Dear Friends,
My friend, Vicki, was a potter. Today, I pulled out the mug she gave me, for my morning tea. Tears come to my eyes as I remember a moment. We had been looking at some of her work, she wanted me to pick some favorites to take home with me. I had watched her evolve as a potter over the years, learning, growing and delighting in her craft. She became an artist before she died. But on this day, I was aware of my dearest friend sharing her legacy with me, as she prepared me to say goodbye.
The remaining pieces in her studio did not include a mug, though I found an amazing vase and a bowl that is both lovely and was a template in her work. That felt like a deeper connection, I knew these choices were meant to sustain our friendship across the unknown chasm of loss. She encouraged me to look through the kitchen cabinet filled with mugs of all sorts. In the moment, I felt self-conscious. She sat on the couch with her bald head covered. We had just had a sweet early morning visit, I kept her company while her husband set up a tray for breakfast in bed. This was real. They were living their lives until her life ended.
So, I kept looking through the cupboard and found the right mug. I’m glad I did. I love my morning tea. It grounds me into the new day, warms my heart with memories, slows me down to listen… to myself, the morning birds, to the Holy One. I’m so glad I trusted that moment so I could hold this mug, Vicki’s mug, in gratitude for our 60 years of affection and love. She knew me and loved me. We became women, wives and moms together, in spite of a 3,000 mile distance. We shared our joy and fears, learned to “agree to disagree” and shared the deep losses of our lives.
And now, as I enter this next chapter of my life remembering her, I’m graced to know she is here. Her laughter, her kindness, her creativity and her love. Friends, I gratefully share this memory with you, it brings her back to me as I write. And I hope my words stir up images of those that you love, here or passed on, these connections are blessings. These connections, and this wonderful piece of music from Michael Gott, affirm our capacity to love, to be human, to share hope.
With love and hope, Lisa