Thanksgiving Blessings, November 26, 2020
Laura's battle with metastatic breast cancer ended on June 15, 2020. You knew her as "Maria," and the author of Just Eat Your Cupcake, Too. She absolutely loved writing, and yes, she liked using a form of her middle name when writing.
She and I knew the journey we were on. We found our "golden years" to come too soon and be too short. We tried to live every day fully. It was a difficult yet sacred journey. She passed somewhat unexpectedly, if that makes sense.
Those of you who reached out after her passing, thank you. Those of you who wished for more, I'm going to see what I can do. Laura left behind all sorts of writing. Poems, stories, journals . . . plenty of material for me to merely input and click "Publish." It helps me feel close to her, even now. I like her writing.
If you are up to jumping back, I'll be posting material regularly as best I can. I welcome your comments. Thank you for taking this ride with me. It seems like Thanksgiving is a perfect time to start. Go get your second piece of pie, and let's see what's in the archives!
Peace to all,
T
TOWL PARK JOURNAL, DAY 31, NOVEMBER 22, 2016
THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS
A rainy, dreary day, but as my Dad used to say, "good for the grass." It is amazingly still green. I drive to Towl Park and ponder setting out my chair, as it seems to have stopped raining. Before I can think too much, the rain begins to pour down in a torrent, and the decision is made for me. So, I sit in the car.
One unlucky man was out walking his golden retriever as I pulled up. He was down to the bridge when it began to pour, so yes, bad timing.
I stopped in the store today and saw that everyone's cart was full of Thanksgiving products. Cans of cranberries and sweet potatoes. Some fresh yams, jars of marshmallow fluff, and of course, turkey everywhere.
I'm trying to find things to feel grateful for this year and have found a few things. I am grateful for my wife, for a nice home, and the fact that I will never go hungry. If I want something and it is within reason, we buy it. It doesn't get much better than that. I may be sad and mad at the electoral college in my country, but I am never afraid to walk outside. I know so many fine people. People who care about others first, and themselves second. People who refuse to just sit down and pout but immediately start planning their next move. If I get bored, I have good books, movies, and documentaries at my finger tips. I have the time to spend an hour at Towl Park most days and write. I spend many an entire afternoon at the library. I know how lucky I am.
This Thanksgiving, I plan to give thanks for what I have and put my trust in over half of my country. I'm not walking alone out here, and I have been truly amazed at those who have come forward to let me know we stand shoulder-to-shoulder and vow to always do what is right.
Someone close to me told me that I only had to listen to Leonard Cohen to know that "There is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in."
This comforts me. I'm learning to see past the dark and find those cracks of light. Nothing is fully lost here. It's just temporarily misplaced.
I feel hopeful on this Thanksgiving. I feel the luck in me to have the good life that is mine.
And thank you so much to the many people who are teaching me to stop pouting and to start fighting back.
Looking for those cracks.
Thanks for letting us know🕊
ReplyDeleteT, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss. I have been reading "Maria's" blogs for well over 10 years. She had such a beautiful way with words, her writing has been an important part of my life. Love and light to you and your daughter xo
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteT. I'm sorry for your loss. Inadequate words for a really shitty state of affairs. I have been reading since the days of the yellow backgrounded, original blog. I was delighted to find the story of your family again. Thank you for taking the time to drop in and update. Although I don't know your family personally it's been lovely to get to know your family through Maria's stories. Wishing you all well. Steph x
ReplyDeleteSort of knew that’s what had happened. Look forward to seeing more writings. Have been following since the original blog. Remember when you visited Japan. Unfortunately didn’t get to meet you. You even came to my town! Hoping it’s inwards and upwards for you in 2021.
ReplyDeleteI'm a 20-something lady from New Jersey and I read this blog feverishly for years before the hacker took down the old Blog. Unfortunately I hadn't kept up and I just read this post now. Thank you, T, for letting us know. Maria/Laura's words painted a beautiful and realistic life that I could get lost in. She was such a gift to the world and I'm grateful I can still revisit her world through these blogs. Sending lots of care and grace.
ReplyDeleteI'm deeply saddened to hear of Laura's passing. I stumbled upon JustEatYourCupcake ten years ago when I'd just started university and it was the first time I'd ever, ever heard anything about queer women who were just normal- not fictional or celebrities but just living a happy, normal life. It was a lifeline for me, it was my comfort reading whenever I thought I wouldn't ever dare to come out, let alone dare to try to find love, it was a much needed reminder that I wasn't alone. I'm glad that I did get round to leaving a comment to that effect and that she was able to know what an immense help and support her writing was for a sad, scared girl across the atlantic. If it hadn't been for her blog, I'm not sure I ever would have found the courage to come out- and then I'd never have met my own partner. I am so very grateful to Laura for how much her writing helped me, and the world is all the poorer without her. My most heartfelt sympathies to T and to the rest of her family and friends.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. I just found this blog after going thru the old one and hoping to find more of her work. Her writing warmed my soul.
ReplyDelete