Rocky, a very good friend

My second life is richly decorated by many wonderful people. Great friends with brains, compassion, wit and patience. They are generous with their time, knowledge and laughter.

I'm quite sure I met Rocky at the reference desk. He and his dear, wonderful wife Cindy visited one night when we were all in rare form. Rocky dove right in with his own brand of humor. But, he always seemed to be at the edge of the crowd. When I asked why that was, he replied, "I'm making sure I have a quick exit handy"!

I'm so glad that he never took that exit.

One of the best things about becoming friends with people is discovering the many talents and skills they have. Some of these aspects are immediately seen. Others take time, and the right circumstances to show themselves. For example, Rocky is a thoughtful, evocative writer.

This is shown by the speech written by Rocky in the previous post. Honestly, I could hardly believe it when I read it! I should not have been surprised, it is everything that Rocky is, wise, intelligent, thoughtful, and expressive! Please scroll down and read it, it is worth your time.

Rocky, I am so proud to call you my friend!

HJ

(And, no one passes funnier notes in class than Mr. Vallejo).

"Sophia, the Lady of Light, Wisdom and the Word"...

The following was written by Rocky Vallejo for the grand opening of Illumination Island.

Among the religious and philosophical belief systems of many different peoples, Wisdom is often portrayed as a woman of purity, grace and light.

In Greek, she is known as Sophia, one of Plato's four cardinal virtues.

In the Christian/Jewish holy book, The Bible, she speaks to humanity: "Does
not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?" On the heights
beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; "beside the gates
in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud."

Sophia...her message, often unheard in a world loudly pressing on to
make one more Linden, is one of self reflection, and an understanding
of the potential within each of us to make a difference and truly enjoy
our lives and life around around us.

When I first visited Xinoxi's sim, then on the Willow sim I could hear her...
Sophia...

I could feel her presence and held her hand as she walked with me through
her land. She shown out to me brightly in the visual feast of the place
its architecture and stately grounds. She led me down hallways and rooms
set out in graceful splendor opening my mind to the other name given her...
"Logos"... "The Word."

I laughed with her at the antics of Louis Wain's cats. We fled in terror
before the Martian hordes of the War of the Worlds, winced at Elizabeth
Bennet's rebuff of Mister Darcy's initial offer of marriage, tumbled
down the rabbit hole with Alice and voyaged 20,000 leagues under the
sea with Captain Nemo.

Robert Louis Stevenson knelt with us in prayer and while our eyes were closed,
connecting with the Deity, Peter Rabbit snuck into our garden and cleared
us out of our carrots!

We passed Shakespeare deep in conversation with Sun Tzu on strategems of love and war
and tiptoed by Nietzsche brooding in a corner.

Out again into the sunlight we lost ourselves in the maze and finally stood
in awe in the midst of the Olympian temple of the gods.

On Illumination Island I could shut out the day to day din that presses in
on us in both real life and second life, and see the light, feel the grace
and hear the words that Wisdom has to offer me here.

"... for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot
compare with her."

Thank you, Xinoxi for sharing this place with us. We in the library community welcome you
and wish you all the best as the newest member of our archipelago.