Janet was brilliant even as a child. It was us 4 older children that had to wash dishes for a week. That was great , Daddy and mother let us know we would have a month off.             How ever Janet thought of way where she would never have to be a part of choirs. She asked me to do her dishes I laughed and said no.               My brother Laverte who at that time we didn’t get along.  She called me and whispered you wanna get Laverte back?   Forgetting about the dishes , I said yes!!! She said here’s an egg he’s sitting under the window , throw it on his head. I said no ima get in trouble . She said no one will know but me. So I threw it.  She laughed and putting up one eyebrow said “ I’m telling mother” no I cried . She said will you do my week of washing dishes ? I said YES. . 

She reached out to so many.  I have to thank this site for the reminder emails.  The years and days pass by quickly.  She was gone too soon.  But somehow is not gone. I don't really believe that.  I just think we don't understand.  

I can't exactly recall how or where I first met Janet but it was definitely at a Loren Miller Bar Association Meeting, an organization of African-American lawyers mostly based in Seattle. It was the early/mid 1990s  and Janet was an associate at the large and prestigious law firm, Davis Wright Tremaine.  Janet was different, sophisticated yet earthy and sporting a 'fro when most of us black chicks were doing something else. To put it politely, Janet was not a "neat freak" -- clutter absorbed her tiny apartment back in the day.  She loved Chris Isaak and my abiding memory of her home is inextricable from his haunting songs. We hung out together a lot and then she was gone. Poof.  Somehow we reconnected briefly via email after I moved to Austin and she to Paris.  For work I traveled to Paris in the late 1990s.  We almost saw each other but didn't.  Again we lost track.  Every once in a while I'd hear a Chris Isaak song and ask myself, I wonder what ever happened to Janet McDonald?" In early 2008 I googled her, only to learn of her passing a mere few months before.  I had no idea of her life and success as a writer.  I'm so happy she found it and it found her. Janet's star will always burn bright and I'm so grateful I got to touch it.

10 years passed.  Doesn't seem possible.  Time to re-read Janet's books.  
 

I remember not believing that Janet was really going to transition over to where we don't know where, but if there's a heaven she's in it.  I had been an email friend because of a blogging site.  I wrote half-crazy stuff under a man's name.  She befriended me and then I read all of her books.  Before she passed she was reading The Life of Pi.  So I went to a bookshop so I could read it, too.  I then got the news that she passed.  I had finished the book.  I was so distressed, but forced myself to go to my tai chi class.  I said, "Janet, just let me know that you are okay."  

The tai chi teacher said, "Okay, class, we are going to do a new move today.  It is called Embrace the tiger, go back to the mountain."  I was shocked.  That was the ending of the book.  The tiger went back to the mountain.  I couldn't believe what I just heard, but I smiled and knew that Janet had let me know that she was okay.  I guess I'm still crazy.  That tai chi teacher had not given a new move in a loooong time.  So maybe it's all a weird coincidence.  

Janet would get a kick out of it though.  I liked that she liked cowboy hats.  I do, too.  She still makes me laugh out loud and cry tears, too.

    

I remember when Janet and I was skating in the back of the building.  Of course, Janet thought she was a pro in every thing. She tried to spin around on skates and she fell and slid right under the bench. We were so young!

Janet I miss you so much! I rationalized your absence from my life by thinking you were still  in Paris. But it's been too long now that you just haven't showed up like you used too. I love and miss you.