word

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Growth Rings

Another year goes by as another year begins. 

We live, strive for comfort, contentment, ideally thrive undisturbed with little to no damage, minimal stunting of growth, peace, you know, a happy life the goal. 

We earn another badge of courage with each passing year
 like the growth rings of a tree. 

Here's to each and every strand, cell, soul, glistening, gloomy, glorious, beautiful bit of it! 

http://brunodelaroza.com/

TIME

It was just yesterday we were born, we lived, died, came-saw and left but still living be it in memory or in the physical sense of the word. Time seems to stand still yet it never stops. Thoughts jump into another realm where we are there yet very much right here, crazy.

Wanted to say simply to you Mark, time, space, distance, no matter what, the time we shared is still part of our time now and ever more. You are as much a part of our life and times now as we were when you walked among us. You and mom, De facto existence remains as colorful, fun, heartfelt, contrary and full of goodness as ever.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Holidays

Here we are with another round of happy days to prepare for, dread or be happy about. Every detail becomes a great big blasted thing. What to make, bake, buy, cry about, be lonely about and long for. The holidays evoke so much from the heart the super sweet stuff that dreams are made of.

The senses are heightened as the days turn into annual big dates on the calendar. What happened to all the years though, the wonder years, the tragic, the tricky moments we survived and made us the people we are today. Did the magic of youth fade into life's wear and tear or does it just take a minute longer to feel the simple joy of the season? When the smell of cooking prompts vivid flashbacks of childhood and the sound of bells jingling gets you all nostalgic about that certain time when Christmas music sounds like the sweetest songs ever heard or felt. 

The holidays are no doubt about as bittersweet a time as can be. Who isn't here anymore? Who joined us? Who needs us, mad at us, miss us, wish us peace and happiness? One day into the next as life goes on, the occasional reprieve to remind us of certain things whether the commemoration is of a sad matter or bright, precious, so rare, once in a lifetime, a day or days, special days that summons acknowledgement, the days that everyone is aware of but not everyone is too keen on celebrating. 

Here's to Happy Holiday's ahead, truly happy, harmonious, simple, quiet, calm or crazy as a perfect storm!

http://brunodelaroza.com/

I LOVE YOU

I wanted to tell you: I love you. I truly love you for no reason and every single reason I can possibly, think, feel and say. I love you for reasons I am not even sure of only that what you have given me and continue to share with me goes so much deeper than what is seen or felt on the surface. With your kind gesture, your sweet spoken word or graciousness in a time when it mattered more than I realized, you offered the best of your love at that moment, a moment that lingers into infinity.

The love you have shown me ever, through the years or in a flash, a thoughtful message or note filled my day and my heart with matters of monumental meaning even though I may not have responded in a way that reflected my gratitude. I take your gestures of kindness into my heart as you express the greatest of what humankind can offer. The love you give to me is priceless and makes me want to be better than I know how to be. I strive everyday in many ways to live up to the meaning of love in all of it's simple heartfelt ways. We are part of every loving fiber of perfection and warmth. We have exchanged something that creation surely intended to sustain humanity in it's purest, clearest form.

There is a love so pure we do not even know how to convey consciously, a particular exquisite element that makes the coldest, proudest most astute person, vulnerable and bring to tears. The dark forces in the world are extinguished by the roaring blaze of love so powerful, it's preciousness stirs ones soul with feelings that go far beyond description. The beautiful most breathtaking components of any living being are there waiting to find a place to reach out to and breathe life into. We don't  know exactly, how or what, when, where this perfection is exactly other than to say we are it, love defined. Anything other than the purest state of our existence has to do with the imperfect nature of our lives, that's life. Alas there is love to give, receive, thrive and live off of.

To find our way we share our goodness and play it forward hoping it grows and is nourished and builds something out of nothing in all it's glory and simplicity barely there yet massive in meaning and potential. All of this unseen and seen in many forms has made a lasting impression on this heart.  How can I forget the love you have given me whether you remember or not I hold on to every bit of something that feeds my soul so much it is as if you just gave me a big hug and we embraced each other like two close children who lost sight of each other and found their way into one another's arms. I do love you so. I love you with innocence and inexplicable ways also like a brand new love, and love rich antiquated and familiar, crazy wonderful, simple and spectacular, healing and precious, powerful and strong as the best of the best humankind has to offer, love precious important magnificent love.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Still Here

Mark, even though you're physically not here, you are thought of, missed and spoken of everyday. People refer to you and remember what you did and said, the way you conducted yourself with focus, intelligence and good humor. You are still here in our hearts and minds in spirit and in ways that we cannot fathom. I am definitely sure you are here in ways that cannot be adequately explained yet clearly felt as a matter of fact from the heart in a soulful spiritual manner.

Your are still here as the love and respect for you remains as strong as ever in fact maybe more so since you are placed by divine appointment in a state of perfection. Your image is beautiful and larger than life as we recall countless memories that seem as real as the moment they occurred. How precious it is to know we are still connected in a manner that is magnified by an ethereal umbilical cord. Your presence is felt so keenly especially when the sound of your voice, laugh, wit, wisdom, sarcasm, tenderness and toughness are heard and undeniably alive and well vibrating with a strength that goes beyond our earthly understanding.

Every time you are thought of and mentioned you join us as a very important person of interest who has gone on your individual path. You shine bright as the happiest moments we shared and reflect the greatest, sweetest most precious memories we experienced together. Blessed are you dear brother, blessed is your memory and your present spiritual alliance to each of us who are aware of you still here.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Story Book

When asked recently what my story is; the following broad picture came to mind and includes the bare necessities of my narration, the nuts and bolts and basic big picture of my simple and not so simple story.                                                                                                          My story is one that reflects love, hate, happiness, a broken heart, tears of joy, sorrow, dark days and the brightest most beautiful nights. It includes a suffering humanity to the sublime innocence of the child within us all.  My story has been told by many through the ages seasoned by the comedies and tragedies life bears from the mundane and mediocre to the spectacular nature of experiencing miracles as the best and worst of life goes on. It is a story book filled with tales of epic proportion, heart warming at once subtle, mighty forged through fiery days to triumphant times I wished would never end. 

My story weaves in and out of yours and I am humbled, grateful and better for the wear and tear as I am armed with beautiful blessings, to play forward for the rest of my life ~

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Language

The question was posed regarding language and why everyone in every near or far reaching corner of the world doesn't speak only one language. The answers are found at the core of human experience historically, in culture, climate, geographical and environmental variance, in collective and individual stories politically charged, motivated by religion or simply due to the law and practice of the land.

Humankind however does speak one language of universal similarity it is the language of LOVE. The language that expresses compassion, kindness, emotions and feelings that words often fail to adequately convey. To describe what the heart knows can only completely be shared by a commonality that humanity has been gifted with since time untold. Set in place far and wide, vast nations, tiny villages, cosmopolitan places of progressive movement or humble locations tucked-away underneath thick forest canopies, indigenous, rich or scarce of resources. 

Loves language is saturated in respect, gentle, soft, strong, caring, can heal a broken heart or a battered bruised and bent body. The spoken or unspoken natural virtue of love in all it's glory shines brightly lit by the perpetual heart light even when dimmed can be reignited, revved-up and revived brought about in a little glow or big blaze.

The soul longs to explain itself without uttering a word to live a peaceful existence. How wonderful is the language of love, modest, magnificent, unwavering in it's most innocent and purest form, undisturbed by hesitance or reluctance to risk sharing what is profoundly craved and truest to our innermost being. To understand the best language known is to simply share what we know will feed and satisfy malnourished humanity starving for the optimal kind of clean food nutrient rich with a quality that addresses the mind, heart and soul, yes, it is the language of love.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

What You Have Within ~

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.  The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.  He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.  But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.  Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

" The Wise Woman's Stone"

Author Unknown

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Forget Me Not

How could we ever forget, nor would we want to not remember the great spirit of twin brother, Mark Allen Joseph & dear mother, Marian "Sparky". The question is of course rhetorical as thoughts and longing for the precious, dear and gone from us remain strong and vivid. The meshing of memories and dreams prevail serving to remind us of your absence. Every little detail, the seasons and times of our lives we shared weave in and out of my memory bank as clearly as the moments they occurred.

The love, the connection, the goodness of you does not dissipate. The heart ache is equal to the great heartedness associated with everything we miss about Mark and Mother, Marian "Sparky". All the occasions that made us the people we were and continue to become linger-on like the sound of a favorite song. The evolution of my life includes the good days and dark days, the exciting and excruciating moments we knew would pass and become part of our past but very much inscribed into our future. It is humbling to realize you are still present in a way that keeps you alive in my own soul.

During these holidays I long to see your beautiful smiles, to hear your good humor and feel your sweet embrace. I hold on to the love, the special and mundane times and I offer gratitude for past Christmas's we shared filled with all the special, simple and wonderful ways we expressed our love and loyalty to one another. I lift you up in everything good and grace-filled and I am so thankful for you still very much a part of this life of mine, that was part of yours while you were here.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

They're Grrreat!

When we were kid's as I recall; what brand of cereal to buy could get controversial. 

One person may have wanted Cocoa Puffs and somebody else wanted Rice Crispies. Mom kept it simple and bought either Corn Flakes or Cheerios and sometimes a box of Pop Tarts was nice when we could just pop one of those little crusty pockets of sweetness into the toaster. Oatmeal and Cream of Wheat were also a nice hot change of pace on a cold morning before school and we usually wolfed them down so we wouldn't late.

It wasn't until the older kids grew-up and out of the house that us babies of the family would get the green light for the less serious cereal like a super colorful and inviting box of Fruit Loops, Cap'nCrunch or Frosted Flakes, our first choices for a simple breakfast of champions!

Such simpler times when running out of milk was the big tragedy of the day and we only had the original flavor of Maltomeal and not the chocolate. If Nestles Quick powder was in the house and milk was flowing freely, there was nothing better than an ice cold glass of chocolate milk to put a smile on the faces of two children eager to dive into a nice lip smacking round of milky goodness. If it was a Saturday, cartoons, cereal, toast or maybe French toast was served as the sticky syrup was passed around and topped off the bread dipped in the egg mixture and fried to perfection, Mark's favorite. Good memories of basic kid stuff that started our day feeling loved and well taken care of.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Star Gazers

Summer nights star gazing on a balmy evening, the neighborhood is quiet as we recline on the trunk of mom's car, chicharra's chirping filling the air with the loud and clear sounds of the season. An occasional unhurried car passes by as we shoot the breeze on the ever alert to behold a star dashing, flashing it brilliance across the big sky. The magic of simple moments with a twin who has evolved into the very stuff the stars we watch, are made of. We could not have imagined, we would ever be looking for you in the wild blue yonder.

The indicators are there like the writing on the wall, wide open in the wondrous waning and waxing moon. Even obscured by the city lights, the stars glisten and dance in the darkness only to give way to the beaming sun rising and setting like a priceless painting with colors on fire smoldering into the other side of the world. The butterfly too brings joy, fluttering in plain view, sweet spirited sightings bearing gentle messages of love and life ever after.      *The times we experienced together didn't seem to matter more than life being what it is, what it was and what it will be remembered for.  All the star gazing, hell raising, fussing, fighting, fun, monumental and mundane, every big and little thing remains lingering on in living color. The cherished memory of a lifetime with twin brother, Mark,  how mostly sweet it is! ♥
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Sparkyism's

Sparky

Sparkyism's
- This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! 
- You've got champagne taste on a beer budget.
- Just because everybody jumps off the roof, doesn't mean you have to. 
- I/they, don't give a good tinkers damn. 
- Over my dead body.
- Children should be seen and not heard. 
- Speak when you are spoken to. 
- It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow. 
- Don't be too familiar with people. 
- Muy agusto. 
- Whatever you do be good at it. If you dig ditches or whatever it is, be good at it. 
- Walk tall!
- The Lord will provide.
- He's gonna have to come to the door to get you, honking for you will not work, to my big sisters
  when guy friends came a calling.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Memories, Messages & Brilliant Gems

We walk alone and surrounded by others, is it loneliness or freedom? Is it isolation or solitude? Is it forlorn or nostalgic? It is the tiny sliver of life, those moments of no consequence that made an impact however miniscule or profound, memories that remain locked and loaded in the heart spaces. Memories inlaid like a brilliant gem perfectly set in your core, the location where life's lavishness as well as the harshness of living, lands, unloads, refines and rebuilds with an a sense of urgency and natural desire to replace bitterness with beauty, cruelty with compassion, the darkness with light constantly attempting to recreate a better version of itself. It is a spectacularly simple, a particular alchemy comprised of mangled, jagged rusty heavy metal, it melts into an angel-soft, strong, elegant element. It is precious and powerful, a perfect spot. It is the soul, more resilient and magnificent than a super hero!

Remembering times, someone made you feel so loved or important, special and super good about yourself in any manner? The silver sliver of an experience happened during a time you were not at your best and you felt more compelled to withdraw, lick your wounds maybe wallow in worrisome, brooding thoughts. Out of no where the opportunity to contribute to life with a simple gesture of respect. Someone communicates something kind and thoughtful, a dramatic yet subtle shift occurs, spirits and burdens are lifted that very moment and life is good.

Meanwhile, landmark day's like holiday's, anniversaries and birthdays bring to mind the monumental and quiet days and years past. Sad days, days that last forever and days we wish would never end are almost relived as we lose ourselves in the reverie of our own personal history, the good, grand, bad and ugly.

To translate what my heart wants to emit is like a passionate jazz pianist swaying, moving and grooving, sliding and gliding over the keys, from side to side barely able to contain himself. Almost spastically words pop-up on the surface of the screen letter by letter, words dance into a sentence, ideas, reflective points to be made, a lamentation, messages to share as thoughts hover overhead then plucked from memory banks where the movie trailers and tapes of our lives are screened repeatedly. The fleeting times filled with heart warming, heart wrenching, mind blowing, sweet, sad, rich moments. We can recall every detail (the way we remember it)  as priceless, painful, precious and provocative as life can be.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Rememberance

http://brunodelaroza.com/

MARK & THE MARKERS!! !!!____________

Mark and the first Marker! Mark aspired to have a band named: Mark & The Markers.
He got his wish!

MARK & THE MARKERS$√👋

http://brunodelaroza.com

Where You Fit

The puzzle laid bare for us to put together, everyday, everyway.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Would It Kill You?

Would it kill you to be kind, show some respect be a good example of a human? Would you be weak to show compassion, tenderness and tolerance for those who go against your grain?

Would life be better if you had every little and big thing your heart desires?
Would your heart be brave every time it breaks and mends and bursts and beat to a different drummer like mine? Would you have peace if there were no wars? Would you love if you were not loved in return? Would you give without receiving?

Would you want to rebuild, restart, revive, resuscitate your life in new and uncharted territory if you could? Would living differently than what is familiar, be so bad? Would a second thought, second glance and second chance ever be welcomed? Would the good old days be as good if you could live them all over again? Would you consider changing your mind, rethink your strong opinion at the risk of evolving into a different person you thought you knew very well.
Would you? Just wondering. Our answers, are ours to live with and merely questions posed that you may never be asked again.
http://brunodelaroza.com/

Thank You, Mom

Marian "Sparky" Ipiotis

August 28, 1925 ~ January 30, 2016

THANK YOU, MOM!

Thank you for being the best you could be, as a person, a woman, a mother, grandmother, godmother, friend, relative to many people. You taught us well the meaning of respect, of working hard and cherishing the ones who care for you.

We hold you in our memories like we breathe in the air, we think of you as if you've never left this world. You will remain in the sacred places where our hearts and spirits long to be. We love you more than we could ever adequately convey and we know you championed your children like a mother lion protects her cubs. We love you in the quiet times, happy, lonely times, when laughter roars and tears trickle down our faces.

We hold on to the sound of your smile and the smell of your graciousness. We know you are around in ways that only a mother in heaven can understand and we appreciate your divine appointment and place among the angels and saints who experience life and learned how to move on into a peaceful, powerful, perfect place of privilege. Thank you for every little and big thing you ever did for us and so many others. You made life more livable and lovable. Thank you Mom. We love you.

http://brunodelaroza.com/

Wonder

We wonder about life, the ways and meaning of it. We wonder how life can be so hard for some people and seemly easy for others, so unfair, so beautiful and blessed. How a person can appear larger than life itself while another is barely noticed in fact forgotten or altogether lost in time and space.

We wonder how humans can be so cruel while having the capacity to create such amazing moments. How does one face the day full of despair while another can't wait to take it on. The lines between the darkness and the lines get fuzzy if we allow them to. When times seem hopeless it is best to hold on to hope, to have faith in something, someone beyond the proverbial blue horizon.

Wonder how many times we wonder about such things and then jump back into the game of life as if to ignore the questions at all. Life is good and much more doable when we simply plunge in and take it on. To revel in the goodness and recall the memories and moments that leave us feeling satisfied and complete, renewed and better equipped to handle what life throws at us, instead of wondering too much about the imbalances, the yin and yang, the good and bad, darkness and light.

http://brunodelaroza.com/