At midnight, 2015 faded away as a freshly pressed new year chimed in and took its place. Hard to believe it’s 2016!
Unfortunately, during 2015, we all saw a sharp rise in terrorism, violence, and fear in our world. Although there are many good people living on this earth, there are some who appear to prefer violence instead of peace, and hate instead of love. A sad situation which is difficult to understand.
Also in 2015, I was confronted by a personal terror known as cancer. In late January, I had major surgery and one lobe was removed from my right lung. Luckily, after I woke up, the doctor said: “It was a home run. We hit it out of the ballpark!” The cancer that was removed had not spread.
Three months after the surgery, I was offered the opportunity to sing ‘God Bless America’ with the Rappahannock Choral Society (RCS) chorus. With all the turmoil in my life and in the world, I wanted to accept this chance to ask for blessings—for everyone.
Because I knew that I was going to have the wonderful support of the 70 voice RCS chorus singing along with me, I did decide to sing—knowing that the strength of their sound would give me the courage to stand strong.
**I sincerely thank Linda Monner, the RCS Conductor and Artistic Director, for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to sing this:
We must not let the ‘mainstream media’ (with all the constant negative news) give us the impression that there is no good left anywhere. In countries around the world, there are people uniting in impassioned requests for peace, as is exemplified in this post from Turkey (written by a virtual friend known as ‘Uncle Spike’):
I pray that 2016 will be a good year for everyone.
And I hope that, regardless of the ongoing turmoil in the world, my WordPress worldwide (virtual) family will continue to share their experiences with me throughout the coming years. I love reading all of the unique stories from various countries and looking through the wonderful photos. Thank you so much for sharing!
Happy New Year!
Before I Forget 
God bless you and yours and my best wishes for 2016, Mary! Your faith and God’s presence allowed you to sing because you were singing for Him. Beautiful performance!
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Thank you Majka! While I was singing, I was thinking…
God Please help! The world is falling into complete confusion.
I don’t know what is happening. Please, please help us!
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He always will help ☺
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Happy New Year 2016! May it be a great year!
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I am hoping!!
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I am hoping that it is your greatest!
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Oh I wish! Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year!
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Thanks for this lovely post. You have a beautiful voice. Glad you are now healthy and regaining strength
Happy new year !
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Thank you Katelon. I am wishing that we are all at the start of a great new year.
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You sing beautifullly, Mary. Wonderful post. I wish you a very Happy New Year!
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Thanks Leya! Wishing peace and good health to us all in this new year! 2016 almost sounds like science fiction to me….so many things have changed over the years. Some things changed for the better, and some things did not.
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True…when I think about it – science fiction warning.
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Such an inspirational post. Blessings to you for a great 2016.
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Thank you—wishing you the best also!
I am praying that this year is a gazillion times better than the last!
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Thanks. Yes, you need a break for sure!
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On Facebook I’ve been using the hashtags #sharethegoodnews and #PeopleAreGood to spread the good news stories. My take on it is that in this illusory duality, that we think is so very real, there is always a balance between the good and the bad. The bad is just shouting a little louder right now due largely to twisted media. I’m eternally optimistic that it is equally balanced by the good. We just need to focus on it especially hard because the media is so determined to do the opposite.
I’m so glad to hear you’re recovered fully from your illness. It must have been a very stressful and scary time.
Happy New Year Mary. May 2016 bring all you could wish for.
Alison xox
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It’s true. The 24/7 news channels replay the same frightening things over and over again, until it feels like the whole world is on the verge of collapse.
I am sure that the bad is equally balanced by the good. We need to look past all of the negative news and find it. I know you and Don are going to have a GOOD (even great), adventurous new year. I am looking forward to the stories!
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More power to you, much much more. And peace to all. V.
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I will have to close my eyes and think of a leopard or cheetah, and re-imagine that energy within us all! Peace always….
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I think you would enjoy this:
Official Site of the cheetah rescue and protection in the wilds of Nabidia:
http://www.cheetah.org
Bye, Vera
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Thanks! One of the most beautiful cats…..
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You have an absolutely beautiful voice! God bless YOU!!!!&
Beth
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Thanks Beth!
Happy New Year!
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Tears as I’m hearing you sing! I didn’t realize you had cancer…I’m so glad you are better now! What an amazing voice…holy moly! Thank you SO much for sharing this with us all. What a GIFT. Have happy, HEALTHY and joyful 2016!! ❤
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Thank you….from another 2nd half of life woman! 🙂 Have a wonderful New Year.
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Happy New Year Mary! I’m so glad that you won that big battle, and so quickly!
Your rendition of “God Bless America” was incredibly beautiful, and hearing it left me filled with emotion. Thank You!
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Thanks Montucky. The doctor said he hit it out of the ball park last January, but I have still have to go in this month for a checkup, because a year has gone by. They want to double check to be sure.
In the song ‘God Bless America,’ I bet the phrase “from the mountains” was inspired by the glorious mountains of Montana. 🙂
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Excellent to know about all your achievements this year…. Many blessings and best wishes to You. Happy new year, Aquileana 😘🌟
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Thankyou Aquileana…I hope there are many blessings for everyone this year!
Happy new year to you and yours!
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Happy New Year, my dear friend. I am celebrating your 2015 journey of hope and joy. I now look forward to this wonderful new year that holds many adventures yet to be experienced. Life is so good when shared with kindred spirits. I just read one of my favourite J.R.R. Tolkien’s passages: “The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater….”
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I had not heard that passage before…I like it!
It’s true. It would be sad to have to travel through life alone.
Traveling with kindred spirits is a delight.
It provides both consolation and strength for the journey.
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God bless and a Happy, healthy and progressive New Year to you and yours. Let’s make this a banner year for blogging.
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Hopefully it will be a banner year in many ways.
Wishing you all of the best in 2016!
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Thank you for sharing our message of peace Mary.
We are a small voice. It was a one-off ‘collective’ post, but our message is simple.
Thank you once again. May your 2016, and all of our 2016s be a peaceful 12 months.
Regards, Spike
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Thanks Spike! I hope and pray that love prevails over fear in 2016.
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Sending very best wishes for a most Happy New Year full of Love and Kindness. Eddie
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Thanks Eddie! Wishing the best for you too, and looking forward to reading more of your wonderfully inspirational posts in 2016.
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Scrolling through your blog made me wish you lived around the corner. We seem to have some things in common – stories, music, writing, photography. I love it! Thanks for sharing your heart, and happy new year.
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Well, I live in Virginia and will soon move to Texas. Perhaps that is closer? I don’t know.
We certainly do appear to have a lot in common! I was listening to your music and you have a very nice, soothing voice! I tried to play guitar many years ago, but every time I started singing…my hands stopped moving. So I will leave the guitar playing to you and others who can do more than 1 thing at a time. 😉
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Somehow I missed this reply back in January. Where in Texas? I’m north of Houston with contacts all over the state.
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Moving to San Antonio, Texas.
I am totally stressed out right now, because I am trying to pack (that’s why you don’t see me posting very much on my website). Set up the move with the movers, and then the closing date changed—so I had to redo all of that too!
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You sing so wonderfully Mary!! I wish you great health and happiness in 2016!
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Thanks Tiny!
Wishing and hoping that we both have a great new year!
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Pingback: It’s 2016: relax and spread love | Graham Brown Orkney
To Be Human
is to fall in love over and over,
to never give up on any of them,
to cry for the inhumanity, and try to
overcome all that surrounds us by creating
a closeness with those in proximity, both
geographical and philosophical. It is to
carry those loves in our heart, flooding our
minds no matter how gone they are. And
to put others’ needs first, understand their
flaws, work on our own so we can be
better helpers. It is to take it all in and
follow our dreams no matter how preposterous;
to pull apart another brown paper bag and
to write it all out, no matter how choppy.
So take my hand and make it all better
before I repeat the painful parts until
I can no longer act. To struggle past
obstructions and obligations, self-imposed and
expected; to wallow in joy, build strength and
change what we can for the better. To give.
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Excellent writing professor Stuber!
Well said!
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Kindest greetings for the New Year and wish you a very healthy and joyful days ahead. Cheers and regards,
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Definitely hoping for those healthy, joyful days!!
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Beautiful thank you for sharing!
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Thank you ‘Anonymous’ someone ….. 🙂
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