Remembering Shirlee by texboy
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This lovely woman and I were sweethearts back in 1975; she moved to NYC, and I never saw or heard from her again. The other day, I found that she died in 2002, and that she had traveled more than a million miles on cruise ships, photographing this beautiful world. I hope and pray she had a good life; sail on, lady.
When you set out on your way to Ithaka
you should hope that your journey is a long one:
a journey full of adventure, full of knowing.
Have no fear of the Laestrygones, the Cyclopes,
the frothing Poseidon. No such impediments
will confound the progress of your journey
if your thoughts take wing, if your spirit and your
flesh are touched by singular sentiments.
Hope that your journey is a long one.
Many will be the summer mornings
upon which, with boundless pleasure and joy,
you will find yourself entering new ports of call.
C.P. Cavafy, from his poem "Ithaka"

Comments (21)
Paul I am so moved by this photo and story. Thank you for sharing this moment with us and I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was really one of a kind and I'm sure touched people like yourself along the way.
Gorgeous portrait my dear friend, very touching dedication and great story! Amazing work!
That is a very touching photo and dedication.
Lovely looking lady and nice portrait, a very nice dedication to her!!
lovely dedi...I hope she did too and no doubt she touched a few at every destination
Hello Paul.Lovely words.I know what this feels like.I'm 55 now and when I was younger I never imagined that my fellow voyagers wouldn't be staying on for the whole trip.I know that you can't go through life without spilling a couple of beers on the way back from the bar but the departed do tend to take a chunk of you with them - but not the memories.
Great composition my friend !!! Hugs Karin :)
Very moving.
sorry to hear of freind lovely image and very nice dedication.
I'm sorry to hear you lost this friend. The image and poem are a wonderful tribute to her. Excellent shot. Beautiful woman.
Sad and bittersweet story...yet, such is life my friend. Beautiful lady and photo!:-)
wow.. Paul I´m sorry about your loss !! she´s beauty lady !! love you Paul : your tender is touchting !!!!!!!!!!
Very touching and lovely Paul!
She was in deed ~Beautiful~ Lovely & Emotive Dedication!!!
That's so sad, someone you knew is already gone. You did a great tribute for her, thanks for sharing.
Beautiful tribute! Thanks for sharing this.
A wonderful profile view of this lovely lady and a fine memorial for an old friend.
Amazing composition, excellent characters and a great setting, well done!*****
To bad you didnt get a chance to meet up with here again...it reminds me a bit of my wife and i as we were sweathearts in 6th grade and were friends for years.she mairried and had a couple of kids,then he got sick(rest his soul),and we got back together(Instant family)..been married for 22 years...You just never know what could have been..Live it to the fullest,like its our last day...or our first.
This is so touching! I'm really glad I looked back in your gallery now and found this. A very beautiful image of a lovely lady.
Very touching -- a wonderful remembrance.