that's what frank said after i told him i couldn't take any more of this... what a day...actually it started yesterday, this whirlwind of kindness...i wrote to sabina (a cannon sister) to ask if she'd make a cd for me of all my most soothing songs... i didn't have a little cd player but i was gonna have mitchell go buy one so that i could have it next to my bed and listen while i rest. outside my door the next morning, were the two cd's and a new cd player...and beautiful messages from the sisters like, "we love you the way we love music"...
i knew some of the girls i had worked with through the years were coming today. i wanted to give them something and naomi suggested i give them a copy of the cd we made for my 50th birthday...i didn't have any more copies so i called joan and asked if there was a chance that she could make some more. (i'm getting the hang of this asking thing)... this morning there were 10 cd's with a picture of me on the cover, and a new cd player from joan and michelle...
i called frank this morning because he brings me whatever i want each saturday - he says my wish is his command. i asked if he'd host today because i felt really weak and i knew it would take a lot out of me to see everyone at once. i also knew that mitchell wasn't up for the emotional time it probably would be.
not only did frank arrive with food, he came with the very thing i said i wanted to have sometime before i go - an old fashioned home made chocolate cake. it was beautiful, but i was trying not to get all emotional about it...
then the girls came...the girls who are no longer girls...some are in their thirties, some in their twenties, and two who just graduated high school last year. naomi brought a few from over the bridge, along with incredible flowers and home made chicken soup for later.
each of my girls told me what i meant to them, and there were a few tears here and there...that is, a few until nikia sang the song she wrote for me. it was to the tune of "someone like you"...fuggetaboutit...i could only look up for a minute and i saw frank leaving the room because he, like everyone else, especially me, was a goner...she has an incredible voice and the words were the words you wish someone would feel about you...after everyone stopped sobbing, i told her that in all my 55 years, that was the most beautiful song i ever heard. it was an oh my god moment...after that, there wasn't much to say, but "see you later my sweet girls"...
mitchell came out of the bedroom right before to say hello and goodbye (it was too much for him), and before he closed the door, he brought in the mail. there was a package from my old dear friend oak with a heartfelt message, a beautiful turtle pin, two oak leaves from vermont and a t- shirt for mitchell...
i mean, come on...how much more of this can one woman take...
You're gonna have to take more because I'll be there soon! Love you.
Posted by: lynnie | October 22, 2011 at 06:52 PM
It was beautiful to have time with you. Thank you for allowing us into your home & pulling all your energy to share memories with us. I left a card on your dining room table. Love you always.
Posted by: Emilzer Letellier | October 22, 2011 at 08:45 PM
I wish I had more than words. For you and everyone who knows you better, I wish this was just a dream. And one morning, you'll simply wake up new again. In the meantime, keep those fingers typing.
Posted by: Jada | October 23, 2011 at 09:44 PM