At first it is unassuming. Of course you cannot see love. But when you really think about it, is love really like the wind? Can you not see it all encompassing you, but just feel its presence? Sometimes in this world, with violence and hatred all around us, it is difficult enough to feel love, let alone see it. But many other times, if we really look closely, we can see love everywhere. Recently I was lucky enough to be reminded of this and of just how strong love can be.

I spend my days working at a large retail store. All types of customers come in and out of our doors. A few days ago an older gentleman, at least in his 70s, zipped up to me in an electric scooter. “Have you seen my wife? She’s buzzing along in a matching scooter” I had seen them zooming around together earlier and hadn’t seen her pass by. When I informed him I hadn’t seen her he said he would go find her. For the next thirty minutes he passed by me in both directions repeatedly, but with no success. The expression on his face got more downtrodden with each passing.

At one point I said, “She must have slipped by me, I’m sorry.” To which he replied, “Oh, don’t worry sweetie, she’s very slippery you should have seen how long it took me to rope her into marrying me 57 years ago.” After 45 minutes had passed with no luck, I made some phone calls throughout the shopping center to see if anyone had seen her. We discovered she had managed to travel quite a distance away. When I informed him of her location he simply replied, “Don’t worry honey. I’m just gonna stay put and wait right here for her. We always find each other.”

Finally I looked up and could see her whizzing toward us. As soon as he saw her, his expression immediately brightened and he headed her way. As they approached one another on their matching scooters, I was worried about her reaction. I have seen many wives or husbands meet their lost spouse with anger or frustration over time wasted. But instead she smiled affectionately and said, “Honey, where have you been? I’ve missed you!”

As I watched them scoot away together, I was overcome with such warmth. Those two, after 57 years of marriage, still miss each other after 45 minutes apart. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was remarkable. I had seen true, sincere love. True to form, a quote from one of my most favorite romantic comedies, Love Actually, comes to mind: “Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends….If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion…love actually is all around.”

Go look for it.

For more information about the IAST, check out their website at www.irlusa.org and be sure to check out our March edition of Simply Elevate magazine for more on “Irish in Virginia”.

Publishing & distribution: Simply Elevate Magazine - www.simplyelevate.com
Video Production: JBK Productions, LLC – www.jbkvideoproductions.com
Music by: Blue Dew & Amy Sayer

Copyright © JBK Productions, LLC 2013

Over half of all marriages end in divorce in the United States.  The abuse of children through violence or pornography seems to be on the news nightly.  The American family no longer shares time with their neighbors next door.  Places of worship for all denominations are seeing fewer and fewer people as many find they don’t have the time or interest to turn to religion. If “all you need is love” has any truth to it at all, why is it that the one thing we need is sometimes the shortest in supply?

Perhaps it is that we have been fooled into believing that love is too hard to find, maintain, or rekindle.  We spend so much time looking for a distorted reflection of love that we often find in media culture, that we cannot see the real authentic love that might be right under our noses.  Images of love in our heads don’t always mesh with the longing of our hearts…….

~Tracy Welliver

By

Angel M. Barrino

It is that time of year again, one of the most popular days of the year – Valentine’s Day.  A day for lovers;  a day in which people spend hundreds, thousands and even millions of dollars to express their undying love, affection or appreciation to others.   It is a day filled with passion and excitement; excitement that lingers long after the day has ended.   Flowers everywhere, balloons, stuffed animals, baskets, chocolates, jewelry and more – all in the name of love.

Love is beautiful in any form – even though most of what we see on Valentine’s is romantic love.  While romantic love is so important, I admonish people to also focus on brotherly love and kindness towards all.  Additionally focus on loving self – which is important before being able to express love to anyone else.  Affection and appreciation are two things that most people truly want.  Everyone will not have a significant other or spouse to spend Valentine’s Day with but everyone has a friend or a relative they can show love to.  Take the time to spend quality time with those you love, as time is numbered and we cannot get any past moments back.  Cherish those you love and choose to love them where they are.  Do not attempt to change anyone for the sake of them loving you the way you want to be loved, rather love them the way Christ would love you and no mistakes will be made……

See more of this article on page 38 & 39 of February 2013′s edition of Simply Elevate.

Is It Love

Is it love….that twists my heart, makes me daydream, has me all jittery inside?

Is it love….got me blowing kisses, playfully singing, sharing a huge smile I just can’t hide?

What is it, is it love? It’s a question I know everyone asks.

Oh, let it be love….let it find me so I can finally take off this mask.

The beat of the drum, the rhythm, the way it warms and soothes my heart.

Oh love is it you, is it you? Set me free while I’m here, I’m ready to play my part!

Please don’t let me down. Oh, it has to be you, you’re all I dreamed of….

One more thing, one more question before I tell you my name…. is it really you, love?

~~~~Nakitta “Kiki” Lowe~~~~

Please come by George K’s in Greensboro, NC, for an evening of fun and great art……

February 16, 2013

4:00 pm-7:00 pm

Help support a worthy cause! We’ll be there!

© 2013 D. Terrell

© 2012 Derek Palmer

This 23 year old Pittsburgh, PA native, with this amazingly strong voice, has managed to captivate music enthusiasts near and far.  Ms. Sharp’s passion, and determination to strive for excellence is being displayed through her singing, songwriting, and dancing.  She made it a point to do her “homework” as we artists would call it where the music industry is concerned.

Germona is a signed songwriter with BMI, and she has a dance studio called “Evolution”.  It’s not easy for a woman of any age or skill set to make it in the business but, this phenominal young lady is doing it by staying grounded, getting her education, and keeping God first in her life.

~Danielle Walker

See more of her on page 19 & 20 of February 2013′s edition of Simply Elevate.

America’s Cultural Diversity Highlights Barack Obama’s 2^nd Inauguration

by Tony Graham

White House photo by Peter Griffin

On January 21, 2013, the day that our country celebrates the great works of the civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the 44^th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, took the “Oath of Office” for his 2^nd term in front of the American people.  Though his speech lacked a litany of specific references, Obama did make sure his 2^nd term served as tribute to the strides made for equality by this nation as well as the opportunity we have to move forward together as a nation.

Whether it be him referring to “Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall”, all key battlegrounds for American Freedom in his inaugural address, his inaugural motorcade reverently passed by Freedom Plaza, where Dr. King authored his “I Have a Dream” speech en route to take his oath and speak to the country and world, the featuring of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir where various cultures and ethnicity are obviously apparent, or having two Latinos, Rev. Luis Leon and Supreme Justice Sonia Sotomayor, deliver the benediction, and Vice President’s “Oath of Office” respectively, we cannot ignore the symbolism of this historic event.  There were many symbols orchestrated for this day, but, it is hard to argue that they all hold on to the premise that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men (and women) are created equal”; all on a day honoring the birth of a little boy from Atlanta, GA, who just simply had a dream, the elevation of all people to be part of this “American Promise”.

The legacy of this President has yet to be determined, but it will be certain, that his place in history will be a spotlight on America’s greatest asset, people of diverse backgrounds working to make one nation great.  Simply elevating a nation….Simply.

Call me if you have any questions.

[mp3j track="http://www.simplyelevate.com/wp-content/uploads/MeetingUpdate.mp3"]

• Topics that may be covered:
  • Art, fashion, beauty, music, sculpting, hip hop, inspiration, food, reviews etc.

• The regular sections (e.g. departments or features) that are available to freelance writers:

[subject to change]

• A word from the editor, Art feature (showcases performing or visual artist(s)), Fashion feature (showcases clothing designer(s)), Beauty (showcases model(s)), & Culture (showcases community events, leaders, etc.)

• Name of editor:
  • Derek Palmer

• Contact details:
  • derek.palmer@simplyelevate.com
  • 336-870-4149 (call before 9 pm)

• Preferred format & style:
  • Occasional interview style; preferably easy reading, upbeat style of writing

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  • See “SIMPLYELEVATE STRUCTURE OVERVIEW”

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  • See “FREELANCE WRITER’S AGREEMENT”

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  • See “SIMPLYELEVATE STRUCTURE OVERVIEW”

But fast-forward to that moment in Maryland and look back: in moments, we would discover that “Foodie,” the short film directed by Raleigh native Christopher G. Moore, written by myself and starring the top talent across the North Carolina Triangle had won its second of three awards.  The Tucson Terrorfest in Arizona named us “Best Horror Short of 2012.”

This followed up a “Grand Prize for Fiction” award won in Charlotte in May and a “Best Horror” prize in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Film Festival, as well as a sold-out screening at Durham’s Motorco Music Hall.

Not a single step of the journey to bring “Foodie” to the screen had been easy, but standing on that stage at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring melted all that away.  Christopher and I answered questions from the press and filmgoers about the making of our film – inspirations, techniques, anecdotes – and not even a gun to our head could bring us to recall the tougher times we endured during the monumental task of making a thirty-minute short film.

Times like having to abandon the location in the middle of the shoot because a homeowner who’d kindly lent us her home returned early.  We still had another scene to shoot in her bathroom, but had to quickly race to strike the set then, due to time and space restrictions, had to recreate a bathroom in my personal office at my house.  This resulted in an epic twenty-four hour film shoot complete with special effects and weary actors, but under the professional guidance of Christopher and cinematographer Ismail Abdelkhalek, the results were outstanding.

Or times like discovering that the actor handling the main, bone-chilling special effects scene found gore disturbing and, as his scene was next, had to be plied with spiced rum for a little liquid courage.  This seasoned – no pun intended – professional of the Triangle theatre scene found his way on set and performed the scene flawlessly, as many critics have attested.

Or any selection of other trials and tribulations: raising the money via the vibrant Triangle community through a Kickstarter campaign, raising even more money thanks to the friendly folks at our May 17 Motorco Music Hall screening in Durham, traveling to and from film festivals across the US…  None of that mattered anymore.  All that mattered at that moment was us standing on stage, presenting our film and championing the art of independent film.

“Foodie” is a short dark comedy filmed completely in the NC Triangle by local talent.  It’s the story of a restaurant professional who attends an exclusive, underground dinner party and discovers there’s much more on the menu than he bargained for.  It is currently screening at film festivals across the United States.  The trailer, screenings and contact info can be found at www.foodie-themovie.com

This article was submitted by Eryk Pruitt