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Diana Schwenk, Great Wall of China, Hump Day Chronicles, love, Marina Abramović, marriage, memories, relationship, soul mates, The one that got away, Ulay
Some meet that special person they will spend the rest of their lives with.
They build a life together
They have children and grow their family together.
They have peaks and valleys and work through whatever comes their way together.
Illness
Financial issues
Moves across the country
Times when they’re aren’t even sure they love each other anymore
And they work through it
Become stronger
Grow in wisdom and understanding
And some even die within days of each other.
~
Others find that special someone for a brief moment at just the right time.
Their love is intense, as if they’ve always known each other in a way that no one else has ever known them.
When they are together, no one else exists.
They share euphoric happiness.
They may even know that their love cannot last but they don’t care.
Right now, in that moment, what they have is worth any pain the future might bring.
Their time together, although short, and maybe because it’s short, burns with the intensity of a lifetime together.
I watched the video below yesterday and I found it beautiful and hauntingly sad. It moved me deeply.
Most of us will never again see the one who got away. But imagine if we did…would it play out like scene below?
Marina Abramovic and Ulay started an intense love story in the 70s, performing art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again.
At her 2010 MoMa retrospective Marina performed ‘The Artist Is Present’ as part of the show, where she shared a minute of silence with each stranger who sat in front of her. Ulay arrived without her knowing and this is what happened.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Have you built a life with the one you love?
Or shared just a brief moment in time with them?
A little bit painful, this one for me today.
You do have a way with words, and so this was beautiful and the video heart-breaking… yet peaceful at the same time.
I was wondering Diana…. your story…..is there one that got away? Is there someone from some forgotten time and place that hauntingly comes back to visit you in your dreams – or perhaps in real life?
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Elizabeth I am so sorry if this post caused you pain. I’m so inspired by your blog and journey! And to answer your question. Yes. And I imagine if we saw each other some time in the future it might play out in the same way. It wasn’t meant to be for a lifetime…just the way it is…
xo
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Ahh….. True love…. the illusion and the reality…
It is amazing that people who have had the former of the (almost) life-long partner; and those who have experienced the shorter encounter; should meet here together via cyberspace; and offer each other words of encouragement and support on the lost love, and life without it.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
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It is amazing 🙂 Happy weekend to you to Elizabeth!
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I caught this video late last week and it really struck a chord. Love is an interesting thing and I think some feelings linger forever… as evidenced here.
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I would agree, thanks for stopping by Kirsten!
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Interesting. I saw this recently on another website. It is so moving I has caught the attention of so may of us…quite right
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I think it catches the attention of people because a lot of people have had a brief connection with a powerful love affair! What do you think?
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I can’t view the vid. due to wonky computer, but I can answer the question with Anthony.
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Yes I knew that would be your answer. The vid is quite moving, I do hope you can view it soon!
xo
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Thanks Diana for this post! Wow very moving post. I loved their reactions and the way they maintained throughout the moment of silence.
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It’s an awesome moment! I’ve watched it many times now… thanks for stopping by and commenting!
xo
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Wow, this is intense and beautiful. I love how you wrote this post. You have your way with words Diana, to make them flow. Thanks for sharing this.
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Thanks so much! And just so you know the feeling is mutual – I love the way you write!
xo
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Absolutely stunning, amazing, gorgeous. When having no words is the only response. I love the look they gave each other…
I am so glad you shared this, it will remain with me always.
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I was quite struck by the way they looked at each other too!
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When silence can be more powerful than words. The video brought tears in my eyes!
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Silence often says more than any words could express, don’t you think?
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Definitely agreed! 🙂
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What a story. I don’t know the background. I saw the exhibit at MOMA and admit it was a bit too “out there” for me in terms of art.
As far as relationships– well I’ve been married 31 years so I guess that says it.
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That’s awesome – congratulations!
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Deeply, deeply moving. And there is LOVE…
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isn’t it? sigh…
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Diana, this was a beautiful post. It moved me too.
I believe I’ve found my forever love in my present (and second) marriage. Almost 15 years married, almost 19 together.
Thanks for this,
Jennifer x
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I am so happy for you! The odds are stacked against it but so many find each other – it warms my heart! ❤
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and I didn’t think I was going to shed any tears today.. 🙂
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It is moving isn’t it? I shed a few tears too. 🙂
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If you’ve been watching the undercurrent of my poems lately, you’d see why…
Thanks for the video.
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You know…it seems everything is making me cry lately!
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well, if my writing is doing that to you, I hope they are mostly joyful tears.
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yes joyful tears!
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One of my most favourite articles I ever wrote was about couples who found love as seniors — one of the couples had been childhood sweethearts. He moved away. They lost touch. Fast forward 40 years later, his wife, her husband have both passed away. He travels east to Montreal for a meeting, decides to look her up. They have lunch. She is wearing the silver bracelet he gave her for Valentine’s when she was 14. They got married 3 months later.
Love this post Diana.
thank you!
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Wow, that is a remarkable story! Do you still have the article?
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Damn but that is so moving… after all the time for them both to hold their composure… magnificent…
I found my love 40 years ago, and I think our feeling for each other is stronger now than what it was then… we have been the proverbial route of ” to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish forever, according to God s Holy Ordinance” I even still remember the words…and yes we have been through the lot.. all the possible things that could happen have.. yet we soldier on together…
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You are blessed to have each other ❤
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This is a beautiful post. I’m having problems with something in the computer this morning, unable to watch the vid, but I’m looking forward to coming back to it ❤
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Oh watch it if you get a chance…it’s so moving. ❤
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So beautiful and moving you’re right. Amazing..
It would be so hard to be the person after him!
I’ve shared brief moments (wonderful, but I’d love ‘a life with’) and have in the past several years met up with a couple of the ones that got away..quite lovely at this age actually 🙂
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They are always a part of you I think…
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