Happy Holidays, Friends

[jarkko]

Merry Christmas
and Happy Holidays, Friends!


Eija & Jarkko

Following our 17 years of tradition, here is Leonard singing "Silent Night": https://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/silentnight.mp3


Photo by Eija (C) 2010

[hadley]

Merry Christmas and thanks for all your hard work and dedication in keeping The Flame alive over the year. All the best to you

[B4real]

Lovely image Eija & Jarkko!
Most effervescent and I always look forward to it at this time of the year
.... and it's simply not Christmas without Leonard's version of Silent Night!

Because I live by the ocean, I’m always posting images of it in some form or another for occasions like this Just so you don’t all get bored by yet again looking at the sea and sand, I have something different this year for my Season’s Greetings. I’ve been inspired by the colours of the Jacaranda tree in my front garden at the moment, showing its still falling and lingering Spring lilac flowers among the new Summer green December growth. I’ve multiplied its full flowering essence with this park image below. The fallen blooms are a spectacular sight to see and cover the ground in Spring and Summer here like snow in a northern Winter.

As Leonard said:
it’s Spring and it’s Summer
And it’s Winter forever ~ Did I Ever You

Those flowers on the ground also bring to mind the opening three lines of an early poem that Leonard wrote in
Flowers For Hitler, “For E.J.P.” -

I once believed a single line
in a Chinese poem could change
forever how blossoms fell

I know this year has been an annus horribilis one for everyone. My heart goes out to all who have been affected by this dreadful virus. I have been lucky living where I do because life has gone on pretty much the same except for keeping your distance and washing your hands. As I am the eternal optimist, I fervently look forward to a better outlook for everyone next year and beyond that.

Speaking of the New Year, I’m reminded of another poem that Leonard wrote in Book of Longing, “A Promise” mainly because of what he said about it. I’m not sure what he meant but it’s fun to speculate
He said: “Perhaps this can serve as my New Year Resolution”
- Los Angeles, December 28, 1999.

I will never
return
the Holy Grail
to its
“rightful owners”.

I may have quoted this below in the past but no matter because it is most relevant now and for the future –

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~ Little Gidding by T.S. Eliot

Take care everyone,
Bev

[199Dan]

Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year.
Happy Everything !

What fun we have had and looking forward to what comes next !

Thanks Jarkko and the rest of the crew !

[mutti]

Thank you Jarkko & Eija for the beautiful photograph and greetings!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Cheers!

Leslie

[christineanne]

With special thanks to Jarkko and Eija for the beautiful photograph and their good wishes

To all the users and administrators of this forum...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and I wish us all a good 2021

[oldfriend28]

Happy Holidays Jarkko and everyone! Thank you Jarkko for all your work.

[Mollydog]

Happy holidays, Eija and Jarkko and greetings to all my forum friends. Hoping that we can all get together soon.

Mary

[FOXWOOD]

Season's Greetings to everyone.
Keep safe
Next year will be better for us all!

[Eva]

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy Healthy New Year
from Montreal, soon celebrating Christmas Eve in lockdown.

sending love & healing to all!
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[Janetld]

Thank you, Jarkko and Eija, all good wishes to you both. And thank you for all you do for us.

Season’s greetings to all and hoping for a better 2021, stay safe, take care, Janet

[merton]

Hello Jarkko and Eija,
I hope that you are both well. Eija, as always a beautiful image and creation. To all forum members I hope Christmas finds you in well in body, mind and spirit.
To those who have lost loved ones during the year, for forum members who died during the year, may they rest in peace.
For all of us may 2021 be more hopeful and joyful.
Take care,
All the best,
merton

[HugoD]

Season greeting to all here. Wish you all good health and a joyful 2021

[Wybe]

Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year.

Stay save,

Wily and Wybe

[da2008]

Merry Christmas and a kind 2021 to everyone!