Friends who are there for us.

The five friends who met each month with Jackie, met at her house yesterday for the sad job of picking up the things the family wanted moved out of her studio. We had our brave faces on and just pitched in. Jaxx's husband, daughter and granddaughter were there and all were gracious and showed us some early pics, one of J and her Hub back in the 2nd grade, standing with just 3 kids in between them. Who would expect them to make a lifelong commitment and a family?
And we saw their wedding pic. when you meet someone later in life, we all met when we were 60ish - except a couple of our group are younger - anyway it's hard to picture Jaxx with a beehive hairdo, all blonde and looking like Doris Day. sweet.

We took everything to Susanne's carport where we sorted into piles for the Children's home, thrift store, dumpster, and things for each of us and our art groups. We'll be sharing a lot of what was there. In just a few hours it was done. Some of her altered books were there, and one of our old collaborations and other things she had made. We sat for awhile and just passed them around and thought about her. Each of us has one of these things for our own now.

There was one more pile of things that need more careful sorting, which are going to Wendy's house where we will meet next month. Then we'll have more time to mull over what to do wit them.

Today I put her things that I brought home into my studio. Most things were integrated but her hand carved rubber stamps, which I will be using, are in a special box. They mean a lot to me as we started carving together, and she used hers on cards she sent me, and in her altered books. I fancy her spirit will stay with me in the studio and in the garden.