Deb, thank you so much for pointing me back to this post. Like you said for me when you read some of my earlier posts, it gives a more full, layered perspective of who, why, and how you are. Your Domestic Doris sounds like an absolute powerhouse of all the things that make mothers, and women in general, extraordinary. And her leading you to the Lord, too- brought tears to my heart. What an incredible friendship and subsequent incredible story! I'll never look at jam the same again. <3<3
Gosh Krissy, I am amazed you read it as I know time is fleeting with a full house and many things to do! I’m glad you did though because I wanted you to see how much I felt your heart. We are truly connected. God sees this and takes our hands and carefully connects them. He knows what we need to hold us up and keep us going. We have seen this when we couldn’t get up and then did. He brings us familiarity and friendship and those who listen and understand. We are never walking alone. And the JAM!!! Yes. The jam. It’s such a good taste. Especially that plum. Gotta tell you something so funny (at least to me!). When we moved our youngest to NYC for school, I frantically packed about four jars of plum jam, all wrapped neatly in bubble wrap. When he found it, he said, “mom, you know New York has jam?” I cry-laughed. I’ll let you try and figure out what I was thinking. Love you. oxox
It is a bittersweet reminder that we are never walking alone! Thank you so much for directing me to you and Peg’s story, and the way you keep her memory alive is just so full of joy and acceptance and peace. I know, sometimes those feelings are fleeting, but to know we have a choice in how we live and approach our circumstances is so empowering. Yay for friendship, and yay for jam! Yay for overcoming and NOTHING holding us down.
One day I must tell you why this touched my heart so much. I cried reading it starting about halfway and was literally sobbing by the end. I love your gift and with each addition to this I am amazed how gifted with words my friend is. xoxo
Dear Linda, It took me all this time to write about it and, of course, many details were left out - yet I cried my way through the first draft, the second and so forth and I have to say it was extremely therapeutic to get it written down. The day she passed I had two portrait shoots. I had just wrapped a shoot with a young man at a local small airport, as he was a certified young pilot and wanted his pictures done there. I got a call from Peg's sister-in-law that she was gone. I was 10 min away and drove straight there. As we gathered around her hospice bed at home I noticed her long hands looked so aged as cancer patients do and she was at peace. Family and a few friends held hands around her bed and her husband played Amazing Grace on his acoustic. It was beautiful and sobering. When I left I wanted to curl up in a ball and sob forever - but I knew how precious life was. I went to my late afternoon shoot and worked with another high school senior. Afterward I broke down. I have say, to this day I never broken down on a job. Turned out my client's mom was a pastor and they wrapped their arms around me and prayed. A week later we would attend a massive celebration of her life and the young man, who I had worked with that morning, was the first person I saw in the parking lot. So surreal! I had no clue he was a high school bag-piper. He was dressed in his uniform, bagpipe in tow. Peg had asked for them to play at her memorial. They only played for emergency service funerals/memorials and they made an exception because she loved when they played at her kid's high school. We are all so connected. Thank you for your very heartfelt response. I can't wait to hear why you felt so deeply reading my story. ox
Deb, thank you so much for pointing me back to this post. Like you said for me when you read some of my earlier posts, it gives a more full, layered perspective of who, why, and how you are. Your Domestic Doris sounds like an absolute powerhouse of all the things that make mothers, and women in general, extraordinary. And her leading you to the Lord, too- brought tears to my heart. What an incredible friendship and subsequent incredible story! I'll never look at jam the same again. <3<3
Gosh Krissy, I am amazed you read it as I know time is fleeting with a full house and many things to do! I’m glad you did though because I wanted you to see how much I felt your heart. We are truly connected. God sees this and takes our hands and carefully connects them. He knows what we need to hold us up and keep us going. We have seen this when we couldn’t get up and then did. He brings us familiarity and friendship and those who listen and understand. We are never walking alone. And the JAM!!! Yes. The jam. It’s such a good taste. Especially that plum. Gotta tell you something so funny (at least to me!). When we moved our youngest to NYC for school, I frantically packed about four jars of plum jam, all wrapped neatly in bubble wrap. When he found it, he said, “mom, you know New York has jam?” I cry-laughed. I’ll let you try and figure out what I was thinking. Love you. oxox
It is a bittersweet reminder that we are never walking alone! Thank you so much for directing me to you and Peg’s story, and the way you keep her memory alive is just so full of joy and acceptance and peace. I know, sometimes those feelings are fleeting, but to know we have a choice in how we live and approach our circumstances is so empowering. Yay for friendship, and yay for jam! Yay for overcoming and NOTHING holding us down.
I missed this! Yesss to friendship, memories and overcoming! We are here for the jam. oxox
This is so tender and beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your love xo
Thank you so very much. So hard to lose a friend 😔 I wrote that a few months after I started my Substack. ox
It was quite the while ago but your love hit over the pond. I wanted to acknowledge you ox
Thank you. And thank you for finding my heart in that story. ox
One day I must tell you why this touched my heart so much. I cried reading it starting about halfway and was literally sobbing by the end. I love your gift and with each addition to this I am amazed how gifted with words my friend is. xoxo
Dear Linda, It took me all this time to write about it and, of course, many details were left out - yet I cried my way through the first draft, the second and so forth and I have to say it was extremely therapeutic to get it written down. The day she passed I had two portrait shoots. I had just wrapped a shoot with a young man at a local small airport, as he was a certified young pilot and wanted his pictures done there. I got a call from Peg's sister-in-law that she was gone. I was 10 min away and drove straight there. As we gathered around her hospice bed at home I noticed her long hands looked so aged as cancer patients do and she was at peace. Family and a few friends held hands around her bed and her husband played Amazing Grace on his acoustic. It was beautiful and sobering. When I left I wanted to curl up in a ball and sob forever - but I knew how precious life was. I went to my late afternoon shoot and worked with another high school senior. Afterward I broke down. I have say, to this day I never broken down on a job. Turned out my client's mom was a pastor and they wrapped their arms around me and prayed. A week later we would attend a massive celebration of her life and the young man, who I had worked with that morning, was the first person I saw in the parking lot. So surreal! I had no clue he was a high school bag-piper. He was dressed in his uniform, bagpipe in tow. Peg had asked for them to play at her memorial. They only played for emergency service funerals/memorials and they made an exception because she loved when they played at her kid's high school. We are all so connected. Thank you for your very heartfelt response. I can't wait to hear why you felt so deeply reading my story. ox