3.3.13

 Eileen, 
You're a pirate
with a treasure chest of memory...
a reminder
that one only lives once...
and -  that this
is not a "dress rehearsal."
Every surface
is a map of your living

this whole house
feels like
 memory 
and love.
It's going to feel strange Eileen
not to find you sitting here...
or see the pale smoke of your woodfire
curling out your chimney in the morning light.
You're an institution Eileen,
a light
of love and adventure
in our little town...
and I feel utterly honoured
to have known you...
with love, see you soon...
Beth
Eileen,
surfer, deep sea diver, aviatrix
mother, teacher
world traveller and muse.



5 comments:

  1. Sweet memories to remember her and to comfort all of you...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Therese,
    you have no idea how important women like this are to the world...
    surfer
    deep sea diver
    world traveller
    teacher
    mother
    adventurer...we shall miss her dearly...

    B

    ReplyDelete
  3. what a lovely tribute to your friend and another character in the canon of Extraordinary Women! I have been lucky to have a few of these role models in my life too, bohemian godmothers who taught me how to sail, mix a cocktail and fix the broken wing of robin... to be kind and to hell with the rules!
    No doubt you've passed along the secrets of such a magic curriculum and influenced other young people too!
    ¡Vivan las Extraordinarias!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh to fix the broken wing of a robin... You must teach me!

    ReplyDelete