Monday, May 6, 2013

"By Invitation Only" May 2013 Post, the last until September....

welcome to our monthly international blog party


International Blog Party

this month's theme was simply 

"Camelot"

which will give those participating a lot of latitude in interpretation, won't it?


Because of the belief that Arthur will return, he is sometimes called 
The Once and Future King 
and Camelot itself has come to not only be viewed as a place, 
but as a state of mind or a reflection of a lost ideal.



for me, I will always remember playing the sound track from the play
in our home, the total happiness in hearing the music sung by 
Richard Burton & Julie Andrews

It's May, It's May
The Merry Month of May


& the evocativeness of Camelot in the Kennedy administration.

The mythical Camelot's location was never known,
however, I believe the idea of Camelot can be anywhere.

So to me, Camelot is an ideal situation or place.

IDEAL
IDYLLIC

for me, Camelot was always being at home,
making the home as beautiful as I could,
enjoying parties with our friends,
our children having parties,
like most women, I suppose.

travelling all around the world, loving some of the places we visited enough to
want a 2nd home there, but never with the thought of leaving our home in Texas,
or leaving Texas for that matter.


ideal or idyllic mean many different things to each of us. 


the total perfection of the butterfly.


the writings of Vicki Archer






the beauty of a well-dressed man.



Amalfi Coast, Italy

or the love of a certain place
in this case, Positano, Italy



& while there will always be something for which we strive,
I've come to understand what "ideal" really means to me.

Security.
I think this must come first for me for how can anyone find the ideal in their life
if they are not secure, both in themselves and in their home.

Love of family & friends & dogs.

Smiling when I know my children are happy, 
because that makes me the happiest.

 Not being perfect.

Always learning.

Never to bore anyone.

Always be interested in everything. 

&, finally, understanding that nothing is forever really. 
the beautiful butterfly flies away, the flowers wilt.
that life is a process of renewal.

to be unafraid of renewal and change is, to me, "ideal."

the love of Camelot as an idea began when we were young...
what if?  absolutely, we can do this !
all will be set right!

  I will always love the idyllic place of "Camelot"
 & King Arthur is still my favorite character ever.
I always have a place for him at the table, 
& it always makes everyone laugh just like I wanted it to.

Camelot is right here in my own backyard.


my little girl who is expecting her first, a little boy,
shown here in the Texas hills with all the Texas wildflowers.


*****************************






*
"By Invitation Only" will be on hiatus June, July & August,
returning in September for our monthly posts.

to all of the ladies of our group, please know how much each of your contributions are valued.
I often think how much your friendship & support means to me,
even if you miss a post or two,
and many are missing today with family illness, work, life, all the normal stuff that
gets totally in the way of blogging.



Photobucket

20 comments:

  1. How absolutely, radiantly beautiful your daughter is. With family like that, no wonder you have found Camelot in your own world.

    So many words of observation and wisdom here Marsha, and so beautifully expressed, that I really feel you have summed up so perfectly what many people think, but perhaps don't realise they do. If that makes sense....

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  2. this will sound silly!
    Ihave never understood "by invitation only" and how it works!

    I struggle (but enjoy) doing a blog......it is not easy for me!

    I would love to be part of it! I have no idea!

    XXOO

    My favorite, Marsha!

    Penelope

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    Replies
    1. Yay!! Please oh please bring on Penelope!!!!
      xo,
      Heather

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  3. Dear Marsha,
    What a delightful interpretation of 'Camelot' ..... an ideal situation or place ..... to think of life like that is truly inspirational.
    ...... and, your daughter is blooming. I wish her many happy times with her new baby and her own 'Camelot'.
    .....and, thank you so much for a year of inspirational 'BIO' posts ..... they have all been a joy to read and, for myself, a joy to write and participate in. Thanks so much for all of your hard work as 'leader' of our 'BIO' party and I look forward to another year of the same.
    Much love to you Marsha. XXXX

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  4. Very moving and inspirational reading early this morning. I do so agree with the security thing it is very important to me too.

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  5. Marsha ... what a gorgeous post ... so beautiful and so true! Our Camelot is where we create our happiness with our family and friends. It is an idea and can be anywhere .... an idyllic point in time. Thank-you for sharing such beautiful thoughts.
    best wishes
    Frances

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  6. Your daughter is magnificent Marsha... blooming and so beautiful...
    Thank you for the mention... I am so honoured and deeply touched... you are wonderful... xv

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  7. GORGEOUS! Expected nothing less....love your interpretation, your daughter looks stunning! Its been such fun getting to do these together, thanks for being our fearless and glamorous leader!

    Thanks Marsha:)

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  8. Dear Marsha, Beautiful words about Camelot. I agree... Camelot was not perfect... but a cherished place of joy! A memory that evokes the sweetest thoughts.
    You daughter looks so lovely and you must be trilled! Camelot... a growing family! What could be better!
    Thanks for hosting and being such a darling friend!!!
    xo

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  9. After reading a few of the Camelot postings, I came away thinking yes Camelot is really a state of mind, but a very fragile state of mind very easily toppled as we have seen time and again. So my dear ladies, cherish and nuture your "Camelots" as the precious places they are, never taking them for granted because with the slightest bit of neglect they can be gone in an instant.

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  10. Dear Marsha...I'm so sorry to have missed the bio post this month...your interpretation of Camelot is delightful and your daughter looks radiant and so happy...congratulations!
    Looking forward to being back with you all in September and I thank you too for all your hard work you're a true STAR!
    With my love
    Catherine xx

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  11. Your daughter is about the best looking very pregnant woman I've seen in a long time! (There must be something excellent in those Texas surroundings - and good genes as well!)

    Love your interpretation of Camelot...

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  12. Hello my dear Marsha! I am late to the party today but here and wouldn't miss it.

    Actually, I love taking my time in the days that follow to read carefully all of our posts--they deserve it! You and I have a lot of over lapping in our Camelots I think--but what an incredible gift to share that oh so beautiful photo of your daughter--yes! That is perfect.
    Gros Bisous to you...
    Heather

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  13. The very core and essence of Camelot is belief in oneself and others to achieve a life worthy of living. To achieve a round table where loyalty and trust are implicit in all relationships...that the good of all is cherished and obtainable...to have a goal and a dream that transcend merely existing...

    Let it be not forgot that for one brief, shining moment, there was a Camelot!

    That very phrase reminds us that inherent in the legend of Camelot, it was a brief shining moment. Tragedy is part of Camelot. Perfection does not exist forever. Betrayal and/or death are part of living.

    Yet, even after betrayal and/or death, the belief in Camelot continues to inspire the next generation.

    Rise up and dream again of a life worthy of living.

    Judith

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    Replies
    1. I am following. I have been reading Splendarosa for several weeks and have especially enjoyed the "By Invitation Only" posts.

      Thank you for assembling this diverse, intelligent group of women who each brings an entertaining and often thoughtful perspective to the selected topics.

      Judith

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  14. Oh, yes, I was in love with Camelot too and sang all of the songs and still do! Congratulations on the little boy coming - now that is Camelot to me - grandchildren!

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  15. Your debut as a "Grandmother" is an entrance to, what I suspect, will be the happiest time of your entire happy life!!

    I have seven! From the moment the first two were born (three weeks apart)! I knew my favorite role is that of "Granny"!!! And that was 16 years ago! Lord have mercy!

    You will savor every moment.......I know you will!

    I send so much love to you and remember what I said!

    Penelope

    ps still; so much joy comes from my grandchildren.....and we are 5 out of 7 here in Montecito!

    Nearby is KEY!!!

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  16. I am going to post a post from a woman I have known my entire life!

    She is a decorator who has my favorite store in Palm Beach. She started a post when Lily Pulitzer died; and then the Boston bombings; and she wrote another one......it is my favorite...and brings everything into perspective!

    Penelope

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  17. Beautifully written Marsha! Bravo to your Camelot. Your daughter looks simply regal and Congratulations to her and to you. Being a Grandma is the best!

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  18. What a lovely post:) your blog is such an inspiration.

    If you like to have a spring picnic...check out my blog:)

    Have a great day dear

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
    (sweden)

    ReplyDelete


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