"Don't Wear Black-A Poem By Dr. Elaine L. Parliman, DVM Published Posthumously" By Reverend Barbara Sexton 'Dear Ones Healing Ministry'

 

courtesy http://hurricanevanessa.com/?p=20719

 

courtesy http://alexiscreationsonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=170

Don't Wear Black

 by Elaine L. Parliman

Don't wear black-

Please don't wear black.

When I am gone from whatever cause,

Please don't wear black.

For I'll see my friends again in time-

New, improved version-sublime!

And I'm sure I'll do just fine

Without my latte, chocolate,

Kiwi, mangoes, and an occasional red wine.

And I'll not miss the Sierra spring alpine

Meadows dancing with a million purple

And red flowering shooting stars

Or backpacing the John Muir trail and

Sleeping tentless under night skies.

I'll not wistfully pine for the magic of Point Reyes

With its rocky beaches, grassy sand dunes,

Mist, roar and smell of pounding surf,

Its islands of restless seals, the barking sea lions,

The small sanderlings racing along the sea's edge

Playing tag with the foam of teasing waves.

Or the pelicans majestic slow soaring interrupted

With swift diving plunges into the sea.

For these moments, these spaces and places,

Were the closest thing to me of heaven on earth,

The closest thing to the Extreme Subliminal Ecstasy

Of total union and communion with the I AM.

And Ah!  All the awesome animals!

I can't believe that the God who notes

when a sparrow falls from its nest

 would not make celestial plans and provisions

for all his creatures.

-He made Noah build the Ark.

Wasn't it man who chose to ruin paradise-

He was asked to be a guardian.  Instead he turned

Predator, bringing animals suffering and pain.

He hunted, caged, chained, yoked, mass slaughtered

And turned his companions into commodities and food.

Used them in experiments for cosmetics and for

A new GOD-Science and Knowledge.

Maybe I'll miss my friends and family left behind, but

Only for a short time, for I'll see them again

"transformed"-I guess, a new improved version?

And my animal friends, will they also be improved?

Will my beagle have a brain???  Will he lay down

With the squirrel, or my cat with the mouse?

So please, wear tacky faux furs

Orange and pink zebra stripes

Wear gaudy bright clashing colors,

Out of fashion, out of season clothes,

But please, please

Don't wear black.

This poem, written by Dr. Elaine L. Parliman was read, as she requested, at her "Celebration of Life' Service on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at FCC Stamford.  

Here is her obituary...not in black, of course.
Also, please note that I do NOT (as would Elaine, I would venture to say) endorse torturing animals by making them 'wear clothing'.  But the two photos here are of 'pros' and I just couldn't resist putting them up with this poem.

God Rest & Keep You Lanie!

We Love You & Cannot Help But Miss You Until We Meet Again!

Rev. Barb Sexton & All of Us
www.DearOnesHealingMinistry.blogspot.com

Obituary
Dr. Elaine L. Parliman, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 68, resident of Norwalk, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 6, 2011 at her home. She was born in Tulsa, OK on September 24, 1942 to the late Austin and Ruth (Gibson) Parliman.

Ms. Parliman had a great love for nature and animals of all kind. She was an avid hiker, gardener and animal rescuer. Elaine loved art and enjoyed completing design projects both inside the home as well as outdoors. She was a graduate of the Veterinarian School at The University of Wisconsin, Madison, and founded the Veterinary Student’s Animal Rescue Center in Stoughton, WI. She was also the founder and owner of My Home Visit Veterinary, Inc.

She is survived by her beloved husband Mark Dombroski Oaks, her sister, Pricilla Engle, of Maryland, and her brother, Richard Parliman of Utah. She is also survived by Alex Dombroski of Texas, Amanda, Diana, Derrick and Devon Fornoff of Oregon, four nephews, three nieces, five great nephews and two great nieces.

Elaine was a truly extraordinary individual with a passion for performing mission work abroad, especially in Africa and India, as well as outreach to the local community. Elaine’s commitment to care giving was fostered and nurtured at Nyack Missionary College, from which she graduated after successfully completing a degree in cultural studies. She will be sadly missed by her loved ones and by all those who have had the pleasure of meeting her.

Her family invites relatives and friends to a service in Elaine’s memory at the First Congregation Church, 1 Walton Place, Stamford, CT on Saturday, April 30th at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Felines at P.O. Box 8147, Stamford, CT 06905. Please visit www.adoptapet.org for updates on adoption and volunteer opportunities.

The family has entrusted the funeral arrangements to Bosak Funeral Home. If you wish to make an online remembrance, please sign the family's online guestbook.

LINK: http://www.bosakfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary.asp?ID=302

 flower dividers courtesy www.bluebell.webpage66.comwww.bluebell.webpage66.com