Sprouting this Spring
by Denise Novaky on 11/20/13
As many of you know, The Become Awesome Foundation is building a garden at Turkey Brook Park that is dedicated to those individuals in Mt. Olive who lost their lives before reaching their 30th birthday. We are including young people dating back to before the town's incorporation in 1871. I am carving names of all the young people who have passed into garden stones. If I carve all winter, which I plan to do, they will be completed by the spring opening event. My plan is to provide the library (and anyone else) with a companion book that lists all the celebrants and provides some small piece of information about their lives. Eventually, I would also like to have small transparent cases that hold pieces of memorabilia.....But, one thing at a time......I'm still carving....and researching.
The Garden concept began when the memorial dedicated to my son, Nick and his friend, Neil, was dismantled at the site of the accident that took their lives. The property owner needed the area vacated so that he could hopefully sell the property. Friends to Nick and Neil and I problem solved via FaceBook and it was decided to move the memorial with the later suggestion to include all young people from town who have passed.
I recently realized that there is another reason I believe the Garden is important. The idea came to me one day this week while I was quietly completing paperwork at my desk and listening to Cat Stevens sing from my computer.....
Oh very young
What will you leave us this time
You're only dancing on this earth for a short while
And though your dreams may toss and turn you now
They will vanish away like your daddy's best jeans
Denim Blue fading up to the sky
And though you want him to last forever
You know he never will
Oh very young
What will you leave us this time
There'll never be a better chance to change your mind
And if you want this world to see a better day
Will you carry the words of love with you
Will you ride the great white bird into heaven
And though you want to last forever
You know you never will
And the goodbye makes the journey harder still
I do not want the lives of any of the young people who passed to vanish and fade up to the sky. I want to create a place where their legacy can help the world see a better day.
I want their words of love held precious.
I want their dreams to last forever in the hearts of the living
and be remembered.
I want their words of love to carry us and
help us to make this world a better place.
And....
...for those of you who know me.....
You know I can even when good-bye makes the journey harder still.
But...
You know I will.
