A Memorial to Annmarie
These poems are from Dawn Yankeelov. Her daughter Annmarie was killed on 14 May, 2006. I believe this was Mothers Day. My daughter, Annmarie Campbell, was 23 years into her life, when attacked by an alligator at the Sweetwater Cabin near Juniper Run in the Ocala National Forest on Mother’s Day 2006, May 14.
The alligator was over 11 ft., and took her instantly from this world.
Love is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast; it is not proud. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record or wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
—1 Corinthians 13
There are many stories, national and international, that have catalogued her death. She was visiting the area with her stepfather, Mark J. Barrett,and his wife, Jackie Barrett. No one saw her die.I believe God has a higher purpose for her, but now I too,am riven and injured by the mindless creature.
It is her life that stands as the memory worth retelling.Her talent was sweepingher toward a brilliant career in fine art.
Annmarie loved beauty–nature, animals, and the outdoors. She was an excellent swimmer, having grown upin Ocala, Florida, a short distance where she diedin the Ocala National Forest.
As her mother, I thrilled with her graduation in December2005 from Murray State University. With a mother’spride, I watched hercraft success as a manager and an artist-in-residenceat a vintage clothing store and gallery in Paris, Tennessee called Fancy That.
Annmarie came into the world at 5 pounds, 11 ounces, a month premature, full of life and very exploratory.When she was 4 years old she began to journey about into various environments, as I worked as a reporter at the Ocala Star Banner. She would sit quietly through board meetings and color for all those who spoke. She has left us about 150 pieces of art which I will share with the world. Conceptually her work dealt with things that were beautiful, yet repulsive, the ideas of excess and abundance, as described by her artist’s statement of 2005.
She was always up for trying out a recipe for an unusual unique food from seaweed soup to all manner of pastas.
So, what can you and I do?
Please, join me in remembering her in Bernheim Forest in Bullitt County, Kentucky, in a maple grove near the Lake Nevin Trail extension where her ashes remain. The bench inher memory will let us commune with her. There is a Zen garden wall and handcrafted birdhouses to bring you closer to the moments of nature Annmarie loved. Please, join keep her love of art alive through the scholarshipfund for young artists in her name at Murray State University. And, joinme in knowing that, although she is with God, her spirit is with us still–a loving daughter, a caring sister, and a cherished friend to those who knew her.
For more information, visit: http://vanillawas.blogspot.com , her Web log http://www.myspace.com/lomenta , her MySpace account For directions to the Berheim memorial, visit http://www.bernheim.org
To support the Campbell Scholarship at Murray State,
contact Jennie Rottinghaus (877-282-0033) at the University.
You may send a donation to:
Annmarie Campbell Scholarship
MSU Development Center
Office 106
Murray, KY 42071.
A Prayer for Hope and Understanding
by; Jack Yankeelov
O Lord, in this time of distorted values, Grant me the strength and wisdom to retain the qualities of the blessed life.
Let me elevate fairness, understanding and pursuance of the truth.
Let me not be deceived into meaningless glittering displays for self-elevation.
Permit me to retain patience for these that do so to retain short-term success of doubtful value.
Avoid philosophical discussion for this is transcended by your countenance.
But rather, o Lord, let me tirelessly and with good humor hold high the inner joy of unraveling the secrets of nature.
Let not the voices of society corrupt the beauty of the puzzle and twist it’s meaning; but rather endure short-term ridicule. Let me tactfully refuse false representation and contribute graciously to discussion…Fill my mind with calm strength and respect for established fact.
Give me the courage of the open mind required for understanding the beauty of the mysteries of your creation;
Forever remind me that when I fall your hand is always near and in the end all falsities will pass and Truth will endure.
Kites and butterflies
With glued on cotton.
Grape juice stains
With dog hair a la carte.
Hamster food strewn
Across the bureau
Of my room;
With pop tart wrappers
And notebook papers
Torn into
Little bits…
Fashion mags and CDs,
With names like
Garbage and Hole.
These things
I will miss
In my old age,
As my kites and
Butterflies fade
In the sunlight.
-Dawn Marie Yankeelov
You’ve given me life
How sweet of you.
You’ve done so much and you’re doing so much.
Sometimes I try to tell you my thoughts,
but I don’t know what I’m thinking.
But I do know that I love you.
You’ve given me love…how lovely,
You’ve always shown me so much love
and you’re showing me so much love now.
I’m so lucky to have a groovy mom like you.
You’re so special. You’re so important. I hope you know this.
You’ve given me choices. I’m glad.
You let me form my own opinions, You’re letting me decide
You love scentless daisies; I love fragrant gardenias.
I love animals; you’re allergic.
We don’t always agree and sometimes it’s hard for me to see the choices you’ve given me.
You gave me knowledge. Thanks.
You’ve taught me so much and you’re still teaching me.
Mom,
You’re so smart and you have been through so much.
You taught me to believe in myself. You taught me to prioritize;
you’ve taught me about love and life and I’m still learning.
You’ve always done so much for me and I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you
Yours with love,
Annmarie (8th Grade)
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;Then I took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Poem by Henry Van Dyke
I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her
white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty
and strength.
I stand and watch her until at
Length she hangs like a speck of
White cloud just where the sea
And sky come to mingle
With each other.
Then someone at my side says
“There she is gone!”
“Gone Where?”
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and
Bull and spar as she was when she
Left my side and she is just as able
To bear the load of living freight
To her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me
And not in her.
And just at the moment when
Someone says,
“There she is gone!”
There are other eyes watching her
Coming,
And other voices take up the glad
Shout
“Here she comes!”
And that is dying.
