Judy is Gone

Mother died this morning around 3:50 AM. It was very peaceful. I suspect she had some irregularity in heart beats and her heart just stopped. She radiated calm.

I probably will write more later but, as you can imagine, I am a bit overwhelmed right now.

The essentials are that Miz Judy did not want a funeral and will be cremated.

If you would like to remember this marvelous lady no need to send flowers....Mom's garden is in lovely full bloom right now. Rather, a contribution to a charity of your choice would do mother proper honor.

She loved so many of you as I know you loved her. I trust we will all recover from our loss soon and carry her special, lovely memory with us each and every day.

One of those special memories: Judy and Jeff Italy 2006

Jeff

PS Mother always was concerned about children and animals in need. Food for the Poor (http://www.foodforthepoor.org/ ), Doctors without Borders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org) and the NRDC (www.nrdc.org). She participated in and was ver fond of The First Methodist Church. They can always use the money (First United Methodist Church, 920 Main St, Franklin, LA 7028). Finally but not last, you may recall that she was going to vicariously enjoy Angelo's ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. No doubt she will be their on his handlebars in spirit when he speeds out at the crack of dawn on 1 June 2009. Not too late to contribute: www.tofighthiv.org/goto/angelo

The Spirit of Youth

A delightful packet arrived special delivery today from Mother's little friend, Eli. He and his brother, mom and dad will be jetting off to Guatemala very soon so they popped this marvelous gift of Eli's art and their family pics to mother.

The timing was none too soon for Mom was alert enough for a brief time to enjoy the color and Eli's smiling face. I thought I would share a bit of youthful joy and wonder with you, as I did with mother, through the kindness of her good friends.

Jeff

One Day at a Time

Reports are that we have had six times the normal amount of rain for this time of year in tis region of Arkansas. I would surmise that most of that deluge has dropped during the month I have been here. The sodden, dark days match the mood in Shangri-La where we linger by the bedside of MizFlounce expecting her final leavetaking to occur at any time.


Mother now seems to not know who any of us are when she is semi- conscious. She is eating nothing at all and has only a few sips of water a day. I guess that she remains comfortable, if there is any appropriate way to describe what her experience is like. Perhaps better is to say she is in no pain.

It is hard to imagine how anyone could remain alive more than a very few days taking in as little food and water as Mother has for the past 2 weeks. Now that her intake is close to zero her death cannot be far away?

Jeff

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The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.

The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.

And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.