Sandy loved fireworks. She captured these while at Mary's house for the July 4th party (June 27th). You can hear Sandy talking about enjoying the pool as she sat on the side watching the fireworks. I remember thinking "they are just fireworks - why is she videotaping them" but that was Sandy. She found beauty in the smallest things. Even on drives while I was focused on getting from Point A to Point B, she would go "did you see those flowers there?".
I first met Sandy in the year 2006, ten years and for me over a million miles ago. It was a sunny Jacksonville day when our life paths intersected. That brief encounter ended with a simple hug, a warm embrace. As I watched Sandy drive away in her car, it struck me that warm embrace had a familar feeling, as if it was from someone I knew a very long time ago. Sandy and I always stayed in touch and over the years our friendship grew and we developed a very strong bond to each other.
Sandys spirit is a wonderful combination and mixture of the gentleness and kindness of an old soul, sprinkled with a childs curiosity, encapsulated with the natural beauty and grace of a Goddess. Sandys beautiful smile was illuminating. When Sandy smiled the dynamic in the room changed, always joyous, for everyone present.
We shared our beliefs and interests. We were blessed we were both good listeners. We truly enjoyed each others stories. Sandy shared my love of music.When we were together we did things like going to the flea markets Sandy enjoyed or me digging out my cranky telescope and we would be stargazing the infinity of the universe for a few hours. I truly admired the depth of love Sandy had for her parents and family. Sandy gave me a gift I will forever cherish, she instilled a belief of hope that went straight to my heart.
Though she rarely rode with me, Sandy really enjoyed feeling she was part of my journeys. Sandy was a night owl, so she really understood the mystique of when your day begins with a beautiful sunset and you steal away the night when most other spirits are sleeping, your days journey ending by daybreak. For Sandy, another day farther in her lifes journey, for me it was 500 miles closer to my lifes ultimate destination. We were nocturnal soulmates. The witching hour (3am) seemed to always be ours. This was true whether we were apart or together. We had great chats or conversations when apart, when together, it was not unusual for us to be at IHOP at 3am enjoying Sandys favorite chicken crepes with hollandaise sauce.
On a mystickal halloween we were helping each other with our costumes. Sandy told me " Okay, if I'm really going to become the 'Goddess of Hope', does that mean I will be able to become friends with all the other Goddesses? " I asked her, " You mean like coffee klatching at some Starbucks in the universe? " She responded "Exactly!" (laughs) I in return "Sweetheart, I can't answer that question!" (laughs) But if you knew Sandy, her question was sooooo Sandy! It was that beautiful combination of light hearted candor surrounding a very real curiosity. Moments like those I just found adorable.
Lifetime(s) from now when I am in my starship still stealing away in the darkness and the miles are in the billions, not millions. I'll still feel blessed Sandys spirit and mine forever entwined. Perhaps someday in a far away part of the universe, at some Starbucks, I'll see Sandy again with her Goddess friends and we will share a simple hug, a warm embrace, and start our friendship and bond anew.
The slideshow respresents some of Sandys favorite pictures from my trips. She loved the mountains, sunsets, rainbows, fall colors, insane weather, silly signs (Sandy "The Promised Land has a truck stop? That's hilarious!" Me..."Well, Promised Land, Pennsylvania does and it's the pits!" laughs!), always enjoying the journey! The first picture is from right outside Sandys front door of her home. The last photo, when Sandy first saw it exclaimed " THAT picture is art! It needs to be enlarged, framed and hung on the wall." She really liked that picture (Downtown Chicago I-90, 2AM, the fog already rolled in from the lake, lightly raining.) Hope you enjoy!
Here is a video that Sandy sent me on my birthday (2/24/15). Little did we know this would be the last video we would have of Sandy.
One of Sandy's favorite things to eat was "ijja". Of course, everyone knows" "ijja" tastes better when mom makes it for you. Mom would come over to make this in batches for Sandy. Sandy probably liked the visits more than the "ijja" and was using the "ijja" as the excuse. She wanted to be independent and live alone but she still needed the help so there were trips back and forth by mom and dad. I think we need a Family Ijja Day in honor of Sandy. Mom - are you cooking?
Sandy didn't go out much the past few years of her life. We would plan things but when you would go pick her up you didn't know how she'd be feeling. And she wasn't comfortable with her tank. But Mary was having her annual July 4th party and she agreed to go. She had agreed to go to many other things before so until she was in the car, we didn't really know if she was going. It was also hard on her as some of the cousins had not seen her with her oxygen tank. However, when she got there, she loved it. She felt great being out in the sun. She realized no one cared about the tank. It was her people cared about. She felt great!! She was out by the pool, relaxing, hanging out, doing things she used to do. Later that night she texted me to say thanks for taking her and told me it was "the best day she has had in so long - really, it was my best dayr". She repeatedly mentioned that day to me in later months so I know it was truly a gift of a day to her.
