Middle-earth Journeys

Most of the vendors on the link posted either don't exist or no longer carry the merchandise--if you want the banners, try an ebay store called Celebrian's Closet. It is in Australia, but the service to the US is exemplary. I have bought Aragorn's banner and Arwen's banner. Be warned--they are not cheap, but they are lovely, and the seller is great to deal with.

Hi, librislove--welcome back!

Thanks, Merry-- I have been gone far longer than I intended-we had a house fire in April and I am just now getting back to something like normal. We were not home, and so were not hurt, but many of my furred and feathered children did not make it. It's cliche, yet true; your life can change in a minute. It's also true that your friends will surround you with love and light in your bad times. It's good to be back!

Oh, no. I'm sorry for your losses. I know what you've been through, to some extent: my house was in a major flood last summer, so I have learned both your lessons.

Hang in there!

Welcome back librislove!! Like Merry, I extend my sorrow that you have gone through a tough time. I was thinking of you just last week and was hoping we would see you smiling face back here soon.

A little Tolkien (and good MeJ friends) is good for the soul!

Thanks so much--and can we add a little Aragorn as well?

We most certainly can.

It's lovely to have you back . I'm sorry that such awful circumstances took you away. Thank goodness you weren't at home!

Thanks so much for the great welcome, everyone! As bad as it was, we were extraordinarily blessed with our safety, and by our friends. That was a priceless gift and lesson. Now about that Ranger. . . . PS-We did save, or rather the fantastic firefighters saved our pug, 2 cats, and 4 ferrets, but my birds and bunny, one cat, and three ferrets are angels now. The new house is nearly ready, and when we move in, I have been promised a rescue buns by the Humane officer who helped house some of my ferrets temporarily, and Dad, bless him, will buy me a cockatoo, my favorite bird. A new start, learning to pass on the lessons of love given to me by my angel babies. In that way, they will live on.

Now the next hard question: what about your books?

And the hard answer, Merry--I lost nearly all of them. My professional books are all gone, and most of my fiction as well. By some miracle, my Tolkien collection survived nearly intact, and what I lost I have been able to replace. It was more than fortunate that they were another room, away from the major damage, and were saved. So, incredibly, was my laptop, which lived through the destruction, although the printer succumbed to ash and water damage. Even a goodly number of my collectibles survived, and some, like the banners, I have replaced. I am grateful for them all; even more so for the amazing fact we found our family's pictures and my late Mother's jewelry in the rubble. I know it's just stuff--but there truly is "stuff" that cannot be replaced. But I would have traded it all for one of my furkids.

Bless your heart librislove, my friend, you have had the most horrible bad fortune. I can't begin to think of how I would cope with all that. Here's to a much brighter tomorrow for you and your family!!

I know what you mean about 'just stuff': not the most important things in the world, but some stuff you just need and they are a way to connect with the past and other people.

The gang at Writers of Rohan asked me to send along their best wishes to you.

To all of you at MeJ and WOR--it means so much to hear from you. And now, I am going to go out on that famous road again--you know, the one that's dangerous? I'll be looking for that Ranger.....

The Road that goes ever, ever on?