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Connie Marcum Wong Biography

Connie Marcum Wong has been the Web Mistress of a private poetry forum 'Poetry for Thought' since October 1999. Her poetry has been in many publications, anthologies, magazines, and e-zines over the years. She published her first poetry chapbook, Island Creations in 2005. In 2007,Heart Blossoms was published. In January 2010, an anthology, 'A Poetry Bridge to All Nations', was published by Lulu Enterprises, Inc.

Connie created the 'Constanza' poetry form in 2007 and 'Con-Verse' poetry form in 2010. Connie was a Stewardess (Flight Attendant) for 34 years before her retirement July 2003 and she has traveled extensively in the U.S and abroad. She became an Aura Photographer in 1997, a certified Reiki Master/Teacher in 2002 and a Karuna Reiki Master/Teacher in 2003.

She has three grown daughters and one son, who gave her a grandson in 2010 and her youngest daughter gave her a granddaughter in 2012. She has resided with her husband in Hawaii since 1980.

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Sad news of Poet James K. Rasmusson's Passing

Blog Posted by Connie Marcum Wong: 7/29/2016 1:40:00 AM

This is my first Blog ever. I hope I am doing it correctly. Kris, who is the wife of James Rasmusson

wrote me the sad news of James passing away June 20th. He has been a very long time friend

and I will miss him very much as those of you who know him will also. Blessings, Connie

~Obituary~

James Keith Rasmusson passed away Monday, June 20^th at his home in Holland, MI. He was born February 14, 1944 in Lansing, MI, to William and Mary Jane Rasmusson. Survived by his wife of 24 years, Kristina; his brother Thomas Rasmusson (Alice), from Lansing; and his sister Marilyn Rasmusson, from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Jim was loving father to Xeno Rasmusson (Laura), San Ramon, CA, and step-father to Justin Wood (Lilita), Chico, CA, Mira Conklin (Eric), Portland, OR, and Rose Mary Wood, Lansing, MI. He loved his two grandsons dearly, Justin Castorena and Augustine Conklin.

Jim was a unique, multi-talented, unforgettable person. He won many awards for his fine-art photography, was a prolific writer, award winning and published poet, punster, wordsmith, and singer. He took 3^rd place in the National Collegiate Champion Weight Lifting when at MSU. Jim was an inventor, engineer, machinist, and certified orthotist/prosthetist. He currently supervised the engineering lab at Grand Valley State University and was known to be patient, caring, and always looking for ways to contribute to the engineering students. He was an unassuming, and humble man with a unique sense of humor. Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial which will be held in Jim’s honor August 13^th at 4pm, at Holland Arts Council, 150 E. 8^th St, Holland, MI

His art can be viewed at fineartamerica.com. Below, is a poem from Jim’s book, At the Podium of the Heart

Charity

Work for the good of the World Fellowship

Laugh so a heavy heart can be lightened

Weep for the passing of a great soul

Dance for the coming of a New Age

Eat to sustain the holy temple

Play so that others may enjoy

Learn from the book of life

Search with a humble heart

Live in the living present

Pray for the Grace of God

Fight for those who can’t

Lift your fallen brother

Soar above the albatross

Hear the Inner Voice

Speak the truth

Serve others

Love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Ascetic

Between the stillness and the calm

lay the hair-thin crevice that led him

to the Music of the Silence.

His tears were the blood of a fallen tree

his voice

the ripples of a morning pond.

Across the freshly fallen snow he walked

his bare feet

leaving no imprint.

--James Rasmusson

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Meenakshi
Raina

Date: 8/16/2016 10:19:00 PM

So sad to hear about the loss of your friend. May the departed soul rest in peace.

Nette
Onclaud

Date: 7/31/2016 8:10:00 PM

james will always be remembered for his compassion, spirituality, and poetry... he is now with the Light ... my sympathies. dear connie..

Carrie
Richards

Date: 7/31/2016 6:54:00 PM

I wish I had known him better, Connie. I am so moved by his poetry, and it is indeed a sad loss for the world. Thank you for letting us know. May his family be wrapped in love at this time.

Arthur
Vaso

Date: 7/30/2016 5:26:00 PM

What a loving tribute, you have my condolences.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 6:27:00 PM

Thank you very much Arthur. I hope more poets get to know his words. Blessings, Connie

Carol
Eastman

Date: 7/30/2016 3:30:00 PM

It's sad to know a kind, open, and helpful heart such as his is gone. The world will be a lesser place without him. I wish I'd known him.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 4:40:00 PM

Thank you for your loving message Carol. I will be passing it along to James' wife Kris. Blessings, Connie

Ravindra K
Kapoor

Date: 7/30/2016 11:32:00 AM

I am sorry for the loss of a poet and a brilliant photographer who was known to you dear friend. I pray for his soul to rest in peace in heaven. Please convey my feelings to his family members. James Rasmusson may not be with us but his good works would continue to live for others to get inspirations from it. Thank you dear friend Connie for sharing his memories with us. Ravindra K Kapoor

Ravindra K Kapoor
Date: 8/2/2016 3:51:00 AM

Thanks dear friend Connie. WBW

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 4:39:00 PM

I will pass on your lovely message to his wife and family Ravindra. I will visit your poetry soon. So little time for all I need to do. Thank you dear friend. Blessings, Connie

Nandita
Das

Date: 7/30/2016 7:12:00 AM

So sad to hear this. My heartfelt condolences. What a unique person he truly was with so many talents. A noble soul. May his soul rest in peace.Thanks for sharing this blog & great poems, too.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 4:37:00 PM

Thank you for leaving a lovely comment Nandita. I am going to pass this along to his family in a few days. Blessings, Connie

Charmaine
Chircop

Date: 7/30/2016 2:04:00 AM

I am sorry for the loss of this poet/friend of yours Connie.Its a pity I never made it to read his poetry.But its never too late..I will visit his work..And thanks for sharing His amazing poetry in this blog with us...May God comfort his family and friends too..Hugs.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 4:36:00 PM

Thank you Charmaine. I think he was not that well known here because he was such a busy man he had little time to be here at PS but his work speaks for him. Blessings, Connie

Kabuteng P.Ink
K.

Date: 7/29/2016 11:48:00 PM

Reading your blog title kind of took me aback, Connie :( ...Please send my condolences and prayers to James' family and loved ones...I admit I'm feeling guilty for not being more active in PFT and commenting more on others' work-- James was somehow a constant contributor there and now it makes me realize how I took his talent for granted. My interaction with him is very far in-between and few, but I'm glad I was able to... You've shared beautiful and meaningful poems of his here... thank you very much for letting us know.

Kabuteng P.Ink K.
Date: 7/30/2016 12:17:00 AM

Thank you, Connie for doing this and I will try better...sending love your way as well. God bless you.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 12:08:00 AM

Thank you very much Nikko. I will pass the condolences along to his wife in a few days. Visit when you can. Love and Blessings, Connie

Constance
La France

Date: 7/29/2016 11:07:00 PM

Connie, so sorry for the loss of your friend ~

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 12:08:00 AM

Thank you Constance. Blessings, Connie

Suzanne
Delaney

Date: 7/29/2016 9:19:00 PM

This is really a shock to hear this about James: He was always a pleasure to read on Poetryforthought and always sent kind emails when I posted a poem. Thanks for letting us know andI promise to be a more faithful contributor to PFT. Re- locating gets more exhausting the older you are when you do it....I suppose like anything. As Andrea said we poets must cherish one another while we still can. My sincere c condolences to you and the family. SuZ

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/29/2016 10:24:00 PM

I was really shocked too Suz. I thought he was doing fine. He never mentioned any illness. I don't know any other details than what is in his obituary. If I find out more I will share it with you. Thank you Suz. I understand about how much it takes out of you to make a big move. Take care and God Bless, Love, Connie

CayCay
Jennings

Date: 7/29/2016 6:16:00 PM

I did not know him, but it seems the world lost not only a man of talent, but a man with a bountiful, humanitarian heart. A good man. A lot of power in those three words, after all, when God made the world, He called it, "Good." I suspect He said the same thing about the soul He created for James. I'm sending hugs to all who may be hurting. CayCay

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/29/2016 7:52:00 PM

That is such a lovely thing to say about James CayCay. I will be passing all of the comments along with his poetry to his wife Kris. Thanks so much. He was indeed a good man and friend and mulitalented. He will be remembered through his art. Blessings, Connie

Daniel
Turner

Date: 7/29/2016 2:21:00 PM

I did not know him Connie. I am sorry for your loss and his family's loss. I know you'll pass along the condolences of this community.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 12:10:00 AM

I sure will Daniel. Thank you and Blessings, Connie

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 7/29/2016 8:54:00 AM

The poem you showed is beautiful. I don't think I had seen that one of his.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/29/2016 6:05:00 PM

Yes, it's absolutely beautiful.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/29/2016 5:07:00 PM

I don't remember it either....but it was in his chapbook. I just added his new poem to this blog it is called the acetic. It is really a beautiful pond and I got it off of his Whispers post. Thanks, Connie

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 7/29/2016 8:54:00 AM

Connie. I may be one of the few here at Soup who knew him and his talent. He sure did some great photography too. As always I felt shocked to hear the news. he was relatively young. Just barely 70 I think. It's sad to see friends through poetry passing on. I actually came here thinking to do a blog myself, but you beat me to it, and I am thankful you chose THIS as your first time to blog. it's a truly worthy thing to do. I hope people might go read one of his poems. I don't think I even knew he was over here at Soup and I wish he had embraced this place. Anyway, my condolences to his wife and family. Jim will be missed!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 7/29/2016 8:59:00 AM

when I said "as always I felt shocked" I mean that our poet friends pass on and it leaves me feeling so strange to think I had just been talking with them and now they are gone. I believe I have learned of eight or more poets passing on since I have been friends with you, and it is a time to really reflect and realize how we need to support each other in poetry because our time here on earth is so fleeting.

Alexis
Y.

Date: 7/29/2016 8:33:00 AM

Hi Connie, I didn't know him however it seems he was a good guy. I'm sorry for your loss.My condolences to his family and you. -Alexis

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 7/30/2016 12:15:00 AM

If you would like to see his website of awesome photographs here is the link: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-james-rasmusson.html His photography won many awards and was used in calendars and in books. Thank you Alexis. Blessings, Connie