1 What a wonderful ambition! I do love Linus!
2 I find these words of Ann Druyan, Carl Sagan’s wife, incredibly moving.
“When my husband died, because he was so famous and known for not being a believer, many people would come up to me-it still sometimes happens-and ask me if Carl changed at the end and converted to a belief in an afterlife. They also frequently ask me if I think I will see him again. Carl faced his death with unflagging courage and never sought refuge in illusions. The tragedy was that we knew we would never see each other again. I don’t ever expect to be reunited with Carl.
But, the great thing is that when we were together, for nearly twenty years, we lived with a vivid appreciation of how brief and precious life is. We never trivialized the meaning of death by pretending it was anything other than a final parting. Every single moment that we were alive and we were together was miraculous-not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were beneficiaries of chance. . . . That pure chance could be so generous and so kind. . . . That we could find each other, as Carl wrote so beautifully in Cosmos, you know, in the vastness of space and the immensity of time. . . . That we could be together for twenty years. That is something which sustains me and it’s much more meaningful. . . . The way he treated me and the way I treated him, the way we took care of each other and our family, while he lived. That is so much more important than the idea I will see him someday. I don’t think I’ll ever see Carl again. But I saw him. We saw each other. We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful. – Ann Druyan
3 I can’t remember where I found this photograph but all credit to the photographer.
Sunset_over_the_uk
christiebea29
September 1, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Love the photo, and of course the comic. I wanted to say that I find the words of Ann Druyan also very moving, but in a really sad way. Whether or not my hopes and beliefs are true, to believe that we won’t see our loved ones again (or feel them now) and that there is not an afterlife would fill me full of pain. Whether it is true or not, I want to believe that this isn’t it, and that death is not forever. I do not care if I am wrong. This life is still short, and I want to live it as such. My father always said (and he was an engineer) that if there is no more than this it really doesn’t make sense, there are so many things that cannot be explained, except by love and hope and faith. I don’t mind if people think this is all there is, each to his own. But it would personally make me incredibly sad.
Hudson Howl
September 1, 2013 at 2:23 pm
perhaps this goes to why in the worst, inhospitable places one can normally find a smiling face
Choc Chip Uru
September 1, 2013 at 10:07 am
I love the cartoon, it is something we should live with forever 🙂
And thank you for sharing Carl Sagen’s wife’s beautiful sentiments!
Cheers
CCU
andrea
September 1, 2013 at 10:00 am
Meine WPadresse hat sich geändert….
http://andreasch51.wordpress.com/
HERZlichst ANDREA
WordsFallFromMyEyes
September 1, 2013 at 6:14 am
Awesome last picture, Sally.
Re the words of Carl Sagan’s wife – interesting indeed. She doesn’t expect to be united with him again. When you think about it, 20 years isn’t that long.
Teepee12
September 1, 2013 at 2:46 am
Great words with a lot of comfort in them. Thank you for sharing.
Alex Autin
August 31, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Absolutely brilliant post Sally. I had read those word of Ann Druyan before, but they can never be read enough. What a truly remarkable woman who happened to have a truly remarkable husband. And the photograph was a great accompaniment. I also enjoyed your exchange with both Jim and Don. I could spend entire afternoons/evenings lost in conversations such as these.
Our Growing Paynes
August 31, 2013 at 3:04 pm
What a wonderful post with all three items. But I do wish people were more like Linus! What a great goal to grow up to be outrageously happy. 🙂
John Roberts
August 31, 2013 at 2:36 pm
Thank you, Sally. The words of Ann Druyan are so beautiful. A little weep happened. Loved the sunset picture too.
grandfathersky
August 31, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Loved this …. Linus had a great wisdom, Carl Sagan demonstrated his beliefs, regardless of the controversy, and his wife shows us a deep faith … Great photo of the modern world awakening!
andrea
August 31, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Got Lunch to all of my friends have important information for you.
If newly subscribed me to come then your contributions, and I like clicking on my new email address, it would be nice if you did that already, the new Wpadresse in abonierte blogs I’m einfügen…dann sure it will work everything back to normal.Send many Angel to you today for the weekend.
Sincerely Andrea
Many hugs
Jim in IA
August 31, 2013 at 12:19 pm
I agree with Don above. To feel even a small part of the intensity Ann and Carl shared is a wonderful thing. Choose those positive things as your guideposts.
Thank you for the inspiring post. Have an interesting day. 🙂
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Thank you, we will as we are in Bracelona visiting our son and his wife. Glad you liked the post. You may like to read my answer to Don. 🙂
Jim in IA
August 31, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Enjoy Barcelona. Your answer was good. Those who make faith and belief in God and afterlife a part of their life are all completely acceptable to me. If it gives them comfort and happiness, great. It simply isn’t part of me. Science, facts, data all drive my beliefs in the way of nature and our future. What I find despicable is the use of God, belief or lack of, as a weapon to force others into things they don’t deserve or want. My god, if I had one, she/he would not condone such things.
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Well said!
jotsfromasmallapt
August 31, 2013 at 11:44 am
There is no way that you could know that you were supposed to post this today…so that I could read your words and feel your thoughts. It is very early here and I write in anticipation of an angst filled day. Linus, Ann Druyan’s tribute to her wonderful husband, and the satellite photo have squared my shoulders and lifted my courage. I am outrageously happy for that and now ready to take on this day.
There is no way that you could could know that I sincerely thank you, unless I tell you so.
Thank you.
Sincerely.
R.
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 12:29 pm
I am so movedby your comments and send you love and chi across the ther to further support you through this day. I have just popped over to your blog and understand some of what you are dealing with. I’ll go back in a moment and comment over there.
All the best to you,
Sally
Don
August 31, 2013 at 11:42 am
Her words are so deeply meaningful and filled with such wisdom That’s what it’s all about, living in the present with intensity and giving as much care and love as you are capable of. I loved watching and listening to Carl Sagan. He had a profound impact on my life.
Personally, I don’t like making dogmatic statements on whether there is an afterlife or not. I’m prepared to let it be because I simply don’t know. So I’m content with not knowing. That probably makes me closer to agnosticism than atheism.
I have a deep respect and admiration for some of the Atheistic writers of our time. They do much to liberate us from the superstition and nonsense that is so often found in religious thought, but some times they just begin to sound a little too dogmatic, much like the very religious fundamentalists they so vehemently criticise. Just thinking out aloud, Sally. Loved your post.
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I, too, have utmost respect for Carl Sagan, a remarkable thinker and a remarkable man who made so much accessible to simpler minds than his own.
I think I know that there is no afterlife in any physical sense. ( I am aware of the oxymoronic statement I am making here!) I believe this life is all we have and that we must live it the best we can but I am almost jealous of those who do believe. My Granny was happy to die as she knew, absolutely knew, that she was going to be with Granpa again.
I do believe that we live on in the minds and hearts of those we have touched and I agree with your final paragraph.
Thank you again for your considered comments. 🙂
makagutu
August 31, 2013 at 11:04 am
I don’t want to be happy in the future, but now! The photo is simply amazing
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Me too! Bear in mind though that they are very young with their whole lives in front of them. However I like to think I am immortal, I know I have lived longer than I shall live – therefore, be happy now! 🙂
makagutu
September 1, 2013 at 7:16 am
😀
lena de almeida
August 31, 2013 at 10:33 am
Wonderful things – I am smiling and reminding myself of my responsibility to be happy! Thanks for sharing.
mybeautfulthings
August 31, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Very pleased that you like today’s things. 🙂