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• haraprasan (13332)
• [2008-05-21 9:20]

Hi James,
A superb capture of this beautiful arum lily. Superb details and a lovely composition. Best of luck for your journey to Canada. Thanks a lot for sharing.

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• Gert-Paassen (6239)
• [2008-05-21 9:30]

Hello James,

Nicely coloured picture and composition.

Gert

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• lawbert (0)
• [2008-05-21 9:47]

Hello James
A difficult subject both in the capture and the emotional side.
I have just sent you a mail.
Paul

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• iris (2478)
• [2008-05-21 9:59]

Dear dear James,
I salute your courage to open up.
I salute your enthusiasm and eagerness to celebrate this gift called life.

Events leave their mark on our lives certainly, but i feel what was destined to happen do happen, and then it is for us to lead and conduct our life the way we want.

I am proud to be your friend here in TN.
I am proud to know you as a learned individual; a gifted artist and above all as a fellow human being.

And i am sure many more here would think and say the same:).Am glad you are moving on, but please dont go anywhere so far that we cannot reach you.

A lovely composition here that distictly shows what it is to stand up in the crowd and make the world notice you for your individuality.I would say you should have that titled "Stand up and Say":)

Thanks you for sharing .....life is good and cheers to life

P.S:Do chck your mail

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• SunToucher (9078)
• [2008-05-21 10:09]

Hi James,
I had to read your note twice. My words are hard to describe the feelings I have after reading it. I think its close to impressed and proud. Impressed that you wrote such a personal note and proud (for you) that you are able to deal with this trauma in such a way. I do hope that bringing it out in the open does help you and those that are close to you. I really do feel for you and am sorry for the loss.
Thank you,
Niek

P.S. to end on a brighter note as well. Have lots of fun in beautiful Canada.

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• nglen (22206)
• [2008-05-21 10:41]

Hello James .I am sat here reading your notes and i know i only have evey know you through this site yet i feel i know you as a friend. I have a reasons i feel i must email you which i will do tonight, Do have a good time in Canada .

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• pvs (11925)
• [2008-05-21 10:52]

Hi James,

A bit shocked after reading your note,this are those things you dont want to happen to anyone,I think it is tough to write a such personal note,but I surely hope it helped you on your way to go on,I as well hope that you will continue to post your images from all around the globe among your TN Friends,

Regards,
Paul

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• gracious (12512)
• [2008-05-21 11:05]

Hello James,
As a friend and member of this site, I regretted for what had happened to you with my deepest sympathy! I know it's hard but please, please leave every things behind and goes on with your good life!
you are not along and we are here with you!
thank you for the image and have a wonderful trip to Canada!
we tresure your friendship and good works
see you later!
Tony

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• vanderschelden (27712)
• [2008-05-21 11:35]

Hallo James,
I'm so sorry to hear this, James.
Think you are very brave to publish this trauma.
Quite emotional, James.
Wish you a good trip to Canada and I'm looking forward to see your next photo, dear James.
Annick

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• claudine (10181)
• [2008-05-21 13:46]

You are a strong and courageous person James and I admire that. I also think that speaking about this dramatic childhood is part of healing process. This picture is symbolic and much appropriated with these touching notes and so special moment you live right now. My little problems seem so futile today... Take care and enjoy your stay in our grandiose and inspiring country; may you find the peace you deserve. Sincerely,
Claudine

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• pekkavalo1 (4655)
• [2008-05-21 14:53]

Hi James,

Very beautiful picture in the memory of the awfull past. Have a good journey!

TFS

Pekka

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• rcrick (3854)
• [2008-05-21 15:36]

Dear James,

That’s a heart felt story and it pains me to read it, you have just begun your journey my friend by opening that door to your dark memories and letting the light shine in, you have a lot of friends hear in T.N who are thinking of you, have a safe trip, stay strong :)

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• jaycee (15703)
• [2008-05-21 16:41]

Hi James,

Beautiful picture and very touching notes. The lone lily standing above the beautifully colored flowers is quite symbolic.

Have a wonderful trip to Canada and come back to us please. There should be another email in your box.

Jane

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• crs (2329)
• [2008-05-21 20:43]

Dear james,

I am very sorry you had to pass through such an experience.
I do admire your courage to openly discuss this matter proving you strong character and power to deal with this problem.
I have the strong feeling that you and other gifted photographers on this site, through your photos, are constantly fighting against the ugly things of the world surrounding or in us. Please keep doing it and allow me consider beeing your friend.

Have a nice trip to Canada and keep sharing with us the beutifull things you will meet.

Thank you for sharing your thougths and photo,
Cristian

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• demeve (4174)
• [2008-05-21 21:44]

Hello James,
Touching story, I work with Behavior Health and know
exactly what you're talking about, many of my patients
are women that suffered a lot of physical and sexual
abuse and now they live in group homes.. It's sad, they
don't like to talk about it, and they don't feel safe
out in the society, we are constantly counseling them
and trying to make their lives better and prepare them
to return to the "world".. It's very hard but when we
conquer our fears and bad memories are ready for anything
and we become better people.. I know by heart that you
are a great man and you are making a difference on a lot
of people lives..

Everton

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• fragman (11916)
• [2008-05-21 23:35]

Dear James, u do not burden us at all, I'm amazed to see how brave u r! please do not stop posting your marvelous pictures, I'm sure taking pictures is curing in some ways, and we all enjoy them. This pic is especially beautiful 4 me since i was visiting the west coast national park and remember how nice it is. hugs, Ori

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• boreocypriensis (14350)
• [2008-05-22 0:29]
• [3]

Hi James, my dear friend,
Splendid capture of this Arum lily representing your feelings. I'm so sorry to hear this story. You and we are lucky, though this bad experience you are now with us my friend. Thanks for sharing this your private memory and your significant notes as well. Take care my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

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• PaulH (11345)
• [2008-05-22 1:04]

Hi James,
it's hard to know how to respond to such a moving story. It's gives me a reality check on my comparatively minor woes and problems. I do hope that your situation, which seems pretty desperate at the moment, improves. I cannot begin to imagine the hardship that an experience like this has brouhgt to your life and you should be proud of yourself that you have become the person you are today. I am pleased that you feel able to share this with us here on TN, and i admire your courage for doing so. I hepo you keep posting here and continue to use us all as a source of comfort and escape.
Take care my friend, and enjoy your time away.
Paul

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• matatur (3090)
• [2008-05-22 3:44]

A terrible experience, no doubt James, but I think that "re-routed optic nerve" gave you a unique sight my friend, so you can share simply beautiful scenes from nature, such as your present post, with us, your fellow TN'ers. For that, I thank you from my heart my friend.
Mehmet

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• albert (959)
• [2008-05-22 5:12]

Hello James,
I fully sympathise with your emotional feeling, it helps to open up
Have a safe trip to Canada
Albert
Your photo is superb, as usual and I look forward to see your next posting from Canada
Albert

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• gannu (11717)
• [2008-05-22 5:30]

Hello James, Superb capture and lovely shot. The composition is fine and wish you a very good luck. Ganesh

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• joey (21398)
• [2008-05-22 13:06]

Hi James,
this is very brave of you to open up.
I am so shocked at what has happened... I don't really know what to say in these situations.

My thoughts are with you and I do hope everything works out. You obviously have a strong mind and I know you will pull through.

All the best my friend and have a great time in Canada.

Joe

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• Royaldevon (3554)
• [2008-05-22 13:16]

Hello James,

I wish you well. Facing up to a dreadful situation and sharing it can often put it to rest! I hope that happens to you.

From the distress of the emotion, a beautiful scene has emerged, which you have captured well. That sounds like therapy to me!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

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• maurydv (5296)
• [2008-05-22 13:36]

Splendida e simbolica composizione floreale: un ricordo, una speranza ed un augurio. Grazie. Ciao Maurizio

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• Mana (16820)
• [2008-05-23 0:42]

Hi James,
Words fail me today and whatever I will write will never be enough. I feel for you and share your pain. You have delt with it courageously and have become whatever you are today through your perseverance and courage. We are all with you in this difficult time and you will remain as dear to us as ever. I wish you all the best and I am definite that you will come through with all guns blazing. Your image is touching and touches my heart. Life is as beautiful and colourful and it requires a kind heart and loving eyes to see it. Please return back with a fresh mind and soul. We, here on TN, will be waiting for you.
Sumon

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• eqshannon (21459)
• [2008-05-23 6:35]

I could not possibly come up with words to say...it is an amazing story of grief, struggle and survival...Stay safe and if you happen to be anywhere near BC or Alberta, drop in and say hi. We are just S of the border of the two where they meet.
Bob

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• Argus (24333)
• [2008-05-23 7:45]

Dear James,
Your dreadful childhood experience and its aftermath makes disturbing reading and I can only begin to realise how it has effected you. You were courageous to write about it here on TN and if it is some comfort you have a wide support from your friends here on TN.
I have lived a long life with a disturbed wartime childhood in a Japanese concentration camp, but bad as that was it cannot have been as traumatic as what you have gone through. Keep with us James, for we are with you!
Ivan

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• uleko (24475)
• [2008-05-23 10:16]

Dear James,
I'm very sorry to hear about your past and that you're feeling very low at the moment - I sincerely hope your trip to Canada will help you gain new strength to battle on. Your impressive pictures from all over the world together with your notes have made a great impact on me and I don't want you to leave us!
Have a good rest and take care,
kind regards, Ulla

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• rousettus (8994)
• [2008-05-23 12:25]

Dear James,
It is hard to write my feeling about your story. Sorry to learn about your childhood experience. Many friends already write many thing, I will share their feeling here.
when you keep with us, we also are with you, James. So, you can also post simple nature scenes. I belive this will give more power to you.
all the best
Ahmet

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• eng55 (1349)
• [2008-05-24 3:26]

Hi James,
What a beauty.Well seen and composed.POV,colors,use of light and 3D effect are perfect.
Thanks for posting.

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• ramthakur (25871)
• [2008-05-24 4:57]

James, your childhood trauma leaves me aghast! My God, who could imagine you have such suffering inside you?
Maybe many of us might have gone through similar abuse in our early childhood and our unconscious might have erased or suppressed it for the sake of self-preservation in psychic terms.
You have coped with it so well thus far and you need not let it oppress you anymore.
Frankly, I am so distressed at the moment that writing anything about your picture would be difficult.
Let this Arum Lily in your picture symbolize the hope and faith that has sustained you all these years at the psychological plane and would continue to sustain you forever.
Ram

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• cako (2303)
• [2008-05-24 14:30]

Hi James
very nice colors and composition
well done.

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• Janice (17724)
• [2008-05-25 2:46]

James, you have opened up your heart to us - that is a good step to take. I am proud of you and I am happy to know you. I hope you are able to get over the past and look forward to the better future.
And when I how the others before me have responded to your message I am thrilled to see that you have many friends who care for you.
There are some very encouraging words to grab hold of.
Take care James. Enjoy Canada, and I look forward to seeing more postings from you,
Best regards, and kia ora
Janice

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• CeltickRanger (7561)
• [2008-05-25 17:10]

hello my dear friend James

I am so sorry to hear this story,
as Jane wrote that beautiful flower above the beautifully
colored other flowers is quite symbolic, i wish you a great
trip in Canada James, i wish us to see you posting again in TN

amitiés

Asbed

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• arfer (0)
• [2008-05-25 21:05]

Hello James

I was stunned to read this posting ,and could not help but think of my 5 year old son as I read about it,and could not imagine the terrible things that you have endured.I have always admired you and your work here on TN,I can only say that your courage has made my admiration grow.
I hope you enjoy Canada and you recharge and post again soon.
God bless.
Rob

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• lovenature (4568)
• [2008-05-28 18:35]

Hi James
I'd give you a great big hug if I could. It's never to late to talk about any traumatic experience. You're definitely resilient, even though you have carried this heavy burden for many years. The best thing you can do is to talk to someone....you may need to do lots of talking. I hope sharing this experience with us on TN has lightened the load a wee bit.

Your flowers are colourful, and bright. Like the Lily, you can stand out and be proud.
Take Care
Janice

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• goldyrs (4842)
• [2008-05-28 19:15]

You're a very strong man, James.I do hope you find your nirvana in this lifetime...My perspective is that the worst is behind you, and also that life goes on, some may feel cruelly, but that's the way it is!Life is not bothered with what's happened, it has no hindsight, it is what it's today, if you look at it as a synonym of time.I'm glad you've moved on, and are still ably able to see the beautiful side of life, of creation...
I'd be very proud of you, my friend!Very well done!
All the best!
goldy

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• Luis52 (10419)
• [2008-05-28 20:17]

My dear friend James.
It is hard for me to write in English what I want to say, so for this thime Iam going to say it in my own lenguage Spanish. Please translate.
We all love You My dear friend.

Sinceramente Tu eres un Hombre muy valiente, pues es muy dificil confesar los momentos amargos de nuestras vidas en publico, sin embargo siempre hay una nueva esperanza en la que debemos poner nuestras vidas y comenzar otra vez, ten en cuanta que los hombres son aquellos que siempre son capaces de levanarse despues de las caidas, siempre adelante, con mucha fe en el futuro y con muestra mente siempre pensando positivamente, valorando los cosas buenas que tenemos y los amigos que nos aprecian como todos nosotros.
Quisiera seguir viendo tus exelentes trabajos aqui, con todos los amigos que te apreciamos mucho. Te deseo una nueva vida en ese Gran Pais
Canada. Y estoy seguro que todo va a ser diferente ahi.
Recibe un saludo y un fuerte abrazo de mi parte.
Tu amigo de siempre.
Luis Leal.

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• MMM (7176)
• [2008-05-29 6:20]

Hi James
Very nice composition.Great POV and beautiful colors.The image is very sharp and fill with lovely detail.
TFS Michel

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• Amadeo (3323)
• [2008-05-29 8:37]

Hola james, que tengas buen viaje, mucha suerte y salud. Espero volver a ver tus fotografias y leer tus comentarios.
Un saludo

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• Adanac (14972)
• [2008-05-29 18:35]

Hello James,
I have always been a huge admirer of yours and I have only known you for about a year and a half but very early on I want very badly to meet you as I knew you were a special person. By you having the strength to tell us, your TrekNature friends about something very personal and traumatic, I only admire you even more and if there was anything I could do to ease your pain that you are feeling right now I would jump at the chance. I am soo glad you choose our beautiful province and country to come and try to clear your head. From a very selfish stand point I hope you continue to be part of this very caring and wonderful community of TrekNature, but if you don't please stay in touch with your many friends here, I hope I'm among them. Stay well My Friend and may peace be yours from this day forward. Huge Hug James
Rick

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• JPlumb (2837)
• [2008-05-30 5:06]

Hi James, I just saw your shot and read your notes. There is a lot in your note that I guess I just can't fathom, but I think the first thing for you to realize is that none of that was your fault, and still it has to be very traumatic. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no reason to feel low, or angry with yourself, instead dwell on the positives. By all accounts you are a very remarkable man. You are a true wealth of knowledge in your chosen fields and to us here you have a talent, a very real talent, in the world of photography, and a lot of friends pulling for you. So I guess my hope for you is that you will pick up the 300mm f/2.8, shoot some amazing pictures in one of the most beautiful countries in the world (no bias of course) and put the past behind you.

Best regards, John

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• marhowie (34803)
• [2008-06-01 4:37]

Hi James,
I wish you all the best, you've been an outstanding contributor with your wide variety of images from around the world.
I submit that I will pray for you, and the act of getting it out in the open can only help in the overall scheme of things.
You have friends here :)
Take Care & please don't stop posting at least now & again..
Howard

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• hester (11052)
• [2008-06-01 10:06]

Hi James

It must have been a difficult decision to post this message. Do not think you are cowardly for not being able to sit in a chair and talk about it. All people handle things in their own way and talking about things doesn't work for everyone. You had a series of traumatic events which would take anyone time to deal with and from what you say it seems like you are still working things through. Please don't be so hard on yourself.

Moving on is important but be careful not to leave behind the things that give you pleasure. I for one enjoy your contribution to this site (it makes me wish I could travel more and see the wonders you have seen). I hope that when you have taken the time you need that you will be back with us.

The photo is a beautiful image to express your feelings. At the same time it is full of colour and hope and also sadness and separation. I am sure you are as strong as that lily.

Take care

Karan

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• NinaM (5039)
• [2008-06-01 13:45]

Please don't go James, unless you really really feel it. We are many here on TN who carry different life experiences in our souls and yours is most violent and touching. All I can say is that it would be great if you stayed amongst TN for your great contribution, your knowledge and wisdom, and also to be able to stand what you just wrote here. I love looking at your pictures, those travels you do and I always felt your deepness of thought and feelings. There is a lot we can share and your images are alsways great, so colourful and bright. What else to say? Not much I guess and all I wish is that I could give you my hand over the distance and hold it.

Francine

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• angybone (7328)
• [2008-06-02 16:40]

You will be in my thoughts and prayers now. I'm sending you love and compassion and kindness and hope...I'm wishing for you peace.
A beautiful image - a powerful post. You're so brave to share this.
I wish I had some wisdom to share. I can only send love and warmth to you.

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• wuta (2044)
• [2008-06-03 11:13]

Hello James , I'm very sorry for you story , I dont now what to see ,I wish you al the best , and don't stop the posting , , Teunie .

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• Maite (5078)
• [2008-06-03 13:29]

My dear James
I am so sorry for I have not a proper vocabulary to say what I'm feeling right now. I feel really angry for the existance of so despicable and horrible people capable to do so much bad to a child. What a terrible world is this? Those terrible people are who should be dead. And you say you are a coward? That's so hard!
I am really sorry for the loss of your friend, but please don't feel guilty. You have been very courageous sharing all this with us and I really admire you. You are now a kind of hero to me.
Excellent shot with a perfect mood in accompaniment.
Love you
Maite

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• sandpiper2 (11987)
• [2008-06-04 5:31]

Hi James

Well it took guts to write about, but yes it does happen to many and I'm sure expressing yourself here will help a little in dealing with it. There is no need to appologise. Well done. Hope you had fun in Canada.

Best wishes
Chris