- to those who helped create Trifecta.....THANK YOU!!! You helped create a community that welcomed in writers of all persuasions and made us feel like we were home. That is no mean feat. You should feel very proud of what you helped to create. Thanks for your tireless efforts since Challenge #1.
- to those writers who have created such varied yet, such consistently excellent writing each week, THANK YOU. By providing such wonderful examples of how to use the written word, you have taught me so very much. You have helped my imagination to grow and my skills to develop and, because of you, I feel I am a better writer now than I was when I linked up for the very first time.
- to those who offered words of counsel, encouragement and/or advice to my students, THANK YOU. You are generous and beautiful people.
- finally, to those who have left me such wonderful and encouraging comments regarding my own work, I deeply appreciate your support. In did my heart and my mind a world of good to know that such good writers as yourselves found something of worth in my own words. THANK YOU, ALL!
As Trifecta comes to an end, I am grateful for the friendships and relationships that I have been able to develop along the way. I hope that they can continue via Twitter and Facebook and maybe, one day, even in person. That would be great! In the meantime, please feel free to be my Facebook friend (Thomas Charles MacInnes) or follow me on Twitter (@cobourgcobbie).
Take care everyone. May good health and happiness await you in the world beyond Trifecta.
In that regard, here are my final words as a member of this community. Thanks, again, for everything. Enjoy. :)
Into The Great Beyond
As I enter the abyss,
I will blaze forth in supernova brilliance
illuminating the path so that others may follow
without fear.
Glorious is our newfound journey.
My epitaph: in words, drown I.
PS: This is a photo of my daughter, Leah, (in the brown dress) as she receives a third place prize for the Cobourg Public Library Share-Your-Stories contest. She is in Grade 2 and wrote a 600-word story about the sinking of the Titanic. Even as Trifecta closes, words continue to live on in my life, for years to come.
God Bless you, everyone! :)
You've just brought a tear to my eye. As always, Tom, I want to walk into your writing, have a cup of tea and enjoy the landscape a while. Thank you for being a wonderful member of this community - people like you have made it the joy it is. Trifecta salutes you.
ReplyDeleteThe tea is always hot. Stop by any time. You are both always welcome. :)
DeleteTom
ReplyDeleteI love this. These words resonate with me at the moment.
Maybe an epitaph or perhaps as writers we are all taking that plunge into the abyss.
@allyatherton
Feels that way to me. But, I am looking at it as a time to be grateful for everything I have gotten from Trifecta and, positively, as a time to move to the next level...whatever the next level may turn out to be. Glad so many of my Trifecta pals are coming along for the ride. :) Take care, Ally.
DeleteThanks to Trifecta, I found you and would like to stay connected with you. That is a beautiful epitaph, one befitting a great writer. Lovely tribute!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, talented people are always welcome in my world. Thanks for wanting to be a part of it. Glad to have such good friends with me, going forward. :)
DeleteLovely :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Melanie. Take care. :)
DeleteSuch a lovely send off! I hope to find you again on the other side...
ReplyDeleteFB and/or Twitter may be the ashes from which our phoenix rises. Glad we have been able to share our stories together on Trifecta. It has been a lot of fun!
DeleteHopefully we shall meet again ..I will think of you when we make our next foray into Grafton. Thank you for your visits and encouragement..I am going to miss my trifecta friends,,Patricia ( high five and raspberries)
ReplyDeleteScrew thinking about me the next time you are going to Grafton........give me a shout and pop by for tea! :) The Grafton Village Inn is an excellent place to go for lunch, too. In any case, thanks for the great time during our Trifecta phase. Looking forward to what awaits us in the days and months to come. :)
DeleteHasta la vista, amigo. I have bookmarked your blog. Hope to read more of your work in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out the blog. I will endeavour to fill it with wonder. :) Take care, my friend. :)
Delete"In words, drown I". That is beautiful. I've never heard that palindrome before, but it is a great one.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it. As soon as I stumbled across it, I knew it was the palindrome for these times. Take care and, thanks for the lovely comment. :)
DeleteHats of to your palindrome.
ReplyDeleteThe tip of the old hat is appreciated. Take care, my friend. :)
DeleteLove your choice of palindrome, Tom.
ReplyDeleteYou speak for all of us, I think, in the text you've dedicated to Trifecta. I'm sure our paths will cross often, and always with pleasure.
Going off to friend you!
Of course, you realize that my Dropkick Murphys salute to Trifecta was inspired by your Southie roots! :) Can't waited to be friended. :)
DeleteThere's not many "better" ways to go than to drown in words, methinks. Just echoing what others have written--beautiful writing, Tom. Take care!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words. If ya gotta go then, drowning in words suits me fine. Glad I stumbled across this palindrome. As soon as I saw it, I knew my search was over and the post writing could begin. Glad my final Trifecta prompt was a good one. :)
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one feeling a bit unsettled and homeless here - Lovely write.
ReplyDeleteComing from a lovely writer, I thank you. We will be ok. :) See you on the other side.
DeleteI'm going to miss you Tom. Your last line is perfect, as without this community I'll be feeling a bit adrift. You as well have inspired me with your wonderful writing:)
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind, Valerie. Thank goodness for FB and Twitter. We are not down and out, merely, regrouping. :)
DeleteLove that phrase as epitaph (I used it as my title this week, coincidentally).
ReplyDeleteA great piece!
I echo all of your eloquent thoughts about Trifecta. I'm in mourning. :(
It is, indeed, the end of an era. I am glad that Trifecta brought us together, along with so many other outstanding writers and kindhearted people. Thank you for your kind words. They are appreciated. :)
DeleteI'm going to miss your incredible writing, but I'm also NOT letting go. I will read everything you write and share things on FB, and keep you as a friend in my life and my reader.
ReplyDeleteWords are the reason we are friends, and I am so grateful for each one.
Thankful to Trifecta for the words and the friendships.
Well now, that sure was eloquent! You've got me! I've got nothing to top those words. Well said, Kir! Thanks for everything to date and for being willing to hang together, going forward. The journey is only just beginning. :)
DeleteCan't find you on face book either so find me please! I feel a bit adrift too. I had come to look forward to these challenges each week so much.
ReplyDeleteMeeting such interesting people, as yourself, is, perhaps, the best thing about Trifecta. We will go forward together and will continue to encourage each other find our true path. I am not worried about that. Glad we found each other here at Trifecta and will continue that relationship on FB. :)
DeleteCongrats to your daughter. I never did anything like that at that age. Imagine what she can achieve with a decent run in.
ReplyDeleteA father can only hope that she stays the literate little egghead that she is. What a voracious reader she is and now, her writing is coming along, too. I showed her my blog this morning and how it worked. The seed is planted. Let's see what becomes of it. Thanks for commenting on Leah';s success. She makes an old Dad proud. :)
DeleteThank you Tom for all your thank yous - a wonderful tribute and I'm sure you have summed up the thoughts of many better than we could.
ReplyDeleteYour response to the prompt is beautiful and choice of pallindrome inspired. I am green-eyed at your wordsmithery. I'll just have to keep reading in the hope I learn something.
Now, now.......I feel quite sure that there were many posts this week that summed up our collective feelings about the news but, having said that, I am happy my words struck a chord with you. I hope to continue our association, via Twitter or FB so that our army of awesome writers can continue encouraging each other and celebrating our successes in life and in words. Thanks for your very kind words regarding this post. I do appreciate them immensely. :)
DeleteI won't leave without you, Jo-Anne, not to worry. I am excited to move forward, knowing you are still there to cheer me on when I do well and kick me in the pants when I need that, too. I am happy Trifecta brought us together. Now, let's go make the world a better place together. :)
ReplyDeleteI got about this far in the Trifecta links, and got too verklempt to comment. :) This is a beautiful piece, Tom, and a beautiful sentiment. Hey, did I ever tell you that when I got my Secret Santa assignment I practically danced? I was so excited to send something to such an inspirational guy. I hope my kids have a teacher like you someday. Off to find you on FB...
ReplyDeleteI carry your Christmas book with me everyday to school. To pay it forward, I had a little girl move away to British Columbia just last week. As part of her going away gifts, I gave her a journal with a shiny golden cover. Inside the cover I wrote, "This is not an empty book. It is a story yet, unwritten......" That boo and, your words, are being held close to that little girl's heart as she flies across the country and begins a new adventure in her life. Just as we are, also, beginning a new adventure, we take with us the words and memories of so many special people. As we touch down in new surroundings, we are not alone. Thanks for finding me on FB. Can't wait to see where life takes us next. :)
DeleteMy epitaph: in words, drown I.
ReplyDeleteLovely and proud words! Your poem brought me emotion, it created a physical sensation. It's a world where the lovers of words, readers, and editors - get too far of a bad wrap. Too many doubters, that we poets are still Bards: we tell the tales. Excellent work!
Thanks for one of my favourite comments ever! I will treasure your reaction and the responsibility it implies. We are the tellers of tales; real and imagined. I have always believed that you can measure the strength of a society by the richness of its' literature, poetry, art and music. Never been called a Bard before but, I have to tell you, I like it!!!! :) Take care, Turok! See you on the other side of Trifecta.
DeleteMay we all have such glorious journeys!
ReplyDeleteSparkling one :)
Thank you, Anita. May the same hold true for you. I am glad that our paths crossed on the Trifecta site. I wish you all the best in the future. Please stay in touch so that we can continue to enjoy each other's work. :)
DeleteTom,
ReplyDeleteThis might be one of my favorites from you. (It's a tough choice because your words are always so incredibly beautiful.) Such a fitting farewell.
Thank you for the wonderful, thoughtful, sweet comments you left on my blog over the course of my Trifecta run. You are a fantastic writer and human being. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am off to search for you on Facebook because I would love to keep in touch.
P.S. Congrats to your precious daughter. Following in Daddy's footsteps, I see. :)
Thanks Ivy. I was always happy to speak so kindly on your blog because your work was always so deserving of applause. Glad you found me on FB. The future is looking better each day! Thanks for coming along for the ride. :)
Delete