They broke the mold when they made her - as my Mother would have said

This post has been a while coming…and I'm not just talking about the delay between December 1st (my previous post) and now.

A very good friend of ours, Virginia—Va as she was known, died earlier this year. It was something that was coming too, so not a surprise. But still…

A week or so ago I saw, as I walked around town, a man wearing a hat with Tweety emblazoned in yellow on it. Another day—a woman wearing a bright, festive, red sweater. Just last week I was in a hardware store of all places, buying a power strip (for it seems we can't have too many, or enough) and as I stood waiting in line my eye caught on a packet of salt water taffy.

Tweety was one of Va's favorite cartoons and she had brooches, earrings, a sweater, all of the bright yellow bird.

Va wore bright christmas sweaters. And bright green ones, with shamrock earrings, for the High Holy Day, as she called St. Patrick's Day. She enjoyed holidays. A whole-hearted, big-hearted, enjoyment that spilled over on all her friends.

Salt water taffy? We'd visit the Russian River each year and, in Jenner at the mouth of the Russian River, there's a souvenir store with lots and lots of the 'stuff' you typically find in such stores. And salt water taffy. Which we'd buy for Va.

A great cook, a natural storyteller, a joyous and warm human being, who embodied the love of being embodied. She referred to her drive across the country, taken many years ago, as her incredible journey.

This Christmas Va will be much missed by her children and the many friends she left behind in many parts of this country.

I just hope, in fact I truly believe, that her last incredible journey was more than even she could imagine.

A Rich and Rare Land

A Rich and Rare Friend.

The land? Ireland. The richness referring to the wealth of wit and words, in this case represented by poetry.

These words are complemented by paintings hailing from that same land. In some cases, one in particular, from the same family. William B Yeats is joined in the book by his brother the artist, Jack B Yeats.

The friend? That would be Va. Richness in this case referring to her wealth of story, art, fun, skill in the kitchen(!) and so much more.

The same Va gave me the book that shares the title of this entry — A Rich and Rare Land.

When I got home I opened the book and was lost to friend and foe for the next...period of time — I couldn't tell you how long.

The words. The words. Ranging from Seamus Heaney to translations of Turlough O'Carolan, from Jonathan Swift to John Millington Synge, from WB Yeats to Katherine Tynan. And then there's Patrick Kavanagh — of Raglan Road fame.

The art is no less evocative but my ear is attuned to the lilt of the language. It brings its own warmth.

Poetry does that to me. The sounds of that rich and rare land of Érin do that to me.

As does friendship.