Mary Anne Abdo

The Way

At the beginning of the pandemic, I joined a virtual walking challenge. It was very therapeutic since I had been laid off. I needed to find some sort of solace after losing my father inlaw in May of 2019. Then, my father passing away in May of 2020. I felt hopeless at that time.

I challenged myself to do the virtual Camino de Santiago over 812 miles through the neighborhoods of Scranton. I walked and contemplated my life up to that point, and I started to take online poetry classes with my mentor.

Fast forward to this evening, I still write but have not participated in my WordPress blog lately. Right now, I am trying to grapple with my daughter, who is seriously ill. It’s not a statement that I wanted to reveal a few months ago.  I have challenged myself again to walk the virtual Camino, I start tomorrow morning. I leave just as I left four years ago, in bewilderment and in contemplation. Through the neighborhoods that I love  walking through. What will I find on this journey? What will I leave behind? What will I keep ? How I am going to handle this blow that no parent wants to see their child go through? I am contemplating these questions even more so as I am 2 days away from my 60th birthday.

Maybe I  will find some answers as I walk this journey.

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Published by Mary Anne Abdo

Mary Anne Abdo is an author, poet and photographer. She graduated magna cum laude from Luzerne County Community College with a degree in Human Services. With a background in freelance journalism; she uses her poetry as a source of creative expression, which reflects on many facets of what it means to be a human being living in these modern times. Her self-published poetry book, "Fractured Lollipop Poems of Brokenness Healing and Hope is now on Amazon Mary Anne has a passion for art, culture and literature. Her work has been featured in The Edge of Humanity Magazine,Mind and Matters Magazine, Moonstone Press,Grit and Grace Magazine, Orenaug Mountain Publishing,Pennsylvania Bards,Local Gems Press,The Avocet, Calla Press,Scranton Poets Live, and Studio B's annual poetry anthology. Mary Anne placed second for her photography and short story submission in the Museum of Family Prayer's 2022 Mary Garden contest. She has also collaborated on several children's book, Creative Gems Volumes 2&3, and has been featured internationally in Bindweed Magazine's seasonal anthology.Her work has been archived through the National Library of Ireland courtesy of Bindweed Magazine. She has appeared on the local talk show PA Live, The B Inspired podcast Eat the Storms Podcast and several stage appearances. Her first children's book, Pumpkin The Cat Who Plays With Words is now on Amazon. You may check out her work on: Facebook: Mary Anne Abdo/Poet/Author WordPress: https://bluestainedglass.wordpress.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryanne.abdo/ YouTube: @maryanneabdobluestainedglasspoetry64 TikTok: @mary.anne197 Linkedin: Maryanne Abdo On these sites you will find her current projects in photography, video and various forms of canvas art. Mary Anne resides in Scranton Pennsylvania..

7 comments

  1. It is increasingly impossible to meet the demands of modern motherhood satisfactorily, and increasingly impossible for that child to function sanely in the world in which he or she finds themselves. There are increasing numbers of parents afraid of their adult children, increasing numbers of laws allowing those children to work out imaginary old grudges by locking their parents away. It’s a grim reality, and you are not alone.

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