A Letter to Helen
You’d be 35 now. Had you stayed here longer, who else would you have served? Where else would have traveled, my friend? If not for that stupid brain tumor, what other lives would you have touched? And, of course, what trouble would you have gotten us all into?
You told us to “get it in ya.” It was your way of telling us to life each day to the full, find the joy in each moment, do something totally absurd and unexpected. We still say that — “get it in ya” — especially on Oct. 18 of every year.
Here on Earth, you were often looking down the lens of that Canon, weren’t you, Helen? Some of my favorite photos were the ones you took in Senegal, when you were serving in the Peace Corps.
And today, I love looking at old photos of you. Most of the photos, as Becky once said, show you with a “wide, open-mouthed Muppet-like smile.” The one above shows you more subdued, studying something at the other end of the lens. Wonder what it was.
What’s it like now, Helen? What do you see through the lens? Wish you could send me a photograph. I always liked to see things from your perspective.
Back in September, Reed, Becky, Colleen, Diane and I took a photo of our feet — of all things — while we were stomping grapes at a winery near Decorah. Sure doesn’t seem like a complete photo, though, with your foot missing from the snapshot. (The Amazing Grapes post ). We missed you there, Helen. We always do. We haven’t forgotten you.
Get it in ya, girlfriend. In your honor, we will!
Ok my friend…I am going to call that Blog "A Letter to Helen" bawlfest 2008…you never cease to amaze me as always & just when I need some lifting up…you do it with your amazing grace & style…in true Jennifer form! I cannot wait everyday to read what you post…I check as often as I can and with much excitement to read what my friend wrote…ah ha, something amazing again! You rock girl friend now go…get it in ya!
Your Frassy sister in life & in Christ…
Tracy L Werner
Beginnings are hard, endings are sad but what really counts is what is in the middle!
I can’t even get my quotes right…sorry!
Beginnings are scary, endings are sad but what counts is in the middle!
Scary not hard!
Awesome! Isn't that what we all want to do with Jesus? "Get it in ya!" Great post – makes me think of an opportunity I missed for a friend of mine whose passing occurred 10 years ago last month – make that 11. As always, your post makes me think!
Grace & Peace,
Chris
Awesome! Isn't that what we all want to do with Jesus? "Get it in ya!" Great post – makes me think of an opportunity I missed for a friend of mine whose passing occurred 10 years ago last month – make that 11. As always, your post makes me think!
Grace & Peace,
Chris
Excellent. I lifted that pic from the daily group on FB and think it captures that quiet side of her, the side she seldom let us see. She was somethin, that girl. What a hole she’s left . . . but we feel her, in our laughter and our tears.
xoxo
Thank you for letting us peek into her life.
Gordon Atkinson from the High Calling hear. Looking forward to reading you.