Hey, y'all.
This is Kathleen's friend Mary Moon. I'm typing this on her computer and I suppose you know what that means. Our darling girl died this morning in her own bed with her own beloved man beside her, just as the sun was coming up on the most beautiful day you can imagine here in North Florida. Chilly, clear, gorgeous.
Her husband called me right at eight and I got here as quickly as I could. She was ethereally beautiful in death, just as she was in life. She looked incredibly peaceful and she died peacefully, in her sleep, just as she had hoped to do, in her own bed with her beloved beside her.
She was going to go to Hospice House today, a facility in Tallahassee to finish her journey, but I think she really wanted to die right here in this wonderful house, this comfortable and comforting nest which she and Bug built together with dreams, love, and damn hard work.
It is a HOME, filled with light and art and the dogs and cats. I am so glad she got to take her last breaths here.
I feel like I should say more, I feel like I don't have the words.
Just go back and read her own words that she wrote here.
May we all hold each other in mourning and in celebration. Kathleen's essence is now free and part of this universe. Of course you can't hold and kiss and dance and laugh with essence the way you can with a living person but if anyone could figure that out, it would be Kathleen.
She never wanted to call what she did "battling." She was not about war. She was about love. And I think she loved her life enough to keep on living which is probably why she stayed so long after her diagnosis. Did so much. Loved so much. Lived so much.
She was peace, she was love, she was dancing on the Solstice.
I'm pretty sure she still is.
And she would want me to say that she loved her life, that she was happy, that she was incredibly lucky.
And we are the lucky ones who knew her- that brilliant, amazing, wickedly funny, busy, wonderful, beautiful, beautiful woman.
Love...Ms. Moon
This is Kathleen's friend Mary Moon. I'm typing this on her computer and I suppose you know what that means. Our darling girl died this morning in her own bed with her own beloved man beside her, just as the sun was coming up on the most beautiful day you can imagine here in North Florida. Chilly, clear, gorgeous.
Her husband called me right at eight and I got here as quickly as I could. She was ethereally beautiful in death, just as she was in life. She looked incredibly peaceful and she died peacefully, in her sleep, just as she had hoped to do, in her own bed with her beloved beside her.
She was going to go to Hospice House today, a facility in Tallahassee to finish her journey, but I think she really wanted to die right here in this wonderful house, this comfortable and comforting nest which she and Bug built together with dreams, love, and damn hard work.
It is a HOME, filled with light and art and the dogs and cats. I am so glad she got to take her last breaths here.
I feel like I should say more, I feel like I don't have the words.
Just go back and read her own words that she wrote here.
May we all hold each other in mourning and in celebration. Kathleen's essence is now free and part of this universe. Of course you can't hold and kiss and dance and laugh with essence the way you can with a living person but if anyone could figure that out, it would be Kathleen.
She never wanted to call what she did "battling." She was not about war. She was about love. And I think she loved her life enough to keep on living which is probably why she stayed so long after her diagnosis. Did so much. Loved so much. Lived so much.
She was peace, she was love, she was dancing on the Solstice.
I'm pretty sure she still is.
And she would want me to say that she loved her life, that she was happy, that she was incredibly lucky.
And we are the lucky ones who knew her- that brilliant, amazing, wickedly funny, busy, wonderful, beautiful, beautiful woman.
Love...Ms. Moon
Oh no...so sad. Words cannot express how I feel. A light gone but yet still shining in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteMay she rest in paradise. I learned from her during her journey since diagnosis. I am glad she was able to go in her home.
ReplyDeleteI am sad she didn't have more time to enjoy the wonderful things in her life. I am glad she got to go in her home and didn't have to got to the hospice house. Gail
ReplyDeleteOur beautiful Kathleen. Such joy, such grace, such a great gossip. My heavens, we all loved her and will continue to love her. Can you imagine the devilish antics she and Colin will shower on us now? Mary, thanks so much for posting this.
ReplyDeleteLove, J&J
Beautiful. Well said. I love you, Mary. My thoughts are with you and with Bug and VERY MUCH with Kathleen.
ReplyDeleteSher
My condolences to Bug and everyone who loved Kathleen. I am glad she passed in peace in her home and that she is no longer suffering. Sweet Jo
ReplyDeleteMs. Moon I found Kathleen's blog through your blog. Thanks for this gift. You can become attached to persons like you and Kathleen without ever meeting or speaking to them in person. I am so glad she died next to her beloved Bug. My thoughts are with her husband, her dogs, chickens, ducks, and her many friends who will miss her. Thank you Ms. Moon for this lovely post. Bless Kathleen. Bless Bug!! LN
ReplyDeleteOh Mary. How awful yet wonderful at the same time. I'm so glad she died how and where she wanted to... so much love to you and Bug. A great loss, but how wonderful that you had the chance to know such an incredible lady, and that you were generous enough to share her with us x
ReplyDeleteI did truly feel honored to witness her path from diagnosis onward. She was such a solid, beautiful spirit. I will say a deep prayer for her later today, talk to her spirit on my run.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad she got to die peacefully in her wonderful home. What a gift. Thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember your soap making adventures and so many other fun times you guys shared and the way you wrote of her.
Thinking of her sweet husband too.
Rest in peace, Kathleen.
Hugs to you all.
I'm sad, but happy that her passing was peaceful with her husband beside her. Is there a better way to go than sleeping beside the man who loves you? I can't imagine it. My condolences to you, Mary. I know you loved her so. And my condolences to her husband and all her friends and family.
ReplyDeleteSending love to you Mary, and to Kathleen's other loved ones as well.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wise and loving words. I didn't know Kathleen, but wish I had. May she rest in the arms of the Goddess until her spirit is ready to fly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteSending light and love.
ReplyDeleteBirdie.
My heart aches for a beautiful ,vibrant , loving woman . Whom I have never talked to in person .She brings such light and beauty to a sad situation . I feel honored to have read her journey . Thank you Ms. Moon and Bug . May I send strength to you .Lovingly Debra
ReplyDeleteI only found Kathleen a few days ago, but I could tell she was special. I'm so glad she was able to stay at home until the end. I wish her friends and family peace and comfort. You wrote a wonderful tribute here to your dear friend, Ms. Moon. Well done.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye, dear Lady Kathleen! May you dance with the light of the sun and the moon, may the stars sing glory with you and may this lovely mama planet of ours hold you in her arms as you release from this wonderful lifetime you have had! Peace and comfort to your dear man Bug, what a joy it has been to witness your joy in him, and his in you. What a sweet gift to peek into your life via this blog. Many, many heartfelt thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLots of love from Carroll in Vermont
Reading the last sentence in her last post is the only thing that helps right now. Fly on silver bird, fly on. Much love from someone who was honored and blessed to "meet" you via the internet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mrs. Moon, for this post and the assurance that Kathleen had peace at the end. I'm glad she was able to stay in her beloved home and didn't have to go to the Hospice House. Her spirit and zest for life will live on with us for a long time. I am sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read this tonight. I've followed this blog for several months now, and really appreciated her love of the simplest things, and the happiness she found with her life and family and friends. Sending prayers for you and yours, Kathleen...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. She died the way she lived. Joyfully. On her own terms. Now she's flying free.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss, Bug and Ms Moon and all your families and friends. It is hard to lose a dearly loved one, no matter the circumstances. May you have peace.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this. My sympathy is with all of you. Kathleen was such a beautiful lady - inside and out! She has been an inspiration to all of us. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteAnother shining light leaves us & joins the stars while lodging in our hearts. Condolences to her beloved Bug. Ms Moon, do you know if there will be a service for Kathleen? Will she stay or go to Palmetto?
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed reading her words over the years, I will miss them terribly. I am sending light and love to all that need it. Thank you for letting us know.
ReplyDeleteI'll miss you, Kathleen. It was an honor to know you through your writing here. Adios
ReplyDeleteKathleen, though I've only know you through the ether of the internet, you brought so much wisdom to my life...how you would never "battle" with your illness, just walked with it instead, loving and being grateful for everything. I hold in you in my heart and send my love to you through the universe. Mary Moon, thank you for this beautiful post and letting us know she passed in peace. My condolences to Bug and all others who will miss her bright light.
ReplyDeleteI miss my mom so much. Only my mom for a few years but it doesn't take long to grow attached to Kathleen. Til we meet again. I will cherish you forever and continue to share your life with your grandchildren through photographs, readings, and memories. Love you.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- Kathleen's Celebration of Life will be on January 24th at three p.m. at the Monticello Opera House.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Kathleen was so clear in her posts how much she loved her life & Bug & you & the new house. So much she celebrated.
DeleteOh, my. I'm so sorry. She was a force of nature, a piece of work, and met the world on her own delightful terms. I am honored to have known you, Ma'am. The occasional lunch with you, the chance to catch up a bit, was the high point of meetings and trainings and the rest of the governmental folderol of our shared profession. The boys still have some of the gifts we bought; I saw the rain stick just the other day while visiting them for Christmas. I'm glad you got to enjoy our honey before you had to go. Rest in peace, Ms. Kathleen. I'll miss you.
ReplyDeleteSo shocking and sad to read of her passing,such a brave girl. We shared all the magical moments of her meeting her husband, her family visits and adventures, so much so, that we all thought she would over come the cancer** RIP dear friend. and thank you Mrs Moon for letting us knowxx
ReplyDeleteThis Girl was one hell of a Lady, and boy could she write!!! Right up to the last days, her words were of hope and happiness despite the awful pains.. what a trouper she was, and how much her friends and family and us from the ether world, will miss her and her blogs.. RIP Kathleen, thank you so much for sharing your precious life with us.. God Rest Your Soul.xx
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