Beautiful Sunday Blessings

Sunday Blessings to all today

from here in

Sunny

Tarpon Springs

where it is

Greek Easter!

And let me be the first to tell you

the

sounds of celebrations have the 4 leggeds not so happy as the traditions have been being celebrated all around town...

Greek bombs are tradition and have indeed made their sounds be heard;

rather like the sound of gunshots,

or in fact a bomb...Nobody and I mean nobody...

knows what will happen when orthodox Greeks celebrate Easter during the weekend here of Greek Easter! It did sound as though the holiday has started all weekd-end as joyous as the town has been ever so busy, and I imagine loved ones are gathering to glorify the Resurrection with a feast of lamb.

But perhaps, and this is what causes certain folks some sleepless nights, it certainly sounded like it was another Greek-bomb Easter to my ears from here!

Long before midnight on this Greek Easter morning, I heard and jumped out of my own skin... as I'm certain it was those homemade bombs  exploding and I wondered if they were exploding here in the neighborhood along with the Dodecanese Boulevard riverfront.

 They have reported in the past that there are explosions that shake buildings and break windows on Athens Street. Back in the neighborhoods, teenage boys/girls/adults (and I bet a few Elders)
toss bombs and run from the cops. It's a rite of passage that happens to be a felony! All in the name of celebration of Greek Easter.
And here in this little town, like so many others around the country, nobody ever knows what will happen until it happens in Tarpon Springs, population 25,000. This year, police hope, nothing louder than the cries of the yellow-crowned night herons will be heard down by the famous sponge docks.

That will mean rambunctious teenagers have heeded the annual request of Father Michael Eaccarino, the pastor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, to light candles instead of bomb fuses.

Bomb explosions during Easter season have been part of the Tarpon soundtrack for generations. It's a custom that goes back to where so many of the town's 3,000 Greek-American residents trace their roots: the islands of Kalymnos, Symi and Halki in the Aegean Sea. There, high-spirted Easter celebrants fling dynamite from mountain cliffs and occasionally blow themselves up in the process. Now dynamite from mountain cliffs is a far different thing in my thinking to hand made bombs in a neighborhood! But then again... what do I know? LOL

In Tarpon Springs an Easter bomb is typically made from shredded newspaper, twine, duct tape and powder purchased in a gun shop. There's more to it, of course. Just know the creation produces an impressive explosion. Even so, the ear blast is never enough for the most competitive bombmakers. Cpl. Scott Brockew, a Tarpon Springs police detective and Pinellas County's only bomb technician, once confiscated a homemade explosive about the size of a watermelon.
No wonder the 4 leggeds and I are not so keen on the celebration here, but oh boy you should be around for the 4th of July... when the sound and the fireworks fill the air, and the neighborhoods... RUNNNNN for cover is my think on it!

So the smell of lamb and lemons

and all that is Greek will fill the air

today,

but for now

the day is quiet.. so guess the church is filled as Father is looking around to see how many look guilty and have the smell of gun powder on the robes and best dressed selves...

The fire is burning, the sage is drifting in the air.

Sending prayers for so many today,

and heart felt condolences to

Glenda whose Mom died yesterday

and she and her family will need extra strength in all that they now face in their moment of such pain of loss.

...

My deepest condolences to

those in Pulaski VA

the family and 5,000 friends in the community who came to the services of a graduating senior of the

Pulaski High School student of great promise,

now gone too soon...

CAMERON FITZWATER

17 YEARS OLD

Pulaski VA

driving on his way to his part/time job

killed in his car during heavy rains.

A young man so dearly loved in his community, due to graduate the end of May.

Loved by so many that his family were astounded and filled by his love

when the funeral home was overwhelmed by

5,000 members of the community

who came to pay their respects

and embrace

Jon Fitzwater and family.

A community mourns a young man

of great promise.

Gone too soon.

May you find comfort in knowing what a tremendous impact your sons' short life had on so many, and that they will be with you in the days, months, years ahead to provide you with the strength, hope and faith, to see you through these dark days of fog...

Many thoughts, prayers and blessings

for those who are here

...

Thank YOU for thinking of them,

together we are some powerful warriors

who can extend such energy to others

Please continue to hold each other

UP



Lyle Emerson and his family in Buffalo and little Kendra 3 years old who is fighting Lymphoblastic Leukemia,

Bernice Etsitty and the life of her son, gone too soon GARRETT JOE,

and

all the children of all colors

gone tooo soon,

and

for

our President and his family

of our United States of America,

those who are serving our Nation and their service animals

and

all who have served

and

their families,

May the Creator bless you for holding us in your arms to protect our freedoms.

For,

Sherry Reed, Mary Grace, Shirley, DLB, Dot/COB/Mom, Angela, Kamryn Elijah, Ode, Linda McDonald,
Joan & Olivia,
danLrene, Florence, Jenn, Bill, Denise, Ashe, Stuart Jr, Whitney, the Houston family,

Dianne, Ken, Andre, Bill, Taft Abras, Mary Labyaks' family , Andrea, Patti, OshKosh, Jamie, Sasha, Kerri, Josh, Kar, Cash, Neil, Lori, Cindi, Tom, Shasta, Bill Simpson and Family, Jenn, Steph, Dana, Kari, Sandy, Marty, Marsha, Wanda, Ellen, Cindee, Peggy, Joyce Cruz, a CANCER surivor working at Southwest Airlines *it was an honor to meet you dear one*,
Ike Davis, in New Mexico, an artisan who plays in the mud and creates beautiful tings out there, *http://www.negroartist.com/*
what a joy you are to so many of
SOUTHWEST, thank you for visiting with me,
prayers of continued success and tobacco to your Pueblo uncle!
and for

Christos Fandaros, Thomas Galvin,
John Knudson,
Curtis, Susie Langham, Stasia and Billy Hall, Christina Chavez and Rick and Ryan, Pam Meyer, Whitney, Diane Bystista, Susan, Leann Vincent, Roxanne Duran, Carole Poppendeck, Mary Jo H-shortes, Bridget, Robert Tanner Mara Tanner, Yolanda L Acosta, Antonio F. Balderrama, Denise Flowers, Lisa Balance, Sherry Stedman, Rose, Marquette, Acosta, Ortega, The Pueblo Peoples,

All those I was honored to spend time with in

"VA, DC, MD, FL, CT, PA, Ohio, Michigan, South Dakotas, Geisinger Medical Center, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Solaris Hospice, Evercare, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Gesinger, Crossroads Hospice, El Paso, Santa Fe, Albuquerque"

Jeremy, Florence, Cal, Sarch, our friends of Portugal, Mike, AnnMary,Stephanie, Jimmy, Keli, Kasi, Katherine, Julie, Allan, Lynda,LeeAnn,
KS Comfort Keepers, Stephen Bright, Linda and staff Melody,Brenda A and children Sarah, David Rachel; Gloria, Pete, Fred, Max, JJ, Barb and Leo Henning, Rick Fechner, Ryan Baurain, Melissa Reid, "Probation Professional pals", Jim Vander May (*who has been working in the Professional field for 45 years in Michigan*, Dale, Herschel, Bonnie, Louise, Holly, Jerry, Faith, Yvette, Happy, Audrey,
and Rod Markowski and family, Lynn, Ryan, Jordon, Darryl Markowski, I thank you for your service) Brian Markowski, Shannon Becker, Nick, Reagan, Dr Iris Taylor of Detroit Medical Center,, please take best care of you) Sandy R. Carol, Stephanie, Geri, Chris, Matt,
those in Oklahoma City, in Tulsa, In Ft Worth, Dallas, Ike, Isabel, Teresa, Janelle, Patricia, Susan, Karen, Laura in Yuba City CA,
Crossroads Hospice and those who care out there working and walking the walk, Perry, Clayton, George, Janet, and all in green!
Rick, Calley, Ron, Rebekeh, Brenda, Becca, Audrey, Gabe, Dena, BEth, Lill, Jay Hanson, Jennifer, Beth Jett, Huntsville AL, Sheri, Wendy Reese and family, Sandy, Toby, Edith Vaughn and family,Susan, Greg and Kyle Korabek (Landon Korabek on the other side now), Stephen Bright and family, Walter Littlemoon, Jane, Laura, Mitch, Jenn, Chris, Mary, Taft, Martha Deaver, Morris, Dahlee, Rose Brick, The Baitinger Family, The Yaslowitz Family, The St Petersbug PD, Congresswoman Gabbie and her family, Dahlee in NJ, Judy Kelley, beloved husband and family, Jennifer, (now being watched over by her beloved husband and child), Norma, EE, Little Cub to CJ and Angel eyes Jack, Daniel, Dave, Cindy and Steve, Marty, Sweet Pea and Pie Face, Florence, Jeremy, Dennis, Darrel, Greg, Leroy, Rebekka, Carly, John, Diana, Crystal, Karen, Janet, Callie, Lorie, Laura, Larry, Clive,

2 Wolves and Jinx in SD, (http://www.2wolvescreations.com/)

Kelly and family,Judy W and her 4 sons up there in New England, Cherokee Wick, Benni, Gayle, Jonathan, Great Aunt Effie's family, Marilyn Warren, Ilene, Tweak and Chris, Jen and Bian, Ericka, Shannon, Hannah Sherabow, Pam C. and family, Susan S., Angela A., Nancy W, Sue G, Kelly and family,Mato Oyate Kola, Susan Brouse, Cindy and Stevie, Kim, Olatz, EVB, Guin, Yiva, Mary, Sandra and family, Christina Hellen, Dotti B., Susan and Greg, Amy, Becky and Barry Long, Christina, Matt and children, Aaron, Lisa and family, Freda, Linda Katie, Pat D, Tink and Mitch, LITTLE Ben, Jerry, Trish, Barb, Anastasia, Mary, Rylee, Lindsay, Ann, Sarah, Ruth, Johnny, Bobby and the Tucker Family, The Spraker Family,Kenny H, Michelle, Sandy, Addie and family in Canada, Sandy, BraveHeart, Rowena, Chris, Robyn Elizabeth, Jean, Duke,Rowena, Chris, Baby Robyn Elizabeth, Diane Smallze and family, Patti and family, The Korabek Family and friends, The Gasse Family and Friends,

Officer Crawford of St Petersburg, The Kocab Family, baby Lilly Nicole Kocab, The Curtis Family, Tarpon PD, those serving here and there in Uniform... Those now walking The Thin Blue Line, (far to many joining that line recently across our Nation),

Mylee, Mikey and family in DC, Jack M & Janis in OC, Stephen, Stuart Wittel (back from his 4th tour as a fighter pilot of the US MARINES inAfghanistan) and his parents Sandy and Stuart, Lavie Coltrane and family, Andrea Gasse and family here and in New England, Ali and family, Randy and Winnie in New Mexico, Jill Wheaton L, Dr Peter in NY, Dr Rev Bev, Irene M, Bernice, Eileen and family, Vicki, Matthew and family, Chris, Lovie, Nancy, Pedro and Our adopted family in BRAZIL, Our North American Black American Bears, The Windcross Convservacy and those beautiful Spanish Mustangs known as "pocket ponies"... the dolpins , always our most remarkable dolphins!!!

AND for:

Anne, Jim, JADE, Cynthia, Joseph, Cathy Madden, Nathan, and her family., Cindy in NC, Liz, Lee, Molly, Joanie, Jude, COFA, Judi, Ken, Matthew, Nick, Matt, Mark's family and many friends , Pat, Irene, Kevin, Dr D, Deb, Randy, Dr B, Isabelle, Kelsey, Sabrina , Charlie and family, Jean, Julie, Rhonda, Victoria, Mildred, Andi and family, Faith, Denise, Jim, Tom, Joey, Shelby friends and family, Judi, Phylis, Joyce, Gina, Tonya, Beverly and Family, Janeth, Melissa,Virginia, Stacey, Elizabeth, Nita, Gary Siegal, Adrienna, Brian Mawbey, the Boyan Family, Jean R and friend Christy Rider, Victoria and hubbie, Stephen, Gayle, Steph, Chris, Erica, Eileen, John, Mindy, Jack, Susan Werth Becken, her brother Mike and family, Craig James Lightfoot and his family, Kenny, Audrey, Ed Saner, Patty Crowley, Bennie, Gail, Jonathan, Moe, Beverly, Dennis, Peter, Trish, Cynthia, Heidi and her family, Kathy Knights family, Edith Vaughn, Candy, Cynthia, Jenn, Eve, Edith, Jason, Karen, Linda, Joyce, Belinda, Jeanette, Jennifer, Patti, Sandy S, and .

(Feel free to let me know if you would like to add your/or a frends name to our prayer bowl)

"prayers are not always asking, but always thanking"

Walk in Beauty

DRSES

www.sherryeshowalter.com