014 04:49:06 PM
Looks like a picture that the late sherpet would've appreciated.

Very beautiful and lively.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/22/2014 06:38:52 PM
Very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2014 04:52:46 PM
Think you'll get a ribbon to match the scissors! :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2014 08:31:26 AM
I hope you didn't do all that by yourself! hehe
Very nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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