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The Enchanted Forest | | | Through the Fog |  |
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The Enchanted Forest | | | Through the Fog | |
It was 1967 and I was five years old.
My mother told me to hold onto her hand and put my other hand on this railing so I wouldn't fall. Now she's gone, so this picture has hit close to the heart.
I miss her and this magical place.
Thank you for posting it!
Bitter for what it was forced to become....and sweet for the place it once was and STILL could have been on its original soil.
No....I'm not bitter...NOT! : (
Proving once again, that open or closed this forest STILL has the magic of touching us all with it's enchanted spell that was first cast 50 years ago...
our inimitable motts provided the image, and you, my dear, brought it to life, supplied its soul, added a facet that turned a photograph into a story....
ladyhawke, i have never met you, but when i look at this photo now, i can see you walking up the stairs as a child, your mother holding your hand protectively, watching you, making sure that no harm befell the most precious thing in her life, cherishing that moment as lovingly as you are cherishing it now.
as you can see, sharing that with us was a wonderful gift for me. there are many things out of my realm of personal experience. it is hard to explain.... it's like, now i have an idea of what something feels like without the actual familarity.... hmmm. i am putting this rather badly, i'm afraid.... how about this, reading your story sort of rounds out the missing parts of my own life. it is looking in the window of a whole other life... oh, i give up. i apologize, but i am probably confusing you more than anything else, please forgive me.
just let me say, "thank you so much", once again. it may sound crazy, but your post meant a lot more to me than one can realize, perhaps. i appreciate and love the personal anecdotes. and i'm so sorry your mother isn't here anymore.
~angel~
You have done more for me tonight than you will ever know.
Sometimes a person says something to you when you need it the most. And for me...that was tonight.
And when it comes from a stranger it makes you believe in magic alittle more.
And you said it beautifully.
Thank you, because of your words I can feel my mother's memory alittle bit closer to me tonight, because you understand completely, and took the time to say so.
And thank you to Motts for taking such beautiful pictures.
It is quite a gift to be able to take a picture and have it suddenly remind a person of a cherished memory.
It breaks my heart to think that there will never be another little child and parent climbing these steps ever again.
Never again will this stairway hear laughter.
I wish this castle could be saved.
I guess some things don't live happily ever after, but pictures like this help keep those memories alive. Thank you so much!
bahrusker, that is exactly the beauty of this site and, in my estimation, it's deep importance, especially as these places won't be here forever. unfortunately, in time, all will fall victim to that dratted 2nd law of thermodynamics unless renovation plans are devised, and soon, though the chances of that happening are remote at best. and so we place our hopes and eager anticipation in the very capable hands and eyes of our good motts and co. remember, though, that you will never miss what you do not know. small comfort, i know, but there is truth in that old adage, "hindSIGHT is 20/20." that we are able to share the experience and utilize it as part of our make up is truly a gift indeed.
again, a million thanks to motts for making this all possible for us with his beautiful photographs and the stories behind each one. we are lucky indeed.
now, my dear ladyhawke, i want you to realize that this is a two way street.... we could thank each other back and forth ad infinitum and, of course, that isn't a bad thing at all. at all! your 1st post nourished my soul. your last post nourished my psyche, and at exactly the right time as well! for i, too, was caught in a dangerously grave state of despondency as of late battling growing feelings of helplessness and uselessness, among other demons. and then i read your post. is was as if a single candle was lit brightening up a deep, dark room. that feeling of being good for something, even something very small, something that made a difference somewhere, somehow, to someone, however small, shines like a beacon of hope and my life doesn't seem so desparate any more. i wanted you to know that. i also want you to feel very good about that. this is the best therapy.
and, so you know, everytime i look at the photo of the stairs i still see you holding your mothers hand, and i will always see it that way. even the mere mention of ef will remind me of that. shared memories are a wonderful thing!
my love to all,
~angel~
AngelWolf, Thank you for being who you are and expressing it so freely.
In different ways of course, nudge, nudge wink, wink.
But I do want to thank everyone that has posted here. I'm glad it helped alot of us.
Motts has truely shown how a one picture can effect so many...
When seeing pictures like Mott's, and others of the Enchanted Forest, I can't get that Simon and Garfunkel song, "Bookends." out of my head.
So, I'll let them say what I feel...
"Time it was, and what a time it was,
it was a time of innocence,
a time of confidences.
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories,
they're all that's left you." ~ S & G
Take care everyone! : )
We need more people like you out here in this world! I can see your spirit shining all the way here in Maine! : )
it took was one very special photograph. :)
it's settled.
the official soundtrack for this image is "bookends" by s & g. how perfect!
my love and appreciation to everyone who posted here! and thank you for your very kind comments (uh oh, here we go again, lol)! you are all truly the best! everyone, please, just keep on being YOU, even ~me. ;)
motts, regarding the photo... they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words." they weren't kidding, were they?
<3 <3 <3
e_jamesiii@yahoo.com~ I love the idea of the knight and his bride...
References were made earlier to John Cleese.
With your post , I'm now seeing, I think it was the wedding festivites, in Monty Python's Holy Grail.
("But father..I don't want to get married...I want to singggggg!" "STOP THE MUSIC! STOP THE MUSIC! They'll be NO SINGING HERE!!!" ) ~ : )
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
too many visuals! too many visuals!
virtual O.D.!
i find british humor (or is it humour?) highly amusing. so cut and dry it makes you crazy.
the shots of ef conjure so many scenes, real and imagined, it truly is enchanting. even in it's present state of disarray, i doubt that this place will ever lose any of it's magic. or it's charm. ever!!!
oh yeah, i'll be mac. why, thank you so very much, my dear tosh. it was ever so presumptuous on my part to choose the roles, wasn't it? can you ever forgive such a selfish gopher? though, doubtless, i don't deserve such kindness. shall we? after you, my dear. no, you first. oh, but i insist. why don't we go together, you ask? what a splendid idea! my, such a clever gopher! i am humbled to be in your esteemed presence. oh, but i am!
and with that, mac and tosh enter the photo of the stairs that prince motts took and amble their way through the mist into the enchanted forest to live among happy memories that never go away, where they live happily ever after.
This story I could live with! : )
Because there is magic in this mist, all of the original Enchanted Forest still lives on. But
it takes forever and a day for Mac and Tosh to visit each attraction in this forest of enchantment.
For they are forever politely bickering over why the other should enter each attraction first.
Always coming to the conclusion that yes, going in together is always best..."
1960s. Without reminiscencesthese whimsical and real places would be...poof......
were entering into this Castle,I was so anxious for Linda to come in because she was distressing as to how she was going to fit thru such a narrow gap in the back of the Castle,I was nervous she was going to refuse all together!But when she did work her way in and began to explore the place,I was nuts with enchantment and excitement!I was an exciteded and bubbly 5 year old adult going thru scenes of a past that I could only see thru the eyes and experiences and detailed descriptions of those who were around me!
If I Iived there, I would go in and climb these stairs one last time, making sure that I use this railing so I don't fall. Tie a red rose to this railing with red ribbons in memory of her. Then probably sit down in this enchanted stairway and have a good cry.
It's hard when there are certain people, and things that we have such a strong emotional attachment to, are suddenly taken from us.
What the eyes can no longer see, the heart still feels.
That is why photos like this are so precious to us.
I miss and love you, Mom. : )
(Thanks, Motts.)
This picture to me, is what a stairway to Heaven would look like.
It kills me to think that this beautiful castle will all just crumble to the ground.
I wish some of it, ANY of it could be saved!
I love what you wrote about grief, and how it is the price we pay when we love others.
I love that way of thinking..... : )
What gets me through the loss of my Mom is that I was lucky enough to have someone like her in my life for as long as I did.
I am thankful each day for that.
I am amazed how people, that I don't even know, have taken the time to comfort a stranger.
Just that fact alone is comforting on its own. It makes me realize the true power there can be in words and the power of these beautiful pictures Motts has taken.
There still IS magic in this Enchanted Forest, and it is mostly made up of love.
Thank you Tom Tom, much love to you too. : )
Had to come here, especially today, and it was nice to see that you left me a message of warm wishes on these steps.
Gail, if you are a Mom or have a Mom, heck, even if you don't have any kids!
I'm sure that you've been an inspiration to children in your life.
You remind me of that saying that goes something like,
"A hundred years from now, it won't matter what kind of car I drove. How much money I made, or even how big my house was. What will matter most is that I was important in the life of a child.
Thank you, Gail, from the bottom of my heart! OXOX ~ Sue " : )
love to you both.
Thank you Motts, for your incredible and inspiring work. It's spirit is so alive and dare I say, so very very Enchanting, to us all.
It's actually very peaceful here!
It always amazes me that as bad as my life might be going, (yah, there are alot of people that seem to have it so much easier than me), but I also never have to look very far to find someone who has been through so much more than I.
It puts things in a little bit better perspective for me.
I myself, have been through breast cancer. A co-worker said to me once that they didn't know how I pulled through, and that they didn't think they could do it if they were in my shoes.
I told them that "Sometimes, you just do what you have to do."
When life can press on us hard, it really can make us stronger.
Family and friends help get us though.
Thank you for sharing all of the above.
I can't even BEGIN to imagine the kind of pain that you've been through.
I can see though that you are a strong and caring woman who thinks of others before she thinks of herself.
I'm hoping that things have gotten better for you.
Thank you so much for sharing it, and yes, you are with people that care. : )
You're in my thoughts. Once again, a picture has brought together two people's pain, but in doing so it has also brought a kind of comfort in sharing what they've been through.
You take care~ Love,Sue
Thank you Rapunzel's Wish for the kind and heartfelt words. Happy Mother's Day to you : )
and Happy Mother's Day to you and to bluicecorvette, and to your Mothers!
I read something recently and I thought it was special enough to share with you beautiful ladies -
"You don't have to be anyone's mother to be loved."
Please know that you are.
And as for dealing with loss, when I lost my Mom it was as if two of the most important people in my life died. My Mom ,and also one of the very best friends I ever had. For me it feels like only yesterday that I spoke to her ,but it also feels like it's been a century seen I spoke to her last , all at the same time. How's that for not making any sense? But, losing someone you loved the most never makes any sense. Take comfort in Tom Tom's words above about grieving, and know that you are here with people that care. Love you, Gail Take care. : )
She smiled as she teared up and said, "Oh, I like thinking of it that way!"
Thanks, Tom Tom. : )
You found me haunting this staircase again! LOL.
Ok. I confess, I'm always here. : )
It is just too beautiful to leave.
My thoughts and a hug goes out to you as well, bluicecorvette.
Be sure to spend a part of the day, being thankful for the special positive people who were put in your path on this journey called LIFE, and that made a diffence to you, because they were in it.
My heart will never leave this Enchanted Forest.
I'm grateful to Mott's that he has taken such beautiful photos and that a group of caring people appreciate them as well.
A woman told me once that she read a story that when you go to Heaven, you are asked where you would like to spend eternity.
If I could choose, I would spend it here in this Enchanted Forest. : )
Tonight she dreams that she is at the foot of this staircase holding a small lit birthday cake. In her other hand is a beautiful bouquet of red roses.
As she climbs this enchanted staircase she quietly sings "Happy Birthday" to the memory of her Mommy.
She turns around and sits down at it's very top, and lays the bouquet down next to her. Holding the small lit cake in both hands, the flames dance as she sings the last "Happy Birthday to you." of the song.
And right at the end, a slight summer's breeze blows through this enchanted stairway, as soft as any Mother's kiss. As it kisses the woman's cheek, it also softly blows out all the candles her Mother's birthday cake.
The woman looks down and sees the blown out candles and also notices that the bouquet of roses are now gone.
She smiles...her wish had been granted...
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! " : )
Another rose is added today,
for the one that's now flown away
to be with the one already above,
and as they greet again this day
they hear the strains of radar love
.