Hello Everyone, I’m sorry to have not written sooner. Times are so strange and my mind is alternatively full and empty of thoughts and the idea of trying to condense the ruckus in my brain into words has felt daunting.
I also have a habit of wanting to talk about everything and then I overwhelm myself to the point where I can’t begin. But today I thought, one story, tell one story. So, that’s what I will do.
Last September my dear friend, Brian Davis, left this world with a bang. He had ALS and fought like the dickens (and won) to be able to donate his organs. Apparently his story reached far away places and I am told has set some new standards for organ donation. Anyways, Brian used to like to roll up in his wheel chair and tell me about how much he loved every last thing he was able to do. Seeing someone face death with such grace was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life.
He really loved this hat that I made for him. He sort of became a champion of my garden hats. His daughter Becky fell in love with the hat, so he bought one for her and he left the one on his head to his son. One day, maybe a couple of weeks before leaving this earth, he wheeled up my driveway. I came out to see him and he handed me a fist full of cash. He said, ” Anna, Susan’s birthday is on May 23rd. I want you to make her a hat like this and give it to Susan on her birthday.” Susan is his wife. I choked back my tears and promised him that I would not forget. I immediately put the date in my iPhone calendar, so that I wouldn’t forget. For months this request sat like a weight on my heart. Seemed like a huge responsibility to deliver a gift from the great beyond.
Time ticked on and the date drew closer. I made Susan’s hat and when May 23rd arrived I walked across the street and knocked on Susan’s door. When Susan came out, I said, Happy Birthday. This is from Brian.
Her reaction was pretty much what you would expect. She loved the hat, held back tears and we talked about Brian and gardens and dogs and bees… After a while she said, Anna, I have a confession. Today is not my birthday…..I said, what do you mean? I wrote it down right away. Did I mess up the date? She said, no, Brian could never remember my birthday. Today is his sister’s birthday. Mine is next week. We both cracked up and praised Brian for being consistent even in death. What a beautiful man, maybe not one for dates, but he had a heart of gold.
