|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 21 2013, 6:56am
Post #1 of 37
(1500 views)
Shortcut
|
|
River of Flowers 22 February
|
Can't Post
|
|
Tomorrow at 12.51pm marks two years since the earthquake that devastated the city of Christchurch.
Since we began what might be termed a seismic journey in Septmber 2010, many of you here have provided comfort, strength and support to me personally, to others here on the boards, and also to our city and province.
If you would like to take a moment to think of us tomorrow, here is a way you can join in.
Please drop a flower in a river or waterway, and become part of our river of flowers.
From the Healthy Christchurch website:
The River of Flowers is an opportunity to:- come together as a city through a river of flowers
- let go through dropping flowers into the river
- hold two minutes of silence to remember those who have died, been injured, or who have lost their homes
- write notes of hope and post them on a tree of hope
- acknowledge the importance of the river(s) in the life and heritage of the city
- give a token of respect back to the river(s)
- show the connections between communities - particularly those most affected
- celebrate our strength - resilience and supporting one another
We are slowly moving forward but still have such a long, long way to go.
Thanks for reading. 
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 21 2013, 6:38pm
Post #2 of 37
(1146 views)
Shortcut
|
What are your plans for today, Starling?
There was a news story on Newstalk ZB this morning (which I can't find on their site) about a survey of Christchurch residents which showed an increased positivity, feelings of resilience and stronger family ties on this second anniversary. I hope that continues to grow for ChCh residents.
Also, I have just read this story online, about a mother and daughter whose survival story hasn't been told until now. I was in tears by the end.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
|
|
|
Aunt Dora Baggins
Elvenhome
Feb 21 2013, 7:47pm
Post #3 of 37
(1128 views)
Shortcut
|
It's dead of winter here, but my mom's Dancing Lady orchid is blooming. I'll see if I can find some unfrozen spot in the local river to drop one of the flowers. In any case my thoughts will certainly be with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories
leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
Tintallë
Mithlond
Feb 21 2013, 7:55pm
Post #4 of 37
(1121 views)
Shortcut
|
Rivers and waterways are hard to come by in San Diego, although with the recent rain there may be a bit of winter flow in the San Diego River channel. The two minutes of silence I will definitely do!
This is a lovely idea through and through!
|
|
|
Eledhwen
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 21 2013, 9:36pm
Post #5 of 37
(1123 views)
Shortcut
|
I will go and drop a flower in the Thames for you.
|
|
|
Ethel Duath
Gondolin
Feb 21 2013, 10:52pm
Post #6 of 37
(1129 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Although it is too frozen here
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I am sending one your way. I don't know if you could print it out and wrap it around something to throw in? Or would that be littering? But any way, here's from my garden to your city. This summer, when I have something growing, I would be honored to float a few choice ones from my garden in the most beautiful rive or stream I can find here.
With love: https://picasaweb.google.com/...G9Ss?feat=directlink
|
|
|
Nienna
Nargothrond
Feb 21 2013, 11:58pm
Post #7 of 37
(1108 views)
Shortcut
|
At 12.51pm our staff stood out on the footpath for 2 minutes silence. People from other workplaces were also on the foopaths and it was very moving. Lovely to see cars come screeching to a halt so they too could take a few moments to think of absent friends.
For some reason, here at work, we're finding today more sad than we did last year.
|
|
|
Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 22 2013, 12:43am
Post #8 of 37
(1104 views)
Shortcut
|
I found that was true on the second anniversary of my mother's death.
For some reason, here at work, we're finding today more sad than we did last year.
I think it was because I knew the first anniversary would be tough so I prepared myself for it. Having got through that, I didn't think the second anniversary would be particularly difficult so I wasn't prepared for the emotions of the day. You might have experienced something similar.
At 12.51pm stuff.co.nz's home page was replaced with a memorium that listed the names of those who died in the earthquake.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
|
|
|
Nienna
Nargothrond
Feb 22 2013, 1:14am
Post #9 of 37
(1118 views)
Shortcut
|
Now that I think about it, last year we were steeling ourselves for overwhelming sadness, whereas this time we didn't think it would be so bad.
One of our part-timers was at work today and it was her first day at work two years ago. We both well remember standing side by side at the despatch desk two years ago when the earthquake struck - her recollection is the noise (filing cabinets and printers capsizing and part of a nearby building falling over). My main memory is watching the books being thrown from the shelves - we ended up with thousands on the floor.
|
|
|
Annael
Elvenhome
Feb 22 2013, 3:42am
Post #10 of 37
(1092 views)
Shortcut
|
My hometown is a 'sister city' with Christchurch; we'll be throwing flowers from our side of the Pacific.
The way we imagine our lives is the way we are going to go on living our lives.
- James Hillman, Healing Fiction
* * * * * * * * * *
NARF and member of Deplorable Cultus since 1967
|
|
|
SirDennisC
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 3:59am
Post #11 of 37
(1091 views)
Shortcut
|
though as with Ethel, there may be more of a splat than a splash... the rivers nearby are in stasis.
Sigh, I wish there was more we could do. It is such a long road you've travelled. Attahua's sayings are good to read -- I'm thankful that hope remains in Christchurch.
x
|
|
|
silneldor
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 5:29am
Post #12 of 37
(1105 views)
Shortcut
|
It is but a cold frosted night,
and Jack Frost is at work on our windows,
where treading about the snow filled landscape
lends a crunch under each step.
The earth is asleep
and all things are dormant
but this i can humbly offer
with reverence and hope.
As in the earliest days
a single flower yielded itself,
as an offering of life continued
May the rose now rise in symphony.
February 22, 2013 12:29AM
|
|
|
Sunflower
Doriath
Feb 22 2013, 5:51am
Post #13 of 37
(1084 views)
Shortcut
|
I will try to drop something in the Hudson River here--I won't be there at 12:51, but I can stop by the River Walk park when I get out of work.
As to the 2nd yr being harder than the first--I can attest to that. 2nd anniversary of my mother's passing Over Sea. I think the first yr you're still in shock. The 2nd yr, "the grief is still too near." But all things shall pass...in time.
So...have we got a regular Nature thread up yet? (seeing as I haven't been here in a bit)
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:31am
Post #14 of 37
(1082 views)
Shortcut
|
We had a full school assembly in the morning, and a minute's silence. The children decorated road cones, and next week we will be collecting for the children in the Solomon Islands who have lost their schools in the recent earthquake and tsunami.
I was in the staff room at 12.51 just before I went on duty. A colleague who was at home on the day of the earthquake caught my eye, and we exchanged a 'look' that everyone in Christchurch knows now. She was in her house on the hills when the earthquake happened, and she and two of her children escaped with their lives as the house exploded all around them.
Midgey and I went to the river and threw in some red roses during our walk. It was a beautiful evening.
It wasn't terribly helpful to be woken up by an aftershock at 3.00 this morning!
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:32am
Post #15 of 37
(1083 views)
Shortcut
|
I remember that lovely orchid.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:33am
Post #16 of 37
(1077 views)
Shortcut
|
Thank you.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:34am
Post #17 of 37
(1076 views)
Shortcut
|
of a flower floating down the Thames.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:36am
Post #18 of 37
(1077 views)
Shortcut
|
There's nothing I love more than an iris.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:38am
Post #19 of 37
(1086 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Nienna, I was thinking of you today
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I wondered how you were feeling. I'm glad to hear people stopped to remember.
And yes, those second anniversaries can be very hard.
Hugs to you. x
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:45am
Post #20 of 37
(1071 views)
Shortcut
|
From one sister city to another.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:47am
Post #21 of 37
(1069 views)
Shortcut
|
but we will get there - inching towards recovery as someone said today.
Thanks for your support. It means a lot.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:50am
Post #22 of 37
(1068 views)
Shortcut
|
As for the regular nature thread, I managed to get it going when it was the school holidays. But now that I am consumed with work, I seem to forget, or simply run out of time.
Luckily there are plenty of people around here who will start nature-themed threads of their own.
|
|
|
Starling
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 6:55am
Post #23 of 37
(1068 views)
Shortcut
|
Those red flowers are blooming again.
I took this photo yesterday. The broken wall is gone now, and the area has been cleared, awaiting a rebuild.
Thank you, Sil.
|
|
|
Elizabeth
Gondolin
Feb 22 2013, 7:00am
Post #24 of 37
(1067 views)
Shortcut
|
The 22nd isn't till tomorrow here, of course, but you have been in my thoughts all day. I've been mostly down with a cold, but have some lovely fresh daffodills, and will put one in the ocean for ChCh tomorrow.
What a treat to have seen the Re:START mall and all the creative solutions people have found to get their lives going again.
But today's paper carried an article about the many individuals who are still living in trailers or other makeshift dwellings 2 years on because of bureaucratic delays. The article made the point that it's sometimes worse in developed countries, and cited the difference between the third world (such as the parts of Indonesia devastated by a tsunami a few years ago), where folks don't actually expect any help and so just rebuild whatever and however they can, and places like NZ and Japan where everything's so well-organized it takes forever.
Still, the courageous and creative spirit of Christchurch comes through loud and clear. Yay for all of you!
|
|
|
alienorchid
Menegroth
Feb 22 2013, 7:35am
Post #25 of 37
(1065 views)
Shortcut
|
|
I can't believe it's been two years!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I'm not big on memorials, anniversaries and the like, so I didn't attend any of the organised events - there was something at university, but I just went out for lunch with a friend (who I wouldn't have met if it wasn't for the earthquakes) and we reflected on the madness and upheaval of the last two years.
I still feel incredibly lucky that I, and most of my friends, were in the right place at the right time to escape alive and uninjured.
It's been touching to see so many people band together, and to get so much support, especially on these boards!
|
|
|
|
|
1
