My
dearest Beth,
It has been a week since I was informed of your tragic passing. My heart
still aches. I will
always cherish our friendship that began as kids and lasted these
many decades. Through thick and thin we were there for each other.
The many
missives over the years when you finally got e-mail. Even today I
happened upon a site and thought O! Beth is going to.........then
reality hit once again. I laugh when I think of your first texts.
“Damnit Cheryl! Use capitals and proper punctuation! I'm old and
can't understand a thing you typed!” Old me arse, you were
ageless.
Our
unplanned visits that turned
into road trips that long outlasted my idea
of a quick journey, well that was you.
Keep driving and enjoy the journey. The
artist studio tours we attended savouring and whispering critiques
were special days. You thrived in their
environment and I was envious of your creativity. I read the card
you created for my special birthday and wept. To think of the hours
you spent painting, writing, collaging that card just for me still
touches my soul.
Our
visits at your log home with your hubbie and own children. You
always made everyone feel right at home. Why
does the recollection of you arriving
here with your daughter resplendent with her green hair come to mind.
As I hhmmmed, you shrugged
and laughed “kids today”. You raised your
children right and I cry when I think your grand-daughter will never
know what an awesome grannie you would have been.
The
many hours we spent here at the Pond, discussing the garden and life.
You always left with a trunk full of plants and later shared photos
of them growing so well with your guidance. You certainly had a
green thumb, make that two green thumbs for your own gardens were
well known and admired by all who had the pleasure of enjoying them.
I posted your most prized photo of your garden
and the haiku I wrote for it. You smiled when I sent it back to you.
The
endless discussions of fae
and otherworldly creatures knowing we both believed. I dusted off
Silas the gremlin you and Amber sculpted and gifted to me. It's in a
place of honour in my home. Sharing shelf space with the
mannnnnnnnnnnny frogs. I always laughed when opening a birthday gift
as I knew it had to be a frog. Frogs balancing on lily pads, sitting
in a yoga position, I got em all.
You
always encouraged me to write and were so
thrilled when I sent you my book of ponderings. Without your review
'cause mah grammer ain't
always been great, it would have been a regretful project. The many
press releases and letters you gleefully edited. And I will never
forget you in cahoots with my
brother to have Charles dedicate one of his books for me, well dear
Beth, that holds a special place on my bookshelf. I've already begun
re-reading it.
My
quirks and eccentricities were understood by you and no other. Am I
being selfish when I state there will never be another in my life who
gets me the way you did. That fact causes me a greater sense of loss
than no other loss of family or friends. It also scares me that I
feel so alone. No one will ever take the place of you Beth. No. One.
I
could write pages how grateful I am for having you in my life but
you already knew that
as does everyone who had the honour of knowing
you. You leave a loving family and many, many
friends realizing the loss of you in their lives. I grieve with
them. While you will live on in our memories know they will
never replace your presence.
To my
sister of another mother, I miss your face...
With
ever lasting love,
Cheryl
