Les grandes pensées viennent du coeur.
(The greatest thoughts come from the heart)~ Vauvenargues
I am always intrigued at how and where a pebble is placed
somewhere in the world. Every time a person connects with me about their
involvement with the cause, I can always draw a parallel to Shayla and the life
she lived.
My path was fortunate to cross with a McKinley Landing
resident named Shane Jamieson. She has a warm, caring soul that made me feel at
ease when I met her for the first time. She shared my displeasure at the
treacherous commute people had to take in order to enter and leave the area of
McKinley. During my travels to Kelowna, I would meet her at Shayla’s father’s
home, near Okanagan Lake. Throughout our times together, we laughed, embraced
and gave way to the tears as I explained how the loss of Shayla had etched
grief into my broken self.
From the onset, Shane was helpful with the Candle Light
Vigil I was planning to mark the one year of my daughter’s passing. She
photocopied items I needed, discussed the future of safety on McKinley Landing
and how Shayla’s loss was felt like a ripple of sadness, through the entire
community. I expressed my heartfelt gratitude to those residents who had voted
for the most expensive choice to fix the stretch of road- Option 7. This decision I feel was the right thing to do, in order to bring about the change
that I felt my only child had died for. We also spoke of a proposed memorial
bench in her memory and the tranquil location- overlooking Okanagan Lake.
On December 12, 2012, Shane took from a bowl of pebbles, a stone
to place in Shayla’s memory. At the beginning of 2013, I received a beautiful
image and email from Shane:
Dear Tonya
I have been thinking of you so much these last few days. I hope you are doing
well.
This is the most beautiful place to have put her pebble. It is right opposite the Notre Dame and in the Seine which as you can see is flowing strongly so all the concentric rings were quickly spread and finally flowed into the sea. As you say her memory is just about in all corners of the earth.
The snow has just about melted here in McKinley so Shayla's memorial is clearly visible with flowers which I am sure are from her birthday in February.
This is the most beautiful place to have put her pebble. It is right opposite the Notre Dame and in the Seine which as you can see is flowing strongly so all the concentric rings were quickly spread and finally flowed into the sea. As you say her memory is just about in all corners of the earth.
The snow has just about melted here in McKinley so Shayla's memorial is clearly visible with flowers which I am sure are from her birthday in February.
Fondest regards and tons of strength
Shane
Shane
As mentioned, the placement was across from the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. There is a quote about this architectural masterpiece that states: The living stones – built by the believers
and their prayers – give the cathedral its true reason of being.
 |
| Photo: E. Buchot |
Shayla
always dreamed of travelling to Paris and on her wall hung the infamous poster
for Le Chat Noir.
When packing up her belongings, I had no more room and sadly had to leave it
behind, where it’s true splendour is certainly unappreciated.
_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg)
As a dancer, my
daughter was passionate about Moulin Rouge ~ the
most famous cabaret in the world, and of course the film made notorious by Nicole
Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The theme of the movie: “Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love,” could be heard vibrating off the walls of
our home as Shayla sang the lyrics to the soundtrack, restlessly. Her fluidity
as a performer shone through, as she pranced across the floors, mimicking the
main character, Satine. She would twinkle with a smile, flicker her eyelashes …
belting out “Come What May."
This year, on my second trip to London, I strolled upon a
quaint restaurant called Le Pont De La Tour ~ which boasts a restaurant, bar & grill, Food
Store and Wine Cellar. Once inside, the levels of inviting aromas enticed my
senses. I was greeted warmly by the people working and ordered a slice of moist
carrot cake, layered in velvety cream; this treat indulged me. I imagined
Shayla and me sitting at a nearby fountain, giggling together and fighting over
the last morsel. My joyful thoughts were soon tinged with the wallop of reality
and I embarked on a mission that I will share in another blog posting.
These
mementos of Paris; especially the release of a pebble, have been set within my
heart. That no matter what… the love a
mother knows and shares between her and the child she brought into this world...will
continue to last forever amongst the heavens.
By
T L Alton
She would have loved paris
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