Celebrating my first year in cyberspace – 1 January 2011
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On 1 January 1976 my son was born, a beautiful red-faced baby boy crying passionately in my arms. Oh glory, I just wanted to kiss him there and then and hug him right into my heart. At that moment the pain he aggravated in me while maneuvering himself into this world was completely forgotten.
Today I am so proud of him I can burst. My wish for him is only success, peace and joy. I know he is safe in God’s plan for him; whatever happens to him has a purpose that will crystallize in time.
On 1 January 2010 I met my first friend in cyberspace after publishing my FIRST attempt of creative writing in my second language, English. I would love to share it with my friends on HubPages.
xxx
Dear Fate
Myself and I are once again alone on the last day of a year, but not awfully lonesome as we were all those many years in the company of an unyielding, egoistic husband and his demanding family who were always completely held in leash by the TV. And not sad as we were after the separation when we were mourning all those unfulfilled dreams and could-have-beens, and not at all anxious and worried as we were when the kids were all of a sudden young adults with their own, hazardous ideas of celebrating the end of a year.
Today, Fate, Myself and I don’t fantasize any longer about a soul-mate waiting to be discovered, as we did those years after our wounds were healed and we once again believed that only a man can fit into the aching hole in our soul. We remember how sick and disgusted we were in the company of that man with the knowledge of a genius and the wisdom and insight of a baboon.
We are alone tonight, Fate, happy and satisfied with our past, present and future. At last we know that happiness - contentment and joy – lies in our own soul - the sweetest fruit to be reaped by us and us alone.
Fate, I trust you will be kind to me in 2010.
I’ve published this first 'Dear Fate' with a heart hammering in my throat the night of 31 December 2009. And how thrilled I was with the first comment I’ve received the very next morning!
xx
u r never alone young lady, For He is with you always.. And i know u know that ! And too, for u now have me, in your corner, for you have been in my heart and prayers, this day, and too u have motivated me, to once again place my pen to paper, in a new "Food For Thought" just completed, with you, young lady, in my heart and mind, during that process... Happy New Years my new Friend..
Hugs...
Jim
xx
And this was the beginning of my exciting life in cyberspace.
Today, a year later, I’ve written a poem, grateful to be one of many writers on HubPages, the best site in cyberspace, introduced to me by my first friend in CyberSpace. He (eventually) convinced me that the first site I’ve chosen was not where I belong.
matt6v33 5 months ago
my my my, well, well, well, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, yet another example of your awesome God given Gift....
MartieCoetser 5 months ago
Matt6v33, so nice to see you, Jim, and once again you made me blush. You’re such a charmer! Will always be grateful to you for introducing me to HubPages. One day I’m going to send my pilot to pick you up :-) May God bless you!
matt6v33 5 months ago
Ms Martie,
Too Kind, my dear! Truly! and yes, humbly!
You, my dear, "Belong Here"! Congrats!!!!!
ref your pilot! hmmmmmm. "Missed Him, again!"
Hey, thanks. and here u go, from my heart to yours... my thoughts of you, this day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ga9Bs4fzSY
Most romantic hubber I know!
But no, I don't want to meet him in real life, for I've learned the hard way that we are much more in real life than what we are in cyberspace, and that much more might be exactly what we are not able to cope with.
The Seekers: I never find another you
My perfect capping cap piece
..
Surrounded by people all happy and gay
the hole in my soul feels heavy and large -
yearning for substance far away -
maybe joy unwittingly discharged.
..
In the midst of beloveds so dear to me
the hole in my sole is throbbing with pain
hankering after something I can’t foresee -
maybe another dream to cherish in vain.
..
In the arms of the one spoiling me with love
the hole in my soul stays empty and cold
languishing in sorrow below or above -
aching of true love prudently withhold.
..
Alone by myself I feel safe and sound
the hole in my soul only filled with peace
treasuring joy and all beauty around
God is my perfect capping cap piece.
...
© Martie Coetser
May MMXI be for all of us at the Hubs the most magnificent year!
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Hello Martie I hope this new year will bring you everything you have ever wanted and more. I hope its your best year yet. I am glad that you discovered Hubpages because it is a great place and I discovered it much the same way as you did and was blown away at the encouragment and support that stemmed from that very first hub. You are one of the great people here and I'm glad I met you. You have a great looking family, cheers to you.
*** richtwf – I am only 6 months at HP. The first 6 months I was at another site, which I call today the ‘Kindergarten’ for hubbers in cyberspace. There I was really a baby-hubber - not at all used to any kind of socializing in Cyberspace, except on Facebook, which I only use to keep contact with my family and friends (in real life). It was necessary for me to attend that Kindergarten, because, considering writing in my second language, I had a lot to learn before reaching the level of writers on HubPages. At the end of the fifth month matt6v33 started to encourage me to come to HP and I will always be grateful to him. I will not even try another site, because HP fulfils all my needs. The hubbers I’ve befriended at HP is exactly the kind of people I love to be with, whether in space or on earth. Richie, you are the first hubber to comment on my first hub for 2011, so you’re comment goes straight to my journal. Thanks so much for wishing me success. My wish for you is dito.
*** ladyjane1 – you’ve made my year! I thought you have written me off because of the ripples I’ve caused some weeks ago. I am truly glad to see you in the comment section of my first hub for 2011. Your comment means a lot to me and goes straight to my heart, right into the file ‘most precious comments’. May all your dreams come true in 2011.
My oversight! And you couldn't be in a better place than HP. It is a wonderful place to meet great-minded people online. You are doing outstandingly well if English is your second language! Keep being inspired to share your wonderful insights with us.
God bless.
richtwf – Thank you, Sir. I agree with you, HP is the hangout for great-minded people, and I feel honored to be regarded by you as one of you. God bless!
Martie, Congratulations on a wonderful year of inspirational writing and I know 2011 will be even better. Thank you for sharing those first thoughts and words. God Bless.
This is simply beautiful Martie, and I might add you have a lovely family to be proud of. God Bless my dear friend
You have become a great friend to me here on the hubs as well and I wish you all the best for this coming year.
Steve
Hi, Martie, I am glad you found Hubpages! I have enjoyed reading your hubs, and good luck for the next year! take care, nell
LOL! I just realized, I have been calling you Marie and you have been kind enough to ignore my error.
Martie,
This is wonderful! Welcome to the world in which you belong and touch so many lives.
God Bless.
Martie, I'm glad you are here, too! The men in your life are indeed people to be proud of and they look angelic, especially the little one! If that photo at the top is you, you are a stunning beauty - an outside to match the inside. Happy New Year!
*** Pamela99 – Thanks for coming over. I find all ‘firsts’ in my life extremely thrilling and love to share them with others. God’s blessings to you too.
*** vietnamvet68 – I’m so glad you loved this one. I will soon find a way to introduce the women in my life as well – :) Enjoy your blessings! BTW, I’ve noticed that you share the name Steve(n) with my son. As far as I remember it means ‘crown’.
*** Nell Rose – my dear friend, it is always so nice to see you in my corner. It is wonderful to know you, and I’m always looking forward to your hubs. What a surprise we got on your latest hub – by the author of the book you’ve mentioned. I just love surprises like that!
*** Bel Marshall – Juliet said to Romeo: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Dear old Shakespeare was a genius! As a matter of fact I could have freaked out, because Marie was the name of the woman who ruined my marriage. But LOL, I’ve outgrown my ego years ago. The other day I called my youngest granddaughter by her sister’s name, and she was sooo indignant – while she’s only three! No Bel, your error did not bother me at all. I knew you were addressing ME :))). I appreciate your friendship with all my heart. Enjoy the rest of this first day of 2011!
Martie I am so happy that you found a home at Hubpages, believe me when I say this with all my heart, you have added the sunshine, moon and stars to many of our lives here with your encouraging, heartfelt, caring, loving, sincere and fantastically creative writing heart and style.
You not only are a brilliant short story writer but also have blossomed into an electric poetess. Your words mean a lot to me and I am so happy to call you friend. You have published another great hub here and shown your beautiful loving and supportive family, the little guy is a handsome boy and so are the dudes beside you with you as the rose in the center.
A lovely lady you are and will always be for me here. Thank you for reading my humble contributions, my soul writes for you from time to time. You are a real gem and your personality sparkles on these pages.....Hugs from the saddle.
Dear Ms Martie, thanks for sharing the Joys of your life (those boys), and writing on. I am so glad we met here on HubPages, and yes, we were meant to Write. With you in spirit. The best!
SilverGenes – Oh, I just love the men in my life. And, of course, the women too. Yes that is me in the photos, the one at the top, shot (without warning) 35 years ago. I did not think I was beautiful then, but now I realize I could have had more self-assurance. We women are so vain! Never happy with our looks. We don’t accept compliments. We prefer to be criticized by our rude image in our mirrors. Thanks for coming by. May 2011 be one of your best years.
*** saddlerider1 – my oh my, what a lovely comment. I honestly felt hugged and loved from the first sentence to the last. Got to read it again and again :)))) Ken, I will always remember you as the one who inspired me to write poems (in English!). One of your hubs with its comments was the first that opened my heart for you and all hubbers at the hubs. So yes, we became friends who really care about each other. If I don’t get a notice of a hub published by a friend of mine in a certain time, I hop over to his/her corner to see if all is still well. BTW, did you know Petra Vlah’s husband had a heart attack? Perhaps she’s back with good news... ? Thank you so much for your support, saddle, and now I’ve got to read your comment again because it really makes me feel loved. You have such a great talent to string the most beautiful words into pennings to be cherished. Let joy rock in your soul, my friend; allow it to scare away all your aches and pain.
*** LillyGrillzit – I wish I could give you a hug! You are so dear to me. When somebody asks me why do I write, I’ve got to use the words of one of our beloved late writers, Elzabé Steenberg: “I write because I write because I write because I write....” Lilly, I always feel close to you and I love your hubs. I hope with all my heart that 2011 will be one of your best years. Take care, you are special.
I feel good and happy that we are sharing this time and space together...we are blessed. You are my far away dear friend and I am so lucky to know you. I love your hubs, your writing, your passion, your heart and charish our friendship.
congrats my dear friend, we will watch the years go by together. Love & Peace darski
How lucky we all are to have you on Hubpages, Martie. You are talented and caring and now that I have seen your photo I know you are as beautiful as I imagined you to be. May this year be the best ever and bring you all that you deserve.
BTW, your son is a cutie, too. :)
Thank you Martie for your kind words, Yes I am aware of Petra's husband being sidelined with his heart attack, I sent her my regards and she answered me in Facebook.
I know she is by his side and I am awaiting to hear favorable news. What a New Years present:0(. Pray he will recover. Thanks again for your beautiful words and your great writes. Hugs
Will be waiting eagerly for more of your writing this coming year. Take care and best wishes to you and your family.Julian must surely adore his doting grandmother.
*** Darlene Sabella – you inspire me in so many ways. Your enthusiasm is contagious; you encourage me to come forward with my hands in the air, daring all and all to either accept me as I am, or reject me for some personal reason which is not my problem. I’ve got to thank you for this. Let’s start a band – you can play the drums, I’ll do the piano.... :))) Lalalala! :)
*** drbj – you, Lady Genius, is right next to nellieanna my rolmodel. One day when I am big I want to be both of you. I feel so honored to have a friend like you. Where were you all my life? If I’ve read your hubs ages ago I would not have made half the mistakes I’ve made. But ohhh, I think I’m lying. I’ve got to use a phrase in one of Stan Fletcher’s hubs: “Tell me to stay out of trees if you want, and see if I listen.” Yes, that son of mine is really a cutie – a philosopher with a great sense of humor. Oh, and my son-in-law, wow, if I was my daughter’s sister he would have been my husband and not hers. Lol! Enjoy this second day of MMXI, drbj, and always know you are highly respected by me. I so wish I have more time to visit you at your other sites. There is loads of wisdom for me and the rest of the world to gather.
*** saddlerider1 – thanks for coming back to tell me you are praying with me for Petra and her husband. Gosh, it is so scary to know one’s life can come to a halt in a minute. Take care of yourself, dear friend. Go for a check-up. (I’m talking to myself as well). Lots of hugs from me to you.
*** SilentReed – now that little guy is a jewel on his own. He prefers his own company; he will play for hours all alone by himself, or he will sit and watch the girls playing, obviously thinking they are really weird playing with dolls. As always I’m looking forward to read your hubs as well. May you have a wonderful day.
Congratulation for your first year. I hope you always success in this year and 2011 as the best year for you to achieve your dream. You still my favorite. Just do the best and I'll wait your work all the time. Very inspiring hub and I love the video. My vote always for you. Take care and Happy New Year.
Blessing and hugs,
prasetio30 – I’m still in awe of your latest hub, my friend. I’m so glad I’m one of your followers, for you are teaching me about the most amazing things and places in this world. You are a genius! Take good care of yourself.
Hi Martie-You are such a breath of fresh air here on HP! I love reading your musings.
Here's to another 6 months of glory!
lorlie6 – Coming from you, lady, who have a broader view on HP as I and many others in this specific circle, this is for sure a compliment extremely appreciated by me. I hope you are fine – I would really like to know how you are. You are a bit too quiet up there, or so it feels to me. Perhaps I should just hop over to your corner and read a hub of yours... :))) I wish you all of the best for 2011.
I am so proud of you, my friend, Martie. Your writing is brilliant and I always take away from it, insight. Your family is gorgeous, especially you. I love the personal touch of photos and your son has the face of an angel. I look forward to many more of your inspirational pieces the coming year. Happy 2011 and many more to come.
Martie, I can´t even imagine hubpages whitout you. You are a very special friend here, and it is always with a very lovely feeling that I read the many different hubs from you. And this one was as always enjoyable. I look forward to share many more months with you here and wish you all the best!
My liewe Martie - jy is wonderlik - dis die enigste woord waaraan ek kan dink wat jou kan beskryf. Nou ja, Afrikaans is my tweeede taal, maar ek dink ek kan my darem redelik laat verstaan, of hoe?
I am so glad that you joined this wonderful writing site and that we met here. It has been a great meeting for me, and for you your time here has had its ups and downs, but you are definitely on an up now!
Jy gaan nog ver gaan, dit weet ek.
Alles van die beste vir die jaar 2011. Ek is seker jy gaan nog 'n baie groot bydrae hier maak en ek is trots om jou vriend en mede-Suid Afrikaner te wees.
Alles van die beste
Liefde, vrede en vreugde,
Tony
Martie i loved seeing your valley.Your Son is handsome,your Son-in-law is handsome,your Grandson is adorable.You look exactly like i imagined,beautiful.I am so happy that we found each other.I don't remember how it happened but i felt the impact immediately.Ilove your poetry.I remember when you said,"I can't write poetry" I hope you know how good you are.Thank's for sharing your life/family with us.God Bless you my friend.
Cheers
*** Amy Becherer – I was a bit reluctant to post personal pictures, but I’ve noticed some are doing it and it is so nice to see how they really look like. So I was thinking in the line of ‘do to others what I want them to do to me.” It sounds a bit like smooth-operating, don’t you think? Lol! Thanks for coming over and delight me with such a kind comment, Amy. Take care.
*** thougtforce – we are indeed growing closer to each other – and I am trying to figure out when and where and why did it happened. It was not like this during my first four months, although we did support each other. We’ve grown into a second and even third dimension... perhaps because our writings became a bit more personal? Anyway, I like the way it is now - I can see you drinking coffee in that corner of your kitchen :) I appreciate your friendship with all my heart, thougtforce. Take care!
*** tonymac04 – Ai, ek het darem so lief geword vir jou! Jy [en ook die ander] is al so deel van my lewe ek gaan my siek treur as een van julle HP verlaat. Jou Afrikaans is perfek, Tony.
I’ve got to admit that HP, no, the friends I’ve met in HP, fulfils a need I was not aware of. They say you don’t know what you’ve had before you loose it, but more often you know what you’ve missed when you find it. I believe the experience of ups and downs is important for growth, because the depth of a ‘down’ equals the height of an ‘up’. Well, that is how it is with me. The only sadness, you always loose something or someone in the process. But at the same time you win ten times more than what you’ve lost. If only I did not have the tendency to mourn the loss. Anyway, let me not go too deep into this... deep breathing and re-focus....
Jou vriendskap en ondersteuning is vir my baie-baie kosbaar, Tony. I just love your objective, but intense views on all issues. I will always follow your advice. Have a good night’s rest, my friend. I’m looking forward to your next hub. I keep on forget to ask you - Do SA-hubbers have a Facebook account? Hugs from me to you.
*** always exploring – my dearest twin at the hubs! I fell in love with you the moment I’ve read your first poem. Lol! I enjoy the poetry – I love playing with words. I found that it is actually easy to give a specific message via a poem, instead of a short story, though some messages are easier digestible via short stories. Thanks for coming by, dear Ruby. You are so dear to me. Take care!
Wow you can write, what a gift you are to myself and many others. Keep shining.
Abound - thank you so much for leaving such an inspiring comment. It does, for sure, inspires me to keep by best side up.
Happy 1st anniversary in cyberspace writing, Martie. I'm so happy you found HubPages, too! You are one of my favorite writers on the site (along with 216 other people...and counting).
Deni Edwards – I feel honored to be one of your favorites. Considering your 215 others – wow! – I will not feel neglected when you don’t read my latest hub within one hour after publishing. Lol! I’ve cut my favorites to 100 – you will find them all in my hub ‘HubPages Symphony Orchestra’, which you as a musician will certainly enjoy. I am barely able to support and encourage them all – as in do to others what you would like them to do to you – so I’ll probably have to stop following more of them. God knows I can’t read all published articles on HubPages. I just have to choose favorites and stick to them. I love to do whatever I do well and thoroughly. I appreciate your visit and is on my why to look what you’ve got in stock for me to enjoy. Deni, I pray – and cross my heart and die if I’m not honest - that 2011 will be one of your best years :)))
.....well you are a hall of famer in my book so I must bestow upon you one of epi's famous top ten lists:
Top ten words to describe how I feel about you:
10. you're hawt (you must remember I feel like a little boy in your presence so this is how I spell that word)
9. you're noble
8. you're a gifted writer
7. you inspire me
6. and provoke my thoughts
5. you make me laugh
4. .... out loud because you're so witty
3. you are kind and
2. generous to a fault with all your friends and followers
1. you love your family and I know they love you too!
Epi my dearest, kindest friend, if I was the queen of cyberspace, you would have been ordered right away to come to me. I would’ve crowned you as the King of Epigrams. Besides entertaining all citizens of our heavenly world, daily as you so magnificently do, your main task would have been to delight me with your charm every stroke of the clock. And I would appoint myself as your teacher, to teach you all the secret words, correctly spelled, that melt the iron chains around women with gold in their hearts.
Epigramman, you’ve made my day :)))
Ms Martie,
Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!
I Love You!
You've just begun here! Keep going my dear!
Many Need You here!
matt6v33 – my guest of honor! Thank you for coming over, Jim. Yes, you were my Kindergarten teacher and I will always be grateful to you. Without your support and encouragement... who knows where would I’ve been now?
Take care of yourself, Sir. You know the purpose of your life.
And oh, I hate you I wish you die :)))
(Dear Readers: This is the way Jim and I say we really love each other. I remind him of his eldest sister and he reminds me of my youngest (adopted) brother and both of us love our siblings dearly...... as long as they don’t ruffle our feathers :))))
cyberspace is a happyspace with you in it- thanks for being here. I really feel like a I know a handful of people here on hubpages and you are one of them- very real and in cyberspacethat's unique and wonderful. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous family with us. And your history with the not so great man, well I heard a saying somewhere recently that made me think of you in that position- "It's better to be home alone than to be with someone at home and feel alone". You've come a long way!
izettl – Wow! What a nice thing to say to me! I really feel honored by you, dearest izetti. Oh yes, and I have to emphasize this: "It's better to be home alone than to be with someone at home and feel alone". There is a difference between ‘alone’ and ‘lonely’, though. One can say ‘feeling alone’ is being lonely. But being alone does not mean ‘feeling’ alone. I am never lonely... perhaps once in a blue moon when I mourn the ‘what-could-have-been’. Besides, I spend my free time in Hubland where the moon never turns blue amongst friends like you. Thanks for delighting me with such a lovely comment, Izettl. See you again soon.
I cringe when I read a poetic line or hear a lyric that says something like: "I am nothing without you; you are my life." What a sad way to view oneself.
I'm happy to see that you are content within yourself Martie.
Excellent Hub!
WillStarr – well, I was there once upon a time – under the impression that I am nothing on my own – only half of a whole. I’ve learned the hard way that it is not true. Each and every one of us is a whole on our own, who may, or may not, fit into other wholes... not necessarily for good. Thanks for the visit. I plan to read more of your stories soon. Take care!
"WillStarr – well, I was there once upon a time – under the impression that I am nothing on my own – only half of a whole."
And so was I. Thank God I had a good friend who kicked me in the butt!
A relationship where only one person matters is not a relationship at all. It's a failure waiting to exit.
WillStarr - :))) I’m nodding my head. Lol: A good friend kicked you in the butt? Well, a ‘good’ husband stabbed me in the back. But that was ages ago. Recently a ‘good’ Christian man finally made me realize that I don’t even need another whole to fit into.
Our hearts, when weak, will always try to convince us that someone else will make us stronger and happier. So we should keep our hearts strong. Take care!
God bless you dear Martie. Be at peace my dear!
Micky Dee - Peace is such a wild bird... sometimes I just can't get it in the cage. But yes, I always catch it in time. Thanks for coming over. See you again.
Congratulations on one year on HP, ... and a Happy New Year!
nextstopjupiter – what a surprise to see you! I haven’t heard from you in a long time. Thought you’ve reached Jupiter :))) Thanks for coming over for a read in my corner. My wish for you too, sir, is only the best experiences in 2011. See you again.
Martie, I agree with Will. This was fantastic
Happy new year and may you have many more
TIna
Granny's House – Thank you so much for coming over to celebrate my 1st birthday in cyberspace with me. It is truly my wish never to disappoint you. See you again soon!
Congrats, This is an awesome year and how great to have a year of you and your work. You're a wonderful person and I'm thrilled to have met you here at hubpages. I enjoyed the pictures of your beautiful family. Oh how beautiful. May you and yours be abundantly and radically blessed in all areas of your life. :) Katie
katiem2 – I wish the same blessing for you and your loved-ones. I remember you were one of the fist hubbers I’ve started to follow. I was impressed with your topics and short-and-sweet presentations. Unfortunately we don’t have today enough time on hands to listen to, or read, long discourses about topics. ‘What is the point?’ is the answer in our minds the moment we pay attention to a speaker or writer. According to my likes and dislikes your style and presentations are absolutely awesome. Therefore your positive opinion of me makes me extremely happy. As Napoleon Hill [and I in brackets] say: "Who said it could not be done? [Who criticizes you?] What great victories does he have to his credit which qualifies him to - judge what can and cannot be accomplished? [to tell you whether your ideas and actions are acceptable or not?] Take good care of yourself and your beloveds; beware of the evil devils in this world.
Life is a process as you know. Another mile-marker of life as you continue the process of celebrating what is and share you inner joy and zest for life.
Your "awareness" shows... Looking foreward to another six months and then we can celebrate our first anniversary together!
dallas93444 – the first anniversary seems to be far away in the future, but I know time flies. Thank you for coming over. I always appreciate your visits. Take care!
richtwf 17 months ago
Congratulations Martie on your first year at HP! Time flies and I am sure that you've had an amazing journey here and may it long continue!
'God is my perfect capping cap piece.' I like these words. He is indeed and can fill any void which may be present in our lives.
Thanks for sharing these personal thoughts and wish you every success in your second year at HP!
God bless and Happy New Year to you!