I’m so sorry, Celia 💔😭🥀 Losing a soul friend who understands you so deeply is like losing a part of yourself. Here’s some Wendell Berry to help you heal.
“Three Elegiac Poems”
by Wendell Berry
I
Let him escape hospital and doctor,
the manners and odors of strange places,
the dispassionate skills of experts.
Let him go free of tubes and needles,
public corridors, the surgical white
of life dwindled to poor pain.
Foreseeing the possibility of life without
possibility of joy, let him give it up.
Let him die in one of the old rooms
of his living, no stranger near him.
Let him go in peace out of the bodies
of his life—
flesh and marriage and household.
From the wide vision of his own windows
let him go out of sight; and the final
time and light of his life’s place be
last seen before his eyes’ slow
opening in the earth.
Let him go like one familiar with the way
into the wooded and tracked and
furrowed hill, his body.
II
I stand at the cistern in front of the old barn
in the darkness, in the dead of winter,
the night strangely warm, the wind blowing,
rattling an unlatched door.
I draw the cold water up out of the ground, and drink.
Celia... My condolences to you on the passing of your treasured friend. Thank you for sharing your heart with us at this time. The passing of someone who deeply affects our life's journey is one that hits us in the most tender way. I pray you be comforted, strengthened, and that the memories you shared with Richard convey solace and gratitude in a way that you might not have ever experienced before. What a beautiful treasure you have been privy to, in having someone who profoundly touched your life in, what your writing demonstrates, a soul friendship manner.
One of my brother's passed over when I was a young 12 yr old. In the 50 intervening years, he has come to me in dreams that were so real, and thoughts of our brief life together have been very close at times that brought strength, remembrance of interactions, and even desires that rougher times would have played out in a more positive way.
In the path you now trod absent the phone calls, letters, or any other means you interacted with Richard... I hope the memories carry you through the emotional dips. Blessings to you. I bet Richard values the time here on earth he shared with you.
I too lost a dear friend exactly 3 years ago this week. Someone who had battled severe PTSD for the previous six years trying to recover from the horror and results of a vicious assault. Just as I learned of her voluntary departure from this world, the mailman knocked on my door and a hand made thank you card from her appeared. On it was a painting of a bird flying out of its cage. Cherish the love - it never dies.
Darling C, this breaks my heart. Such a wonderful man he was and I know you will carry the torch for him. We spoke yesterday on the phone and you didn't mention it, but of course I didn't know him. However with your writing you always bring the reader in and allow us a glimpse of the specialness. I'm sad right now at another loss. I sometimes cannot believe what they have done to us all and how little they care. It's just not us. we must stay strong together and show the young the freedom we had and the freedom we believe in. Smile beautiful, I love you, Anna x
Ma'am. Thank you for your writing. It never fails to move me. As does this hymn. Loss is always with us. The year before last I lost my best friend of 50 years; last year my beloved first dog - I never realised just how that would affect me, and I am still grIeving for his company, his trust, his love and the many many miles we walked together over hill and dale and woods wild and empty of humanity. And now my beloved wife has been diagnosed with bone mets following on from breast cancer 5 years back. The poem below by the wonderful Wendell Berry (who along with Mr. Frost seems to epitomise to me that American relationship with the world we walk on, the landscapes we live in) speaks loud. So vile was the chemo for the breast cancer that my wife is minded not to go through that again, all the more so as it clearly didn't work ; rather enjoy what is left without constant hospital visits and feeling sick after medication, and treasure every moment.
Thank you again Celia, and I too am sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
"I'm not the kind of guy that idiots should annoy."
Nor I. The correspondence I had with our GP (MD in USA terms) left him in no doubt that I thought he was a danger to his patients. Essentially, my wife's consultant in 2017 terrified her into having chemo, which we know now damaged her more than the cancer.
Quite. Neither of us have ingested a vegetable in well over a year, bar me, a plate of very good chips at our local, and yes, grilled tomatoes with my Full English Breakfast. We are very fortunate to have many farms with grass fed livestock and no antibiotics. This is my favourite shop in the world - wild venison as well as beef to die for and the BEST black (blood) pudding in the world, replete with huge chunks of pig fat.
Oh, Celia, I'm so very sorry you've lost such a beloved friend. At the same time, I'm glad you had the blessing of that connection, and I trust that it will continue to sustain you in new ways in the years ahead. I send you love and solace in this hard time.🦋💫🌷
My deepest condolences for your loss. You mention moving frequently; I infer with some agitation. I don’t know how you have developed your remarkable resilience and whether your strength derives from a response to chaos, but I hope that you experience peace. The song speaks to the sense of presence of being in the moment, beyond the ego in harmony with nature. May you receive that gift of tranquility, even if momentarily, of being “where you ought to be.”
I'm sorry for your loss. After reading a portion of his writing you linked to I'm sorry for our loss as well. His writing shows an understanding of the monetary system few have and he explains it in an elegant way that is clear and can be understood. People with his insight are so few, it is a shame that it is now fewer. Thank you for what you do.
so sorry for your profound loss. May his memory be for a blessing. Thanks for sharing him and the song - a favorite for grace and Farm & Wilderness Camp where my kids ent.
Tune in ...as our loved ones are just a heart beat away ....we never die consciousness is ever more ...he will come to you in dreams ....in wide awake moments ...in your writing ...in a flash from the corner of your eye...he is in the watch tower of our being ....so much love for you and yours
I’m so sorry, Celia 💔😭🥀 Losing a soul friend who understands you so deeply is like losing a part of yourself. Here’s some Wendell Berry to help you heal.
“Three Elegiac Poems”
by Wendell Berry
I
Let him escape hospital and doctor,
the manners and odors of strange places,
the dispassionate skills of experts.
Let him go free of tubes and needles,
public corridors, the surgical white
of life dwindled to poor pain.
Foreseeing the possibility of life without
possibility of joy, let him give it up.
Let him die in one of the old rooms
of his living, no stranger near him.
Let him go in peace out of the bodies
of his life—
flesh and marriage and household.
From the wide vision of his own windows
let him go out of sight; and the final
time and light of his life’s place be
last seen before his eyes’ slow
opening in the earth.
Let him go like one familiar with the way
into the wooded and tracked and
furrowed hill, his body.
II
I stand at the cistern in front of the old barn
in the darkness, in the dead of winter,
the night strangely warm, the wind blowing,
rattling an unlatched door.
I draw the cold water up out of the ground, and drink.
At the house the light is still waiting.
An old man I’ve loved all my life is dying
in his bed there. He is going
slowly down from himself.
In final obedience to his life, he follows
his body out of our knowing.
Only his hands, quiet on the sheet, keep
a painful resemblance to what they no longer are.
III
He goes free of the earth.
The sun of his last day sets
clear in the sweetness of his liberty.
The earth recovers from his dying,
the hallow of his life remaining
in all his death leaves.
Radiances know him. Grown lighter
than breath, he is set free
in our remembering. Grown brighter
than vision, he goes dark
into the life of the hill
that holds his peace.
He’s hidden among all that is,
and cannot be lost.
Celia... My condolences to you on the passing of your treasured friend. Thank you for sharing your heart with us at this time. The passing of someone who deeply affects our life's journey is one that hits us in the most tender way. I pray you be comforted, strengthened, and that the memories you shared with Richard convey solace and gratitude in a way that you might not have ever experienced before. What a beautiful treasure you have been privy to, in having someone who profoundly touched your life in, what your writing demonstrates, a soul friendship manner.
One of my brother's passed over when I was a young 12 yr old. In the 50 intervening years, he has come to me in dreams that were so real, and thoughts of our brief life together have been very close at times that brought strength, remembrance of interactions, and even desires that rougher times would have played out in a more positive way.
In the path you now trod absent the phone calls, letters, or any other means you interacted with Richard... I hope the memories carry you through the emotional dips. Blessings to you. I bet Richard values the time here on earth he shared with you.
Oh, Celia, I am sorry beyond words for your loss. You are especially in my prayers tonight. Hugs.
I too lost a dear friend exactly 3 years ago this week. Someone who had battled severe PTSD for the previous six years trying to recover from the horror and results of a vicious assault. Just as I learned of her voluntary departure from this world, the mailman knocked on my door and a hand made thank you card from her appeared. On it was a painting of a bird flying out of its cage. Cherish the love - it never dies.
Darling C, this breaks my heart. Such a wonderful man he was and I know you will carry the torch for him. We spoke yesterday on the phone and you didn't mention it, but of course I didn't know him. However with your writing you always bring the reader in and allow us a glimpse of the specialness. I'm sad right now at another loss. I sometimes cannot believe what they have done to us all and how little they care. It's just not us. we must stay strong together and show the young the freedom we had and the freedom we believe in. Smile beautiful, I love you, Anna x
Anna!!! I was just thinking of you.
Ma'am. Thank you for your writing. It never fails to move me. As does this hymn. Loss is always with us. The year before last I lost my best friend of 50 years; last year my beloved first dog - I never realised just how that would affect me, and I am still grIeving for his company, his trust, his love and the many many miles we walked together over hill and dale and woods wild and empty of humanity. And now my beloved wife has been diagnosed with bone mets following on from breast cancer 5 years back. The poem below by the wonderful Wendell Berry (who along with Mr. Frost seems to epitomise to me that American relationship with the world we walk on, the landscapes we live in) speaks loud. So vile was the chemo for the breast cancer that my wife is minded not to go through that again, all the more so as it clearly didn't work ; rather enjoy what is left without constant hospital visits and feeling sick after medication, and treasure every moment.
Thank you again Celia, and I too am sorry for the loss of your dear friend.
"I'm not the kind of guy that idiots should annoy."
Nor I. The correspondence I had with our GP (MD in USA terms) left him in no doubt that I thought he was a danger to his patients. Essentially, my wife's consultant in 2017 terrified her into having chemo, which we know now damaged her more than the cancer.
Indeed. My wife is now on the carnivore diet to minimise damage to the body. No carbs, no sugar. She's very well on it, all things considered.
Quite. Neither of us have ingested a vegetable in well over a year, bar me, a plate of very good chips at our local, and yes, grilled tomatoes with my Full English Breakfast. We are very fortunate to have many farms with grass fed livestock and no antibiotics. This is my favourite shop in the world - wild venison as well as beef to die for and the BEST black (blood) pudding in the world, replete with huge chunks of pig fat.
https://www.kimbersfarmshop.co.uk/
Oh, Celia, I'm so very sorry you've lost such a beloved friend. At the same time, I'm glad you had the blessing of that connection, and I trust that it will continue to sustain you in new ways in the years ahead. I send you love and solace in this hard time.🦋💫🌷
The Well of Grief
by David Whyte
Those who will not slip beneath
the still surface on the well of grief,
turning down through its black water
to the place we cannot breathe,
will never know the source from which we drink,
the secret water, cold and clear,
nor find in the darkness glimmering,
the small round coins,
thrown by those who wished for something else.
Your friend is now in eternity, and joined the Celestial forces. He fights more powerfully now. Be at Peace.
💕
So very sorry for your loss. May the memories give you strength and love...
My deepest condolences for your loss. You mention moving frequently; I infer with some agitation. I don’t know how you have developed your remarkable resilience and whether your strength derives from a response to chaos, but I hope that you experience peace. The song speaks to the sense of presence of being in the moment, beyond the ego in harmony with nature. May you receive that gift of tranquility, even if momentarily, of being “where you ought to be.”
Heartfelt hugs and deep sympathy.
I'm sorry for your loss. After reading a portion of his writing you linked to I'm sorry for our loss as well. His writing shows an understanding of the monetary system few have and he explains it in an elegant way that is clear and can be understood. People with his insight are so few, it is a shame that it is now fewer. Thank you for what you do.
so sorry for your profound loss. May his memory be for a blessing. Thanks for sharing him and the song - a favorite for grace and Farm & Wilderness Camp where my kids ent.
Please accept my sincere condolences.
Tune in ...as our loved ones are just a heart beat away ....we never die consciousness is ever more ...he will come to you in dreams ....in wide awake moments ...in your writing ...in a flash from the corner of your eye...he is in the watch tower of our being ....so much love for you and yours