Thomas Point Lighthouse
This is a very special post for me, I took this picture while out on the Bay this summer. My Father Irwin Eagle, an avid sailor, and proud Coast Guard veteran, loved this photo, even using it as his screen saver. As a result I decided to make it a print and give it to him for Hanukkah this year. It arrived to my house and looked great, I planned to give it to him on Friday at my family dinner. That dinner never happened and I never got to give it to my Dad, he sadly passed away today, succumbing to complications of an illness that presented itself on Thursday. He went peacefully while I was at his side, and he will always be with me, I love and miss you Dad.
Pops & Mojo Photos 
Dear Joel,
Although I only “met” you via Susie’s blog a short time ago, your site has been in my bookmarks from the first day I saw your photos.
I know you are going to hear these words often in the next days of mourning,and I am going to add my feelings to them. I am so very, very sorry for your loss.
Losing a parent is so painful and their absence will always be with you.
What has kept me going since both of my parents passed away is the image of their faces smiling and so at peace.
I wish you strength as you get through this difficult time.
December 6, 2010 at 2:11 am
Thank you so much for the comforting words Judy!
Joel
December 7, 2010 at 1:55 am
My deepest sympathy to you during this sad time. I can see why you dad loved this picture. It is beautiful.
December 6, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Coming here from Susie’s blog as well…holding you and your family in the Light.
December 6, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Dear Joel:
What a fitting and lovely tribute to your father. I can’t imagine the pain of such a sudden, unexpected loss. Looking at this photo, I hope it consoles you to think of him drifting happily at sea, with the waves lapping up against the side of his sailboat. My condolences to you and your family.
December 6, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Thanks so much Jen! It is a very comforting thought.
December 7, 2010 at 1:57 am
I only know you and your father through Susie’s blog as well. I’m so sorry to read of your father’s death. He would have loved the print. As a lover of lighthouses, I know I would have been proud to receive it.
Sending you prayers, hugs.
December 6, 2010 at 8:47 pm
I’m a friend of Susie’s and was saddened to hear of the loss of your father last week. Please know that I keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I can’t wait to show my husband your amazing photo. His “other woman” is the Chesapeake Bay and I’m sure his heart will skip a beat when he sees it. I can see why your father loved it so much.
Much love and hugs,
Tanya (indigomuse)
December 6, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I am so, so sorry Joel that you lost your father so suddenly.
The photo is stunning, and I can’t imagine a more wonderful tribute.
My deepest sympathies as you navigate this difficult time.
December 6, 2010 at 9:06 pm
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your father. He sounds like he was a wonderful person who will be sorely missed.
December 6, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing someone you love so unexpectedly is especially hard. Sincerest condolences to you and your family.
December 6, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Dear Joel,
Though I only know you through the Juniper Moon Farm blog, I do know how hard it is to lose a parent so abruptly. May you be upheld by the thoughts and prayers of many, and by the memories of a fine man who was your father.
Mary
December 6, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Dear Joel,
Although I don’t know you, I know your pain as I lost my grandfather suddenly about a month ago. It’s never easy. I am so sorry for your loss.
My prayers and thoughts are with you through this difficult time.
Emily
December 6, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Joel,
Like others I know of you only via Shepherd Susie, but I wanted to send you my sympathies on your loss. I’m so sorry about how suddenly it all happened. Your photo is beautiful and a fitting tribute to the father you loved.
Barclay
December 6, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Our hearts go out to you and your family at this time.
December 6, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I read of your loss on Suzie’s blog, and am so sorry for you; I lost my dad in 1995 and from reading your description of your dad, I think they might have been of the same cloth. Please know he’s watching over you and when your pain eases just a bit, your wonderful memories will bring smiles to your face. You are lucky to have had him; he is lucky to be missed. There is a bright new star in heaven tonight. deb
December 6, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Thank you Deb
December 7, 2010 at 1:58 am
Joel, I am so sorry for your loss. I have admired your photographs and was touched to hear of your loss via Susan’s blog. I pray that you can find comfort in your memories of him. Please accept my deepest condolences.
December 6, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Joel – so sorry for the loss of your father. From what I read on Susan’s blog he was a very special and loving man. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
December 6, 2010 at 11:13 pm
I lost my Dad too a few years ago. A piece of you dies when a parent passes away, but we will always have them with us in our memories and in other members of our family.
December 6, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Your stunning and evocative picture is a fitting tribute to a good father, who will be a beacon to you the rest of your life. I am so sorry for your loss and hope that soon the time will come, when you can release the sadness and remember the love and good times with your father in happiness and gratitude.
December 7, 2010 at 1:01 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with you today Joel.
December 7, 2010 at 1:03 am
It is, indeed, a lovely photo. I’m so sorry for your loss.
December 7, 2010 at 1:44 am
dear joel,
i am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dad.
gosh…
words don’t cut it here
may his love and blessings always be clear to you and always present over and over.
much love to you and your family
((((((hugs included)))))
sincerely,
rona
December 7, 2010 at 2:19 am
Thank you all for sending such kind and comforting words, it means a lot, Joel
December 7, 2010 at 2:37 am
Joel, my mother died early this Sunday morning…although it was not as unexpected as your father’s, it is hard to put into words how a “child” feels when a parent dies.
I pray you will be comforted by our God and keep wonderful memories close.
December 7, 2010 at 2:31 am
Carol, So sorry to hear about your Mom, I hope you find comfort also. Perhaps our parents passed each other on the other side.
December 7, 2010 at 2:36 am
As a reader of JMF blog and one who has visited your blog, too, I send you thoughts and prayers during this most difficult of times. I live near the Bay, in fact, not far from TPL, and know the solace gazing across those waters can provide. I hope memories of your Dad sailing with his face to the wind will bring you peace in the days and weeks to come.
December 7, 2010 at 2:33 am
Joel..The light will forever shine on the sea and your father will forever shine in your heart.
December 7, 2010 at 3:01 am
Baruch Dayan Emet. May you find comfort wherever you can, my thoughts will be with you.
December 7, 2010 at 3:36 am
Joel, my heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you tonight. I am so sorry for your loss, your dad sounds like he was an amazing man. It is a terrible thing to lose a parent, please know that even though we’ve never met, I’m genuinely crying for you and sending you love.
December 7, 2010 at 3:55 am
Joel,
I heard of your loss through Susan. I have lost both my Father-in-law and my mother in the last 7 years. To give back to Hospice, who was there with my Father-in-law, I now visit Hospice patients with my little yorkie once a week. I met a new patient 2 weeks ago. He was blind and deaf and 93. He and his daughter only wanted a dog to visit who would be calm and gentle in his lap. When I put my little yorkie in is lap he fell in love. He kept saying “this one is keeper”. He passed away a few days later. Let’s just keep giving back with what little we can do to make a positive difference for someone we don’t even know.
December 7, 2010 at 4:02 am
also in from Susie’s blog, and not my first visit from there, only the saddest. I’m so sorry about your pop, but if he loved your photos as we all do, his memory will live on with each snap! May time lessen your sadness and your photos bring you comfort with fond memories!
December 7, 2010 at 5:02 am
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My love goes out to you at this time of sorrow. Death should be a celebration of his life because without his footprint on your life we would never have been blessed with your vision of the world.
December 7, 2010 at 7:09 am
May you find peace in the love that your Dad shared with you and know that he will forever be in your heart…
December 7, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Joel, I’ve been following your blog, but I’ve just learned about your dad from Susie’s blog. I’m so sorry. I just lost my mom in August, too, so I know there are no words. What has helped me is to try to be all the good things I loved about my mom. Your dad taught you so much–find everything good in yourself that came from him, and share it with the world. That’s one of the best ways to honor him, and to help you deal with the loss.
December 7, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Hi Joel,
love to you from Canada.
Wonderful photographs, thank you!
December 7, 2010 at 4:32 pm
So sorry for your loss. May you find his spirit through your lens.
December 7, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Joel,
Found your blog because of a link from my blog and loved the lighthouse picture. Wanted to add my condolences to all of the others who have expressed their sympathy on the death of your father. It sounds like you have some wonderful memories of him and I pray that those keep you smiling through this difficult time.
Blessings to you and your family,
Beth Ann
December 7, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Joel, I am one of the lucky readers who found your blog through Susan. I was so sorry to hear about your sudden loss. Your father sounds like a wonderful, good man and I will have you and your family in my thoughts. He would have loved the print, and I agree with Jellenp. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
December 7, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Dear Joel,
I am a very recent Fiber Farm blog reader, but someone who lost her dad almost a year ago. My deepest sympathy to you and your family during this difficult time. May you be buoyed by the sweet memories of your father, the good times and the love that you shared.
Take your time, contemplate, ponder and reflect. I found that some of my memories, at first, were sharp, like a broken bit of glass. But, through time and the passing of days, the edges softened as the luster deepened, and, like a beautiful piece of sea glass they are now treasured and cherished.
December 7, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Joel,
No words can clearly say what is in my heart. I’m just so sorry for your loss. Although I don’t know you, I know your pain and sense of loss–sometimes I even feel anger for the loss of my dad. But that’s when my memories soften my heart and salve my soul. I pray that you also find comfort in your memories.
Best love and hugs to you and your family.
Mary (GrandmaTutu)
December 7, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Joel, my heart goes out to you and your family in this hard time. May your tears wash away the sorrow.
December 8, 2010 at 12:53 am
I am so very sorry for your loss. My father died suddenly, too. It’s rough to say the least.
What a beautiful photograph and a beautiful memory of your dad. Peace and love to you and yours.
December 8, 2010 at 3:21 am
Hello Joel,
Your photos are living proof of your visionary quality. While news of your deep loss saddens me, your mention of “the other side” is heartening. I do know that those we love live on. Just think of your Dad and he will be present to you forever. Peace.
December 8, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I just read Susie’s blog and my sympathy to you and your family for your loss. Even though he is gone from this world, he will always be with you.
December 8, 2010 at 12:43 pm
What a lovely photo…what beautiful sentiments. My dad was in the Coast Guard, too.
This poem comforted me in a time of great loss:
Beannacht
On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you.
And when your eyes freeze behind the gray window and the ghost of loss gets in to you, may a flock of colors, indigo, red, green, and azure blue come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays in the curach of thought and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you, may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.
A Gaelic blessing
December 8, 2010 at 12:56 pm
My condolences to you on the loss of your beloved father. I found you blog today for the first time and smiled when I saw the lighthouse. My husband and I discovered it 15 years ago on our honeymoon and both fell in love with it, even though neither of us are avid lighthouse fans. It has such an ethereal beauty surrounded by the sea as it is. It truly is a symbol of good and loving people and I hope it reminds you always of the love and wonderful memories with your Dad
December 8, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Hello Joel,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I don’t even read Juniper Moon’s blog often at all (just because there’s so much out there to read and I have two little kids) but I happened to see the post with your gorgeous photos; and then again I happened to see the post about your father’s passing. The words I read there made me feel as if I knew a little bit about your father–he must really have been a remarkable man. We are strangers far away from one another, but your father’s memory will live on a little bit in me and everyone else who is thinking of him, and you (and your lovely photographs). I hope you tell us more about him some day, if you would like.
Laurel
December 9, 2010 at 1:42 am
Joel,
I have been a fan since Susie introduced me to your photography. I am so sorry for your loss…and I have no other words that can adequately express that. Your words above are lovely, and you couldn’t be more correct. Your dad will always be with you, as long as you honor him with simple remembrance of him.
I wish you comfort and peace…now and always.
December 9, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Your Dad sounds like an amazing man. I’m sorry he had to leave so soon. I pray for Peace for you and your family.
December 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Dear Joel,
My uplifting, holding thoughts and energy are with you as your grieve the loss of your father’s physical presence. It is close to 4 years since I lost my father and, 2 since I lost my mother. I had cut a small lock of my father’s hair and wore it in a locket for a time after his death. I like to believe that a parent’s love transcends physical death and somehow becomes more powerful, more pure in how it supports one’s children. May the pain of loss give way to joy, comfort, peace and deep wisdom as you remember the many ways he gave of himself to you. Steph
December 20, 2010 at 1:44 am
Thank you so much for the healing words Steph, I definitely feel my Dad’s love everyday.
December 20, 2010 at 4:45 am
What a lovely tribute to your father! I lost my father 17 months ago and I feel your lost.
January 7, 2011 at 1:33 am
This is so beautiful and very touching.
March 4, 2011 at 5:27 pm