The day after Christmas, my two daughters and I scattered Jacque’s ashes on the small seashore within the image above. Then we watched the waves are available in and carry them out to sea. I instructed Anne and Emily to scatter my ashes right here in the exact same means.
Under is the eulogy I learn at Jacque’s memorial service. It sums up her life properly.
Jacque,
I can’t change your smile, your chortle, your eyes, your hair. I can’t change all of the conversations we had, how we helped one another see the world by means of wide-open eyes. You had been all the time so fiercely alive. You lit up a room. You lit up the life we shared.
We met at a music social gathering the place totally different musicians would carry out for one another. Our first date was harpsichord live performance at College of Santa Clara. On our second date, we listened to Louis Armstrong information at my dad and mom’ home deep into the night time. On our third date, we drove an hour to Oakland to listen to Stravinsky’s Ceremony of Spring. A method of marking your life is thru music. For 4 years you had been a fiercely devoted instructor who taught highschool choir and vocal jazz.
I skilled what it was wish to be a scholar in your school rooms throughout Covid whenever you had been educating all kinds of certificates packages on the College of Arkansas. In our small home, we might hear different(s) educating stay programs on zoom. You had been so alive within the classroom. Instructing was your calling. You impressed so many college students along with your ardour, your depth, your presence, your respect for studying, your love and hope for what every scholar may develop into.
I bear in mind the 12 months we had collectively in Germany. That loopy three-week journey by means of Spain with our German information Stefi. How you liked each sight and sound, each piece of artwork and achitecture: the Gaudi park in Barcelona, the papier-mache floats in Valencia, the Alhambra and its gorgeous mosaics and gardens, the Mosque and courtyards of Cordoba, the 2 lengthy days we spent collectively finding out the nice Spanish painters within the Prado museum. I bear in mind all of the visits to all of the locations in Germany the place your father fought in WII, all of the nights we drank German beer and wine collectively. I bear in mind you throwing your self into studying German with all these college students from overseas international locations. I bear in mind after we bought pregnant there, and also you miscarried for the third time. We had been not sure if we’d ever have the ability to have kids.
I can’t change all of the love you gave to the 2 daughters we fortunately did have. First Emily whenever you had been 40 years previous. I bear in mind all of the concern you carried with you throughout this being pregnant, the concern that comes from understanding the three sisters you had all died too younger, two of them from diabetes problems. Then we had Emily, our first daughter, a miracle. Then two years later we had Anne, a “shock” being pregnant. What occurs to younger folks in love like us. You had been 42 years previous. The physician allowed you to present start naturally. These two stunning, clever daughters are with me now, serving to me to ease the ache of shedding you, serving to me to recollect you.
I can’t change on a regular basis and devotion and intentional thought you place out within the universe in relationship to our youngsters. We weren’t good dad and mom, however we had been good dad and mom. We tried so exhausting. I can’t change on a regular basis we spent speaking collectively about the easiest way to lift them. Are they doing an excessive amount of? Are we giving them sufficient independence? Ought to we permit them to play video video games? That was a simple one. The reply was no until it concerned lots of studying, lots of challenges and progress.
And considerably amazingly, by means of all of the well being challenges you confronted, you stored rising and studying, increasing your universe to incorporate increasingly. You stared to do Yoga every day with our daughter, Anne. You joined two ebook golf equipment throughout the final month. And as some who get older harden of their methods, you grew softer and extra accepting of the presents and challenges of life, of the big range of different souls we come throughout, every by itself journey. You realized to guage folks much less, to be increasingly forgiving.
I can’t change you. I can’t change your presence. You had been all the time so alive. Even whenever you watched a Marvel tv collection on Netflix, you had been all in. Laughing and crying and on the sting of your seat. That’s the way you lived. Second after second after second.
I can’t change how a lot you liked our new canine of simply six weeks, the way you performed along with his tooth and chased him across the yard, how he cuddled up in opposition to you each night time. Now with you gone he cuddles up in opposition to me. We’ll assist consolation one another.
I can’t change that divine spark of life you carried like a torch to assist mild my means. I have no idea learn how to change it. We’ll miss you a lot, but you’ll all the time be right here. My daughters and I, we’ll preserve calling your title. We have now a lot extra to say to one another. You had been a mirror for me, all the time reflecting again my higher self. Now I must do that alone. A lot more durable work. A lot more durable work.
We had been planning a summer time journey to Amsterdam the place we’d stroll by means of town and spend limitless hours in its artwork musuems. Emily instructed me yesterday, she and Jack had been simply speaking about going to Amsterdam as properly. You continue to stay on in Emily. You continue to stay on in Anne.
Collectively we sought out the spirit of life, what the Hindus name Brahman, what many name God, what some name the oversoul the place all our souls or spirits or energies someway collect collectively as we lose our sense of being separate selves and egos and take part with the refrain of the cosmic entire. How about one other good date night time a while on the market within the music of the spheres? I’ll let you already know after I’m prepared. Till then, till then, I’ll miss our date nights very a lot.
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