From: smoldering<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Reading the front liners, most for the second time, <BR>
I've taken my time and really looked at them. <BR>
<BR>
Nice work y'all
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From: Crystevin<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Congrats front page picks, all excellent works!<BR>
<BR>
Kirk- I'm awe-inspired of your "thesis" ramble and the time and work you've invested in it.  I consider it a banner call to the living dead to begin LIVING again and though i'm not a true skeptic, more of a spiritually confused type, I truly enjoyed your searching and thought provoking array of chapters here.  I also immensely enjoyed the quotes section and think you picked the perfect quote for the front page. SO TRUE:<BR>
<BR>
"Love makes us poets and the approach of death should make us philosophers".<BR>
--George Santayana<BR>
<BR>
Thanks for sharing!<BR>
<BR>
-Crystevin
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From: kevin urenda<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

&lt;feeling horribly neglectful&gt;<BR>
<BR>
A belated thank you to lydia, laurel, terry, nikki &lt;hugs&gt;, and Angel for your kind words over the last few days...<BR>
<BR>
You all make this (sharing words) well worth the effort...<BR>
<BR>
k
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From: Chris W. at [email-masked]<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

well, i've been absent from the board for much too long as i've been unable to read many new subs lately.  but, i caught up last night...<BR>
gala: spirit soul wandering and coming into my own were just excellent.  i love your metaphors!<BR>
terry: i am shiva was powerful.<BR>
nikki: both cigarettes and let me be were excellent.  keep them coming!<BR>

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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Thank you Kirk for selecting one of my works to grace your cover...and congratulations to sweet lil Jenna for her wonderfully short piece and to Gala and Dee and all the rest.<BR>
<BR>
Kirk, your ramble was profound, yet settling...i absorbed it so fast the first go-around, i had to reread and will probably do so again. I have my own philosophy on handling the uneasiness of my mortality...I figure i wasn't in a whole helluva lot of trouble before i got here, so i probably won't be when i leave...also, i have always been enthused by new frontiers and look upon death as the ultimate frontier(at least in this lifetime)...However, i do not for one minute view death as an end to me and feel so strongly that there is some life after death that i may be too at ease and unconcerning, so it was very interesting to read of your concerns. I would like to say that i do feel age has a way of conditioning people for death--like high school conditions one for college...i feel dying of old age is a normal transaction that your body and mind is prepared for-- dying prematurly, however, can come as a shock(hence, ghosts,poltergeists-if you believe in those things)and may be what we fear most. Your mention of 'sleep likened to death' was interesting and if you believe that you must not believe in an end, because sleep is filled with all sorts of dreams--like other mini lives, perhaps tidbits of our past lives or future ones??? Who really knows? HELL, I do , of course *SMILE* Anyway, i found your ramble to be extremly interesting and the quotes were magnificent. Will you be linking it to the Blender? I would like to be able to flip between the two as i find the topic fascinating.
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From: Kirk, Blender-Keeper<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Angel-<BR>
Huh, that's odd, I didn't realize I forgot to put a disclaimer "except when we're dreaming" on the page that likens sleep and death.  I meant only deepsleep, when as far as my own mind can tell, I'm out "like a light".  I think that, as far as I'm concerned, that's indistinguishable from death, except for the fact that I'm likely to wake up. (or as you point out, start dreaming.)<BR>
<BR>
But over all, I no longer believe there's anything that's *me* that exists independent of my biological brain and body. In the usual sense, I mean; I actually count my PalmPilot as an external extension of my brain, and I suppose someone's legacy can count as a part of them as well.  But as far as "souls" go, no dice. It's harsh to think about, but then again that's what those pages were all about.
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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

hmmm...maybe that is why i'm so at ease...'cause i do believe in a soul of sorts (not that i'm clear on the wheres or whys of it) just that i believe in a stability to our universe and we are a part of it, so, though the matter may take on a different form (our bodies die), our 'souls' continue to live on forever. I have also had personal occurrences in my life that have deep-seeded these beliefs in me. I also wanted to quote Marcus Arealis's(spelling?) philosophy of life pitted to eternity... likened to one drop of water in an ocean (i couldn't find the exact quote) I believe he also said...a man who dies at eighty years and a newborn who dies after his first breath have one thing in common...they have both lived a lifetime. (I am not sure of the origination of the last quote)
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Kirk~ I agree with your remark that there is no 'me' to exist after death except for maybe a genetic or intellectual legacy of some kind. But the matter of no soul that does go on, is where we diverge somewhat. What if, as some of your qoutes mention (and I love the one by DeLenn (Babylon5)),our soul is the ultimate elemental matter. Matter that can be called 'aware', or even a piece of an ultimate God? One who, through the very act of creation cast parts of herself(itself?, though I use feminine because creation is a form of birth in a way)out into the cosmos to take the form of mankind. You could even call these 'soul pieces' living love incarnate. Life could be seen then as an education in relearning to touch the other parts of God found in the 'souls' of others. Preparing one for death and the ultimate goal of union again, after death, of those same seperated pieces of 'God'.<BR>
<BR>
Many things in your ramble site makes one think, but I agree the quotes are well chosen...<BR>
t.
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

And Angel~ That concept of the soul of each man being likened to a single drop of water in an ocean is found in native american beliefs. Water is holy to most all tribes, and the birth of a child is likened to a raindrop falling to earth. The soul itself in this concept originates from the soul of the Great Spirit, just as all water ultimately  comes from the ocean. Even the myths of salt water and human tears are connected. Very interesting...<BR>
<BR>
t.
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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Kevin~ "the wrong way"...depicted the kind of love we all yearn for...i just loved the last two lines...'I don't want to be your everything but I do want to be a good start"<BR>
BRAVO, kev:)<BR>

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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Terry~"You're the one", was very tender&lt;SIGH&gt;...Sandi
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From: Christopher Lake<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Congratulations to ALL on the Front Page picks!<BR>
<BR>

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From: Angel<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Here is a poem written by Heartsong that i think explains why i say 'age prepares us, and maybe even lures us to death'<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Memories Of Silver<BR>
<BR>
(In dedication to the Elderly Residents of Corinth Housing Authority)<BR>
<BR>
A now forgotten woman<BR>
sits rocking away each day,<BR>
her skin is old and wrinkled,<BR>
her hair is thin and gray.<BR>
<BR>
No longer is there a twinkle<BR>
within her dimming eyes,<BR>
for life in her is fading<BR>
as every day goes by.<BR>
<BR>
Memories of children<BR>
who once loved her best of all<BR>
never come to see her<BR>
never even call.<BR>
<BR>
So now she sits there waiting<BR>
for her life to come to an end.<BR>
Its sad to knows she looks at death<BR>
as her last and only friend.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Melissa Jo Powers<BR>
<BR>

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From: deevaa ([email-masked])<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

heya heya all.... its the 4th of July here, so happy whatever it is you guys celebrate today!!! (independence?)<BR>
<BR>
Where to start.... ohhh new front page.... (grin) gala, guppy, Alexander, Sarah and Jenna -- all picks I loved from my first readings!! I'm shocked "peppermint-pick-me-up" made it.... but pleased to be in there with that bunch! <BR>
<BR>
new subs....<BR>
<BR>
Hank -- (the worlds best cowboy flirt,.... and handsomest.) 'soul shaping' very very nice... actually that and the one from Chris W are on similar themes,...<BR>
<BR>
"Let flow that person in her own direction<BR>
and her tide will set you free".<BR>
<BR>
YUMMY Chris....by the way... I suspect that you are pretty damn handsome (wicked grin)<BR>
<BR>
speaking of yummy....Nikki.... wow... 'missing' I LOVE the lines...<BR>
"I miss my heart in your hands<BR>
soft<BR>
full<BR>
singing"<BR>
<BR>
and 'let me be' is also very good.<BR>
<BR>
Terry 'walking' and one from last month that I've not commented on yet... I forget the name... the one about lighting a candle.... yes sir... nice.<BR>
<BR>
Kev ... 'the wrong way' - what a wonderful feel...<BR>
<BR>
By the way, I've a new email address for when I am at work... [email-masked] -- if anyone is interested.<BR>
<BR>
take care of your hearts<BR>
<BR>
dee
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From: nikki<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

It always amazes me, the pieces that catch people's eyes...thanks everyone who commented on my last three..<BR>
<BR>
Kev--I am in agreement with Dee on 'the wrong way' love the last lines!<BR>
<BR>
ZoE--Pickle Jar...I have tosay that the main thought...at least for me...there is no such thing as falling in love...is exactly what I have been telling myself for the past week....it all makes sense, anyway<BR>
<BR>
Angel..I love Noncommittal...not perhaps the sentiment, which I find myself the caterpillar in, but the way you word it...bravo!<BR>
<BR>
off to play with ideas...nikki<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
and yes Dee...July 4th was originally meant tocelebrate our independance...I think however, a lot of people overlook that reason, and just use it as another occasion to gather and drink and eat...of course, I might be a bit cynical now-a-days...:)
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From: terry<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Angel~ 'A Longing' sure touches on the primal in me. Good work.<BR>
<BR>
Chris W.~ 'Detachment' - I loved the wording of this piece. It has a wonderful feel.<BR>
<BR>
ZoE~ 'Pickle Jar' is Very thought provoking...thank you.<BR>
<BR>
And Nikki~ Major props for 'The Traveler'. An excellent metaphor on life...both the good and bad. Just Excellent.<BR>
<BR>
t.
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From: KtG<BR>
Date: 3 July 2000<P>

Congrats to everyone who ended up on the front page. It may well be Independence Day but you'll never get rid of us Brits Mwwahahahahaaa. Thanks for liking my "kissing raindrops" poem Angel, it was a soppy little poem just for me, I didn't think it would get noticed by anyone.<BR>
<BR>
Nikki - I liked "let me be". I nearly always relate to your stuff. That whole escaping thing really appeals to me. I really like the cocoon reference, it made me feel horribly suffocated, brilliantly effective.<BR>
<BR>
Bader Al-Salim - I really liked "Yes I can", lovely and simple, perhaps because English isn't your first language, kind of refreshing after the clutter of words I come out with.<BR>
<BR>
Angel - Non-committal made me feel distinctly uncomfortable, probably because I felt like the caterpillar. The thought of being squeezed lifeless by a clingy person is probably one of my greatest fears.<BR>
<BR>
I haven't had a chance to read much since I just got in from a kicking weekend down in London town. I wonder if Independence Day will prompt people to post breaking up poems? Anyway congratulations to Kirk on the continuing success of his fantabulous site and thank you all for sharing. All you Yanks enjoy your fireworks and whatever else it is that you do today :).<BR>
<BR>
:*<BR>
Kt<BR>

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