I met Marty at a Sufi dance at Seaside Center FSL in 2002. The dances were led by Robert Frey and MaryBrenda McQueen. What started then as a romance with Marty blossomed into a deep and lasting friendship. Marty was a very generous man and shared with me as he did with so many others, his time, wisdom, love of science, sense of humor and emotional support. He has guided me many times, up and out of the depths of a personal drama by reminding me of the words of the serenity prayer.
Marty was my computer guru, confidant, mentor and at times, mirror. He modeled for me, courage, in his willingness to step out of his comfort zone by taking courses or workshops in order to stretch and grow. I was a willing partner in many of his exciting travel adventures. Some of our trips together include scenic visits to Yosemite National Park, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon. In 2005 we embarked on an inspirational spiritual adventure, a trip to see famed healer John of God in Brazil.
One of Marty’s most outstanding qualities was his compassion, his huge, open heart. A few months ago I shared with him my difficulty in phone communication with a dear family member who is very hard of hearing and now in a nursing home in Massachusetts. Between his ears and my soft voice, phone conversations were difficult and frustrating for both of us. Marty offered to try and set up a three way phone conversation, so that he could, with his resonant and deep voice, repeat my questions and comments. This worked wonderfully well and we made several calls this way over the past few months. In December, Marty’s loving heart and support made it possible for me to visit the central Mass. nursing home and reconnect with this beloved family member whom I hadn’t seen in 17 years. I could not have managed this without Marty’s help. On our drive back to Boston after leaving the home, we encountered a snowstorm that brought 8 inches of heavy, wet snow. An iffy GPS and snow that covered every street sign made following directions very challenging. Since we couldn’t always tell when we had reached our turning point, we had to back up several times and try again. Marty’s patience and calm demeanor, “Soooo ... are we having fun yet?” and expert driving skills brought us safely to our destination and we were even able to squeeze in a fun visit with cousins before leaving Mass.
I feel so blessed to have had Marty’s very bright light help illuminate my path in this lifetime. I see him around me still, as I know others have around them. He is happy when I see him and very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve, but now from the spirit realm.