circle of life

When I worked in Lexington MA, it was an easy hop over to Bedford Center, where at the lunch hour, I could visit my favorite framer. Roy was a big old Italian guy, very opinionated, usually right. I have lots of wonderful artwork enhanced by his vision and craft.

Over the years, I heard about his family, his travels, saw pictures, heard about adventures. I'd come back from a trip with a new piece of artwork and we'd find a great surrounding for it and talk about the trip.

So Friday, with new art from Greece in hand, I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by. When I arrived, though, I found an empty store save a sign in the window from his wife announcing that he had died in August. Fortunately, she had included her email address.

When I got home, I sent her a note. I said that sometimes life seems very unfair and this seems like one of those times. I said that over the years, I had gotten the impression that she both got and received a lot of love. And I talked a little about my memories of Roy.

Her reply message was just lovely. She said she was crying a lot lately but she was beginning to understand why Roy loved his customers so much. That this was supposed to be his "retirement" job, but he was over at the shop all the time, and he was there just days before he died. Oh sigh. Such a loss.

Today, we went to the farm where we've been getting vegetables all summer. They had an end-of-season potluck. It was so good to be outdoors (especially after cold, windy, rainy yesterday) and to look out on the fields and to be with people who like to live close to the earth.

And one of my friends showed up -- she who lost her husband two years ago and who is continuing to raise their child. I often wonder what it's like to be at the bottom depths and to provide emotional nourishment for a young being who is lost and unsettled. How do you do that when you have almost nothing to give? She seems to be doing an amazing job, coming back to life and to living.

Somehow, the smell of the earth, the calm, the beautiful views, the kind people, the interesting conversations, helped breathe a little life back into me. For that I am grateful.