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This was absolutely beautiful. The poem broke my heart and gave me hope at the same time. Sending you strength and light ♥️

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Oh my goodness! Thank you for this beautiful capture of Susie. I never met her but I knew she was special in the way Jo talked about her so tenderly and I love that I am able to view her from your perception and fall in love with her courageous spirit and wonder.

Yes she is still here. In you, in all those she knew and loved, and even those who didn’t…like me who met your Dad at QM when through Jo’s wisdom and authenticity I began to understand about the need for belonging…the pain at not belonging and the quest we have to connect.

I am privileged to have crossed paths with your beautiful mother even though we never met. 🥰

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Catriona, thank you for this letter. It is absolutely beautiful and I can see your mum so clearly. I lost mine in 2009 and I remember early on being surprised when I woke each day because I was so broken and in so much pain, I couldn’t believe my body would keep functioning. And then when joy crept in, I thought of Wordsworth’s line “Surprised by joy” because anything light or joyous was a surprise too. As you say though, that heaviest of times passes. It’s rough and raw but time passes and then you find yourself surprised again that you’re getting on with things.

The garden was my savior when my dad passed. The only time I felt good was when I had my hands in the dirt and so I knew to do the same thing when mum died five years later. Lots of love to you and to all of your readers who are struggling, it does get easier. 🩵💚

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