Jacksonville Beach, FL

January 1, 2009

I dedicate this blog entry to a wonderful friend of mine.

In the last 10 days, I've had a few unforgetable moments. One of them was at The Eagles concert, while they sang the song posted below.

There are a few people you meet in life who show you that not only are they there for you, but you can be there for them. It is in knowing, among other things, that I've been there for a few people, who've been there for me also, that continues to show me my life has purpose.



Kitteh, I dedicate this song to you. You know who you are!

Nobody on the road

Nobody on the beach

I feel it in the air

The summer's out of reach

Empty lake, empty streets

The sun goes down alone

I'm drivin' by your house

Though I know you're not home

I can see you, your brown skin shinin' in the sun

You got your hair combed back

And your sunglasses on, baby

I can tell you my love for you will still be strong

after the boys of summer have gone

I never will forget those nights, I wonder if it was a dream

Remember how you made me crazy?

Remember how I made you scream?

Now I don't understand what's happened to our love

But baby, I'm gonna get you back

I'm gonna show you what I'm made of

I can see you, your brown skin shinin' in the sun

I see you walkin' real slow and you're smilin' at everyone

I can tell you my love for you will still be strong

After the boys of summer have gone

Out on the road today, I saw a deadhead sticker on a cadillac

A little voice inside my head said "don't look back, you can never look back"

I thought I knew what love was, what did I know?

Those days are gone forever, I should just let them go but

I can see you, your brown skin shinin' in the sun

You got that top pulled down and that radio on baby

And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong

After the boys of summer have gone

Don Henley, "Boys of Summer"

The Face of a Family

My Grandma, my aunts - Jan, Mary and Angie - and my cousin, Jackie.

January 2008

My mom, her twin sister Jan and me.

August, 2008

In the last couple of years, family has become increasingly important to me. I have come realize that of all the people you can count on in this world, your family is number one. They are always there for you, no matter what, and they will always love you, no matter what.

Every January for the last four or so years, my Grandma's four daughters and their families gather together in Jacksonville for my Grandma's birthday. This year is no exception, and I'm so happy that my aunts are here, and my cousin Jackie. We always have a great time together..shopping and eating...and hanging out.

I have also come to realize that considering someone "family" does not mean they are related by blood or marriage, but rather any person you can count on as though they were your family by blood or marriage makes them family. I have a few friends that I consider "family" who are not related to me by blood or marriage. They love me because of me, and not because they have to or because their title of "family" may warrant it, but because of ME! I love them the same way, and we count on each other.

Today, and everyday, I hope that you will reflect on the people in your life whom you consider "family" and let them know how blessed you are to have them in your life.

The Eagles - January 28, 2009

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim,
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself - this could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought I heard them say…

Welcome to the Hotel California
such a lovely place, such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California, any time of year, you can find it here

Her mind is Tiffany twisted, she's got the Mercedes Benz
She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain, please bring me my wine
He said we haven't had that spirit here since 1969
And still those voices are calling from far away, wake you up
in the middle of the night just to hear them say

Welcome to the Hotel California
such a lovely Place, such a lovely face
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California - what a nice surprise, bring your alibis

Mirrors on the ceiling, Pink champagne on ice
And she said we are all just prisoners here of our own device
And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast

Last thing I remember, I was running for the door- I had to find the passage back to the place I was before. Relax, said the night man - We are programmed to receive - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Today, my Grandma is 93 years old! She is one of the most amazing and inspirational women I know. She worked in a plant and fruit shop for many years in Orlando, Florida. She also raised four wonderful daughters...one of them is my mom. She has shown me that you can achieve anything you set your heart to and that family is important. I always admired my grandma and as a kid, we spent weekends in Orlando with her and my Papa, going to Disney World and playing in their backyard and their neighborhood. She used to have big orange trees in her backyard!

A few years ago, my Grandma moved from Orlando up to Jacksonville. She lives in a retirement community near my condo. Unfortunately, I do not see her as often as I'd like.

This week, all four of her daughters and their children and grandchildren will gather together to celebrate her birthday. We'll be doing our traditional eating, shopping, talking and entertaining. This is a week I look forward to every year!

I hope that everyone reading this will think of their grandparents, wherever they may be, and remember them and all that they have survived in their lifetime.

Happy Birthday Mary Christine ("Chris")!

Rachel's Reservoir: Volume 1, Entry 3

"There's a miracle of friendship that dwells within the heart and you don't know how it happens or where it gets its start, but the happiness it brings you always gives a special lift and you realize that friendship is God's most perfect gift." Anonymous

Rachel's Reservoir: Volume 1, Entry 2

Key West, FL

September 30, 2008

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen

or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller

Rachel's Reservoir: Volume 1, Entry 1

I've finally made it to Blogger, with an entry that is! I've been following several Blogs for the past year or so, and got as far as creating a profile for myself on Blogger. Now, it's time I start writing...er, posting.

I probably won't keep this as up-to-date as my photographer friends do (eh hum, Scarlett Lillian and Elizabeth Bowdren) or even a fabulous writer I know (that's you, Rene Williams) but I intend on writing whenever I feel the need to express myself...to the world, to other Bloggers...or anyone who reads this.

I was really struggling to find a title for my Blog. I wanted something with my name in it, and something that stated what this is....a place for me to write. I thought about "Rachel's Rap" but that sounded too cliche. I thought about "Rachel's Rants and Raves," but that implies that I'm here to write about all that bugs me...or makes me say "I love life" and that's not what this blog is all about. So, I pulled out my trusted thesaurus to find synonyms for "words" or just a word that started with an "R" that would somehow imply writing. I happened upon the word "reservoir." Although that implies a body of water, or container to hold water, I thought it was fitting. Since, I do love water - I love to swim, I love to drink water, I love to watch the water in the lake by my house, I love to watch the ocean...I always have. Heck, even my cat loves water. He was crying all morning, begging me to let him into the shower for a drink. So, "Rachel's Reservoir" it was.

To top it off, I found a really cool quote that was EXACTLY what I was looking for to go with my new title.

Here it is...
"In order to create, we draw from our inner well. This inner well, an artistic reservoir, is ideally like a well stocked fish pond... If we don’t give some attention to upkeep, our well is apt to become depleted, stagnant, or blocked... As artists, we must learn to be self nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them — to restock the trout pond, so to speak. " Julia Cameron

I will be drawing my my "inner well" to share with you, as often as I can. Sometimes, I will even draw from wells of other writers or even books, like The Bible. In addition, as those who know me well could have guessed....I'll be quoting songs throughout the Blog too.

Enjoy!