My partner and I have a standing joke about how, in any UK series that we watch, whenever any scriptwriter wants to make someone inaccessible the character is sent “to Australia”.
I get what you mean though. My lovely cousin in Adelaide died a year or two ago. He had a heart attack and the ambulance took an hour to reach him. His daughter got there in 45 minutes and found him already gone. I didn’t see him that often (Adelaide is 2,617 km from where I live - still in Australia), but when his birthday notice flashed up on Facebook the other day, I wanted to pretend he is still there. I almost posted the Happy Birthday message.
I have another cousin in Florida who chats to our dead relatives regularly. I am not sure how long they hang around for, but it was of some comfort after my Mum died to be advised that she was at peace.
I hope you have a wonderful send-off for Jane. She sounds amazing and it’s only fitting that she leaves you all celebrating the fact of her existence and your good fortune to have been a part of it. A reminder to make every moment special.
And long may her energies resonate in your life, leaving those little surprises when you least expect them.
Aww thank you Sarah, and thank you for sharing those stories, I'm sorry for your losses, too. And wow, you have internet in Australia too, no wonder jane used facetime! x
I love the comment that the death doula made that Jane was living more like a monk than a monk, or more like a nun than a nun. That's a profound thought and makes me feel differently about those I've loved who died in similarly difficult circumstances, after long and debilitating illnesses.
Thanks for this, Anna. I hope Jane's funeral goes to plan – I'm sure with so much love and care having gone into it it will be a really special occasion.
Absolutely, Anna. I particularly thought when I read that of my late aunt, who I wrote about last week. She lost movement and speech after a stroke, but lived another two years. So much time to contemplate. I hope she was imagining a better place.
This is all so moving. Everything you’re saying and doing and feeling is paying your friend the highest compliments. You couldn’t do better by her, the way you honour her. Please be proud of yourself, especially tomorrow, for that.
I had a dance for Jane to that beautiful song just now and also for my friend Trudy who I lost two year ago to pancreatic cancer. I think of her every day and have held on ever since her diagnosis to being grateful we can eat / drink / do what we like that our friends couldn’t and we owe to them and to ourselves to live happily and freely. Bawling now obvs.
I hope all goes as well as possible tomorrow and wish you well xx
Thank you for sharing your precious friendship, and Jane, with us. It’s a joy to get to know her through your words, even in this sadness. I just got up from my desk, played that tune, and moved. My goodness it felt good. Sending so much love as you prepare for Friday 🩷
What an eulogy...jane would be/ is very proud of you...sharing her wisdom. It is a legacy is it not...all of us who were even unaware Jane was in the world. Controlling life such a fallible human trait we all fall for .... Lots of love to everyone who is grieving andvto you all on Friday Xx
What a beautiful track 🥰. I had a little kitchen jig with our dog to honour Jane. Your piece reminded me to be grateful for what we have; a way of thinking that I’ve lost sight of recently. I was very moved by your words about Jane’s challenges especially towards the end and how she tried to find peace and acceptance in her everyday struggles. I am so glad to think of her being free now and love the idea that as well as sending signs from the natural world, she’s also making the most of digital opportunities to stay in touch! I do hope it is a true celebration tomorrow for you all - I’m sure it will be if Jane has masterminded it - she sounds like quite a woman!!!
I’m laying here on the couch, uncomfortably propped with my neck crooked against a pile of not yet ironed laundry. And trying but not quite able to imagine just how much letting go Jane had to do within her body as it gradually ceased to work for her. I’m glad you’ve been able to collage for her celebration and get to take comfort in that activity.
Sending Love for the celebration of Jane’s life xx
I imagined all of us dancing with you as I listened, after reading Anna 💕 There are definitely phones in ‘Australia’…. I’m grateful every day that my mobility returned, although at a much lower level. I’ve always thought about how the way I have to live to manage my illness is like 24/7 mindfulness, and at some levels it’s a hermit like discipline so I really resonated with what Jane’s death doula said, and oh the importance of talking about mortality, death and allowing everyone the choice to die how they choose to die when life in a body draws to an end. Sending you love 💕x
Strangely I was writing about acceptance this morning, and how it can give us a kind of power when everything feels out of control, and then this post came in ❤️ Such a beautiful testament to your friendship and to Jane and to all the experiences you shared with each other, in person or remotely. Her work with Thea sounds so valuable. Sending love for Friday. It sounds as though it will be a great celebration of Jane x
Sending love as always, Anna. I'm sure the service will be everything she planned and that it'll be a celebration of her life and the wonderful relationships and friendships she had. Xx
Hello from Australia 😂! Yes, we do have phones.
My partner and I have a standing joke about how, in any UK series that we watch, whenever any scriptwriter wants to make someone inaccessible the character is sent “to Australia”.
I get what you mean though. My lovely cousin in Adelaide died a year or two ago. He had a heart attack and the ambulance took an hour to reach him. His daughter got there in 45 minutes and found him already gone. I didn’t see him that often (Adelaide is 2,617 km from where I live - still in Australia), but when his birthday notice flashed up on Facebook the other day, I wanted to pretend he is still there. I almost posted the Happy Birthday message.
I have another cousin in Florida who chats to our dead relatives regularly. I am not sure how long they hang around for, but it was of some comfort after my Mum died to be advised that she was at peace.
I hope you have a wonderful send-off for Jane. She sounds amazing and it’s only fitting that she leaves you all celebrating the fact of her existence and your good fortune to have been a part of it. A reminder to make every moment special.
And long may her energies resonate in your life, leaving those little surprises when you least expect them.
💖
Aww thank you Sarah, and thank you for sharing those stories, I'm sorry for your losses, too. And wow, you have internet in Australia too, no wonder jane used facetime! x
🤗
BTW - I LOVE your collage!
Awww thanks, Sarah x
I love the comment that the death doula made that Jane was living more like a monk than a monk, or more like a nun than a nun. That's a profound thought and makes me feel differently about those I've loved who died in similarly difficult circumstances, after long and debilitating illnesses.
Thanks for this, Anna. I hope Jane's funeral goes to plan – I'm sure with so much love and care having gone into it it will be a really special occasion.
Thank you, Wendy. And yes that thought from Thea was amazing, wasn’t it. I’m glad it made you reflect on some of the people you’ve lost, too.
Absolutely, Anna. I particularly thought when I read that of my late aunt, who I wrote about last week. She lost movement and speech after a stroke, but lived another two years. So much time to contemplate. I hope she was imagining a better place.
❤️
This is all so moving. Everything you’re saying and doing and feeling is paying your friend the highest compliments. You couldn’t do better by her, the way you honour her. Please be proud of yourself, especially tomorrow, for that.
I had a dance for Jane to that beautiful song just now and also for my friend Trudy who I lost two year ago to pancreatic cancer. I think of her every day and have held on ever since her diagnosis to being grateful we can eat / drink / do what we like that our friends couldn’t and we owe to them and to ourselves to live happily and freely. Bawling now obvs.
I hope all goes as well as possible tomorrow and wish you well xx
Oh thank you for having a dance for Jane and Trudy, Anya, and you are right, we must do all of those things for them x
Thank you for sharing your precious friendship, and Jane, with us. It’s a joy to get to know her through your words, even in this sadness. I just got up from my desk, played that tune, and moved. My goodness it felt good. Sending so much love as you prepare for Friday 🩷
Awww thank you, Louise! I love that you did that ❤️🙏🏼
What an eulogy...jane would be/ is very proud of you...sharing her wisdom. It is a legacy is it not...all of us who were even unaware Jane was in the world. Controlling life such a fallible human trait we all fall for .... Lots of love to everyone who is grieving andvto you all on Friday Xx
Thank you so much, Lucy, and yes, we do all fall for this idea of control, until we are forced to give up the pretence x
Thanks so much for sharing, and will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Thank you, Caroline.
What a beautiful track 🥰. I had a little kitchen jig with our dog to honour Jane. Your piece reminded me to be grateful for what we have; a way of thinking that I’ve lost sight of recently. I was very moved by your words about Jane’s challenges especially towards the end and how she tried to find peace and acceptance in her everyday struggles. I am so glad to think of her being free now and love the idea that as well as sending signs from the natural world, she’s also making the most of digital opportunities to stay in touch! I do hope it is a true celebration tomorrow for you all - I’m sure it will be if Jane has masterminded it - she sounds like quite a woman!!!
Awww thank you Rebecca, I so appreciate your words — and your jig! Xx
I’m laying here on the couch, uncomfortably propped with my neck crooked against a pile of not yet ironed laundry. And trying but not quite able to imagine just how much letting go Jane had to do within her body as it gradually ceased to work for her. I’m glad you’ve been able to collage for her celebration and get to take comfort in that activity.
Sending Love for the celebration of Jane’s life xx
Thank you Sarah, but what I’m wondering is, were you inspired enough to do the ironing? X
hahaha no I WASN’T ! But I have to today as there’s a birthday, a boyfriend and some unmessing to achieve about the place. My big gal is 25 💜
Oh happy birthday to her!
I imagined all of us dancing with you as I listened, after reading Anna 💕 There are definitely phones in ‘Australia’…. I’m grateful every day that my mobility returned, although at a much lower level. I’ve always thought about how the way I have to live to manage my illness is like 24/7 mindfulness, and at some levels it’s a hermit like discipline so I really resonated with what Jane’s death doula said, and oh the importance of talking about mortality, death and allowing everyone the choice to die how they choose to die when life in a body draws to an end. Sending you love 💕x
Thank you Jaimie, and yes, thank you for pointing out that they do have phones in ‘Australia’ xx
Wonderful words. She's still with us, through you. And acceptance is so powerful. I'm dancing.
Awww thank you, Anna! X
Strangely I was writing about acceptance this morning, and how it can give us a kind of power when everything feels out of control, and then this post came in ❤️ Such a beautiful testament to your friendship and to Jane and to all the experiences you shared with each other, in person or remotely. Her work with Thea sounds so valuable. Sending love for Friday. It sounds as though it will be a great celebration of Jane x
Thank you Sasha, don’t you just love these synchronicities, they remind us we’re on the right path x
Yes ❤️ and yesterday I suddenly had a wild dance around my kitchen for no apparent reason. Need to do more of that
Absolutely!!
Sending love as always, Anna. I'm sure the service will be everything she planned and that it'll be a celebration of her life and the wonderful relationships and friendships she had. Xx
🙏🏼❤️ thank you, Lindsay xx