Saturday

A leave of absence



In the last two months I have fallen considerable behind on many levels, this includes responding to those who have commented and especially my visiting your blogs with any regularity.
Many of you also know of my medical challenges that have been a major distraction, particularly the previous month learning after an angiogram that the reason for always feeling tired and short of breath was due to a collapsed graft from the open heart surgery three years earlier.
Since some of the lateral veins to the artery have tried to take over, the current method of dealing with this is through medication and a three-day a week’s cardiac rehabilitation program that will last for three months,
Because this program occupies a large portion of my day, I would only fall further behind and so I have no option other than to take a leave of absence while I am in cardio rehabilitation.
This does not mean I will not be looking in now and then on your blogs, just that I shall not be posting. The decision was not taken lightly as I have worked hard these passed months building my blogs.



Typography of the forgotten - series


As the medical center is in Berkeley, I will have the opportunity to continue a series on telephone poles that I have been observing and photographing these passed four years. Their abstract appearance has intrigued me, even influenced some of my paintings, and now I have a chance to capture with greater frequency and regularity their continued temporary change and evolution.


I look forward to my return in August, sharing with you stories and images I have been working on.




Thank you for your visit

Egmont




47 comments:

Ian Foster said...

I am very sorry to learn of your decision to take 'leave of absence' from blogging for the time being but I am sure that is the right decision, you need to consider your health above anything else.

Your interesting and thoughtful blogs will be sorely missed and I look forward to their resumption in the future.
Ian

Anonymous said...

Dear Egmont,
Wishing you a speedy return to better health.
Regards
Sylvia

Ange said...

Thinking very, very much of you Egmont...
Time for me to get the overdue correspondance to you. And this is just the weekend to do it. Enjoying a rainy, inside day. Hope your days is overflowing with spring sunshine and flowers. Courage for your treatments and joyously communicative may your telephone poles be...
Ange

Zuzana said...

I am very sad to learn about your condition and your leave of absence during summer.
I hope you will be able to gain the strength that you need and that you will be able to find tranquility in life's simple pleasures, while you work on getting better.
I will miss your lovely writing but will find solace in your imminent return.
Take care dear Egmont,
xo

S. Susan Deborah said...

Dear Egmont:

You require this leave of absence as you have to take care of yourself. Shall miss your writings and insights but I guess there will be more of it when the time is right.
Wishing you the best and the joyous.

Life happens even when one is quiet and soulful.

Joy and sunshine from Belfast,
Susan

Sam Liu said...

Dear Egmont,

I completely understand, your health always needs to come first. I hope everything goes well for you and that, whilst you are there, you have time to reflect and find inspiration for your brilliant art work.

I for one will be eagerly awaiting your return and shall remain, as always, a reader of both of your wonderful blogs.

Sam.

Catherine said...

Dear Egmont,

I wish for you all the best in your health. I hope the next few months off gives you strength and rejuvenation. Take lots of time for yourself to get to where you need to be.

I look forward to your return.

Take care ~ Warmest thoughts,
Catherine

Caterina Giglio said...

My Dear Egmont,

You shall be sorely missed, but my well wishes are for a relaxing absence and a very quick recovery. I believe in miracles and will hold one in mind for you.

Your Typography of the forgotten is wonderful and i am happy to know that you will be working.
many blessings,
caterina

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

It's necessary to shift things around when new things insist upon becoming top priority. Health first or the rest doesn't matter anyway.

We'll still be here when you return, and will cheer that day right along with you.

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Not an easy decision and I understand completely. Best of luck with the rehabilitation and the ongoing photo series...an artist true.

~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

Take good care dear Egmont, your gentle heartfelt thoughtfulness will be missed, but you are worth waiting for!
I have a dear friend who had heart surgery (twice one right after the other) she has been in cardiac rehab and is doing splendidly. I got to spend time with her recently and could see the difference... your future is full of the promise of better health ... cannot wait for more on your telephone pole series which sounds brilliant ... just like you!
Your collage is WOW!
Brightest of Blessings Always!
oxo

S. Etole said...

Your absence is felt ... blessings of peace and health and restoration.

Teri said...

Egmont--I will miss you but will not forget you. I will be sending you white light healing thoughts, knowing that you will be blessed into full recovery. Maybe we can meet sometime in the future. I would love to have you sign my book. I know that you will be thinking art constantly. It is too much "in" you to ever stop. Take a journal and jot down ideas when you are there. Berkeley is a wealth of inspiration.

LemonyRenee' said...

Egmont, I will miss you terribly. I will think of you often and, come August, I will be here knocking on your door. Please be sure and come back even though blogging will be well out of your routine by then.

Sending prayers and good wishes and eagerly awaiting your return, stronger and happier than ever,

Renee'

P.S. Don't think for a moment I will not do this. I will be reminded of you each day by the lovely iris photo art you shared with me. I see it every day. I will be back in August to welcome you back.

nancy neva gagliano said...

well, i'll be here to "read all about it" when you return, that's for sure....love your +++ position spin that this presents the opportunity for you to become very well acquainted with the berkely telephone poles.
healing thoughts!

L'Adelaide said...

Egmont, it is sad to say good bye when only recently we became acquainted...please do come by and say hello when you are online or have some time?

your health and taking care of your needs are of utmost importance at this time and I am glad you have the sense to realize your limitations in time and strength, despite I am sad to see you disappear from my life for a season.....soon you will be back and feeling much much better, I'm sure....I hope you have a chance to drop us a little catch-up on your health here, so we may know things are going well...and if not, then, we shall just all stay positive and see you in late summer.....take care of yourself and be well.....have fun making art with the phone poles, it sounds fascinating!
be well, my friend.♥

cobaltika said...

i'll be sending you good thoughts...

rivergardenstudio said...

dear Egmont, I will miss your thought provoking and beautiful posts, and your thoughtful comments on our blogs. I love how you share a piece of yourself with each word you write. I will still check in. Get well, heal and make art... blessings of wellness and warm days. roxanne

Laura said...

Sending you much love and prayers for deep healing Egmont. Take good care of yourself. Remember to take time each day to focus on your breath and settle in to the moment. I always find this to be the best medicine. Know we will all be here for you waiting to read your words and view your images when you are feeling better again.
xo
Laura

GYPSYWOMAN said...

dear egmont - yes, you and your kind words and multi-faceted talent will be missed while you are away but please know that i send all my caring thoughts and best wishes to you and look forward to your return - with those magnificent telephone poles! so, we will see you again just in time to help celebrate my leo birthday! until then - jenean

Seth said...

Wishing you a speedy recovery and an easy rehab. I will miss your blogs but look will forward to your return!!

Sophie Munns said...

Another one of the many fond visitors to your blogging world sending you love and best wishes for this time of nurturing for you.
I am very happy to hear you will work on your own work and we will not be far away and can still feel the generosity of spirit resonating from Egmont's world....!

You've claimed a special place in the imaginations of many of us I think Egmont... so you just some back when you are up to it and not a minute before!

Go well friend,
Sophie

Anonymous said...

I have been thinking of you and wondering how you were doing. I wish you all the best and thank you for the pleasure I have gained from reading your posts. Take care and much love from the UK.

Debrina said...

Dear Egmont - do hurry and get better, I will miss you and your photographic explorations. I am so sorry that your health is not as good as it could be and I hope you speed along in your recovery. Thinking of you over the next few months.
Debs

Gina said...

::: hugs :::

Luzia said...

Lieber Egmont,

ich wünsche Dir für die nächsten Wochen alles erdenklich Gute! Nimm Dir Zeit für Deine Gesundheit und genieße Dein neues Projekt. Ich freue mich auf Deine Rückkehr! Herzliche Grüße von Luzia.

Kelly M. said...

August is not too far off, Egmont -- Until then, my friend! :-)

layers said...

health is important-- take care and you will be back soon.

Jill Zaheer said...

Dear Egmont,
With sincerest wishes for a speedy and successful recovery. Your thoughts, creative writing and beautiful expression through your art is a gift. Look foward to a basket filled one when you are ready to return. Sending prayers and wonderful telephone polls along your way- and perhaps new doors will open to influence your work in wondrous, unexpected and exciting ways. very best- Jill

Dianne Poinski said...

I will miss you Egmont, but I am glad you are taking care of yourself. Sending healing and positive thoughts your way. Take care. Dianne

Sharon Lovejoy said...

My dear Egmont-I HAD NO IDEA, but I know that this is a great challenge for you. This is such a life changing experience and has probably already changed your view and perspective in ways you've never imagined.

To answer your question about my post on Mermaid's Tears, they are lovely, translucent gifts from the sea. They come in many colors, though some are rarer than others. What are Mermaid's Tears-they are sea tumbled and washed glass. Our human throw away turns into a lovely treasure.

Sending love and strength,

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a LIttle Green Island

Andrew Thornton said...

I think it's important that you take the time you need to recover and to focus on your work. Right now getting better and achieving maximum recovery is what your main goal should be.

When you do make your return though, I'd be happy to hear of your progress and see some of the images you've taken. You make beautiful and haunting work that will stay with me long after I leave the glowing light of the computer.

Get better!

tess stieben said...

wishing you strength and love, and big hugs to help heal.

Jala Pfaff said...

Egmont, best wishes and we'll still be here waiting for you.

Jeanne Henriques said...

Egmont, apologies, somehow I missed this post and am so sorry to hear you are feeling unwell. We will all still be here to welcome you back and just knowing you are checking in every now and again is a comforting thought. Keep well my friend ;)

Jeanne

Laura J. Wellner (author pseudonym Laura J. W. Ryan) said...

Get well soon, Egmont! I will look forward to your return (and the collection of new work that you will share!)

Best wishes,

Laura

Celeste Bergin said...

Egmont--you KNOW I am thinking of you and sending up white light healing positive thoughts that will beam from where I am to where you are. You are needed in the blogsophere--but we will wait patiently. I know you'll improve in the program!
Love,
Celeste

alaine@éclectique said...

Dear Egmont, thinking of you, trusting you are comfortable and feeling better each day! ♥alaine

magpie said...

i, too, have fallen behind so only now have i come to find this post. i'm so sorry. my thoughts are with you and i look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Ingrid Dijkers said...

Wishing you well and thinking or you in your time of recovery.
All my best to you and your family,
Ingrid

Eve said...

Dear Egmont,

thank you so much for your kind words which mean a lot to me. Especially when I read that you are now at this cardio programm, it moved my heart that you had the time to read and share your thoughts with me ! You are absolutely right, every animal has its own character and leaves traps in our life which we will never forget. Sometimes they even make us a little bit better persons and teach us to enjoy every single moment of life.

Also illness may be a sign of the need of a break and change?
I wish you the very best for your rehab and looking forward to hear from you.

Have a sunny day and thank you again!

Eve from Bavaria

GYPSYWOMAN said...

greetings egmont - just dropping by to say hello and that i hope your days and night are holding you gently - and that you are missed - best wishes - jenean

Unknown said...

I like your kind of art really much !
liebe Grüße von Kathrin

Anita Stoll said...

I have not been very diligent with blogging lately. My reasons unlike yours are good ones. Travel, hiking, taking mini vacations even while at home. I do hope you'll return in August and wish you a speedy recovery. Your blog is wonderful. It lifts my spirit.

Anonymous said...

Hi Egmont, I just read about your health; I hope you're recovery is going well.

merci33 said...

Hello Egmont
I do hope that you are feeling as you would like to be at this point in your rehab...I see that you have a birthday in this portion of the year so I am happily sending you all best best birthday wishes.
Take good care,
Iona

Laura said...

thinking of you today Egmont and hoping you are well.