Day 99: MawMaw

a great library closed. one that held intellectual knowledge from a full life well lived. one that welcomed all visitors home. no strangers stepped foot in the house. this sacred library’s holdings were shared over the years with those who’ve visited. yes, we checked out books that would never be returned as they were uniquely written for each person, lovingly gifted and placed gently in our hearts.

we honored this beloved elder in ceremony and around the kitchen table, retelling of stories of the ways she touched us and transformed our lives. my, how time has flown. young’uns unseen for decades now with children. folks who once appeared as giants look smaller and life-worn. unfinished stories that found their endings in my mind were rewritten through re-connections. insecurities surfaced around unspoken goodbyes, unfinished thoughts, and released with familiar nods and warm embraces. even in her passing this great one brought together those suffering from distance and longing for family. rest in peace beloved, knowing that many remain blessed by and because of you.

In loving honor of Mama Jean Harlow Burbridge. May 25, 1933 - August 22, 2021.