After I spent two nights at Saguenay National Park in the Province of Quebec, I began to move south. I am in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Thanks to Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome I am tucked into a driveway of a lovely home.

I am here to attend a Hommage (French) or a Celebration of Life for a good friend of mine, Therese. I have posted about Therese before in this blog. I believe it was the fourth or fifth post, beginning this journey in 2013. Here is a link to that post Guess Where I Am. If you click on the area in bold blue it will take you to that link.

Therese was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at least six years ago. She died in May, two days before I departed for the Amazon. She grew up in North Hatley, Quebec. Today, Saturday there will be services for her in her home town. Since I am close I knew I wanted to attend this celebration. She was my friend.

Therese was my friend. We shared time together. We first met at the college where Jim and her husband worked. She was so nice, and funny and had such a lovely lilting French accent. I knew we would become friends. She was also a nurse and healer. When I was undergoing treatment for breast cancer she would come to the house and we would sit out back and play Scrabble and Bananagram and we would talk not about cancer, not about health, just about life. I was part of a women’s game night at her home and often attended parties at her and Drew’s (her husband) home. Over the years we developed a good friendship that would endure for the rest of her life and my life too. I miss her already.

This past year has been hard. I know that I am seventy, and I still think of that as young. I have lost some good friends, starting last October. I am not doing well with accepting that this can begin to happen at this time of my life. It is time to address this issue so I can learn to accept the departure of friends and others from my life.

Grief has arrived again to remind me of the impermanence of my life and of others. It has made me remember that I have been going through this in some form since Jim, my husband died almost eleven years ago. It wakens part of me that is dormant most of the time. It is a hard and odd teacher. Grief brings me into the present moment. It may sound odd to say that it makes me feel alive in a different way than almost any other thing I have experienced. My emotions sit on the surface as does my heart. I live more in the moment forgetting about the past or future.

This all sounds positive and in ways it is. There are times when it is exhausting and overwhelming. I know after today that it will quiet down again as I remember and mourn those who have left so recently.

In honor of my friends who have moved on:

• Judy was a long-time friend and teacher. She and her husband, Fred were instrumental in my life for a long time. I will miss her presence. I posted a blog about her and her husband in another early blog post. On the Road Again. I will miss her and her horses and her continuing love and guidance in my life.
• Gail died last fall. She was my acupuncturist, healer, and friend. She left too soon and I miss her.
• I met Jon shortly after I moved to San Diego. He was a Morris Dancer as was I. Jon bought the kayaks Jim and I built back in 2019. I miss his delightful presence and his generosity.
• I also posted about Ron this year. A Cowboy in My Life. Like Judy, they were cowboys I met in Colorado. Ron took care of the property we owned. He was a teacher, a friend, and more. Maybe just maybe Judy and him have met and are now “Riders in the Sky”.

I treasure my friends and have wonderful memories of those who have moved on. All of my friends, close and far have helped shape who I am today and I am grateful for this. I have had some excellent teachers in my life and I value each one. All I can say is thank you to each one. They have all been teachers, down to earth and loving. I will miss each one.

Today I am thankful for the amazing friendships I have formed over the years.