Sometimes you have a week that just stops you in your tracks, and makes you ask yourself… what really matters?
Monday morning I started thinking really hard about an old friend of mine. It seemed random at the time, but a couple hours later I got the message that she had died 24 hours earlier. I felt very close to her in that moment: I felt Kathy had somehow come to say good-bye.
Kathy, Bonnie and I worked together at Joseph Magnin's for one year, when we were all 19 years old. Before the year was up, Bonnie had died in a head-on car collision on a mountain road – from a drunk driver. Now Kathy is gone – her breast cancer had turned into bone cancer – her remission suddenly turned on her a couple weeks ago. She leaves behind 3 biological children and 7 adopted children from Russia and Eastern Europe.
So this month when we mail out our check to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, it will be sent in her name. However, every month when we send out those checks to our charity recipients, we know that there are unspoken names attached that represent our customers' loved ones. When you make a choice to support a charity, there is a story, and often a name attached to your choice.
I looked on Kathy's Facebook page to copy some photos of her, and there was no "portrait" photo with her alone. In every photo she was leaning in to hug another person in the image. In every single photo she was giving her love to another person.
She had found one of the basic truths in life – that true happiness is found by giving to others, by supporting others, and by focusing on others' needs. This is also what quilters do. They make quilts that comfort, heal and express love. We can see that so clearly in the large pile of comfort quilts that has arrived in our office in the last couple weeks, for the Fire Victims of Colorado. The stitches are just vibrating with love and care.
This last weekend we stopped at the Long Beach Quilt Festival on the way home from Hawaii. After visiting 2 elder relatives who were in the hospital in Honolulu, we were in a contemplative mood at the quilt show. I was thinking about the cycles of life – how we care for our children and our elders – and then the wheel turns and we ourselves are getting older.
This exquisitely detailed 3-D nature study by Holly Altman really reminded me of the Tides of Life…and how even as the Tide recedes, life flourishes in the changing waters. Holly's piece was hanging at the entry to the show, so if you attended the show I am sure it caught your eye.
Every day is a gift, and I thank Kathy today, for reminding me of that treasure. For an artist or creative person, every day is an opportunity to express beauty and truth, and heal a little piece of the world around us.
What lovely thoughts to contemplate, as we move through our days, and years.
Thank you for sharing your creativity in so many ways!
Lani
Thank you for your beautiful message today. I am so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. You and her family are in my prayers.
This really hit home with me. I am at my daughter’s house helping out post operatively. I started to whine a tad . In my mind I was becoming critical about her way of doing things; I am tired etc. I must be here toooo long if I am doing this.
Your email came, Luana,and I thought that it is in giving that we receive. I have been spending time with grandchildren etc.
Kathy knew to give is a reward to the person giving.
so sorry for your loss Luana. Thanks to you for sharing your love with all of us. Sheila
Thank you so much for sharing your loving thoughts for your dear friend. I am so sorry for your lose of her. But I do know she will always live on in your heart and memories. Thank you for the nudge to create even something. I hae been gone too long from doing anything. I live in such a world of pain that i forget i can escape at times. It just takes sometimes a hug and a Kick in the seat of the pants to get my brain to work again!
Mary
Luana, what beautiful thoughts you wrote, I am sorry for your loss. It is often these messages that speak to me the loudest and remind me of things I seem to forget. Thank you and blessings to you.
Helen
Your thoughts are what I have learned to live by. Growing older is to be cherished. Celebrate the gift. This quilt you shared by Holly Altman elicits a lot of emotion for me. What can you tell me about it? Are the dimensions accomplished by paint, pencil, applied 3-d objects? I’ve Googled her, but of course there are many people with the same name and on my search she did not show up as a quilter. Thanks and oh yes, I truly enjoy your fabric selections.
You write beautifully. Very moving and thanks for sharing the gorgeous art quilt.
Thank you for sharing your loving thoughts of your dear friend. Try as we may, busy days crowd out our priorities. Your tender words brought me back to what is most real and important after a long week at work.
My deepest condolences on your loss. Thank you for showing how to harness life’s rough patches so positively.
I lost my Best Friend to Breast Cancer in 2006 and there’s not a day that I don’t think about her. I’ll just assume that she’s crafting each and every day and is happy.
I feel your pain and loss. Hang in there and thanks for all the good you do each day.
Debo