Emilie, the young mother with sarcoma of whom I wrote recently died quietly with her husband holding her hand on December 24. It sounds much like Kerry's death, wrapped in the peace that passeth understanding, though I'm sure terrible grief waves will hit Stephen, her husband and the boys in the months that follow. I'm also certain that waves of returning life force will follow. In honor of Emilie's life and her sharing of her last years and her deep feelings about her threatening death, I want to share both the quote she requested Stephen share on her blog and the link to the article she recently wrote for a Catholic newspaper - the one that talks about the difference between happiness and joy. The link is

And the quote:

"And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?

I did.

And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth."

Thank you Emilie for your generosity of spirit, your depth of sharing - and peace, compassion, and eventually the return of hope and joy to Stephen and the boys.

Also seems like a good time to share a poem I put in the chapbook about the peace around Kerry's death.

Thank You

I sobbed against your chest. "I can't live without you."
You knew I had to. You assured me I’d do a damn good job
of living without you, told me you hoped marriage with you
had been so very wonderful I would choose to love,
live, hope, laugh, marry again. You never let me know if you
regretted the years you wouldn't have, never moaned you
wouldn't dance at our daughters' weddings, rock grand babies
who had your eyes. You kept your vows, released me with love.
I told you yes I would raise the girls as we had begun,
in hope, awe, adventure, curiosity, dreams, open hearted.
I would live, not die. I told you to stop fighting death, witnessed
your last breath, kept my vows, released you with love.

Victoria Hendricks, November, 2008