Bridge to Heaven

Today has been a very emotional day for our family. Last week my great niece, Lucy Toner aged only 20 lost her fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma and a service to celebrate her life took place this morning at St. John's Dumfries.

It was a beautiful service by Rector Robin Paisley and very much choreographed by Lucy and her family. With the theme of music, art, poetry and food, the four loves of Lucy it was a very moving service.

My 300th blip is dedicated to Lucy, with two of her paintings incorporated in this image of the bridge.

The reading of Lucy's poem "Wishing Upon a Star" was read by her brother Simon.

Destroy all your hopes and dreams of love.
Open up your heart to new ideas and possibilities.
Don't say no straight off.
Give them a chance.
Take a leap of faith.
Be brave.
Risk it all.
Because it is all worth the sacrifice to find love.

Wish upon a star,
Put it in your pocket.
One day, when you've forgotten all about it,
Take it out,
Blow on it, whisking away all the old fairy dust.
It's like it's sparkling new.
All that glitters is gold.
Kiss it.
Throw it up in the air.
Close your eyes.
Make that wish.
Open your eyes and open up your heart.
Watch as your star shoots across the sky.
A shooting star.
Now go out and make your dream come true.

Drown your misgivings,
Take hold of faith,
Kiss forgiveness,
Hug mortality.
Take a deep breath.
Breathe in love,
And hold his hand.

Kiss a stranger.
Ask one out.
Hug someone you don't know.
Say hi to another.
Chat to an unknown soul.
Give something to someone else.

Lucy Toner, Boxing Day 2012