Dances with our Beloved, Doris

RantWoman


RantWoman again draws Friends' attention to dear Doris, a STALWART at Friends Committee of WA Public Policy Steering Committee meetings during Quarterly Meeting. This past time, Doris just beamed as she arrived. Seeing her made RantWoman SO happy there was much waving from the Recording Clerk.
Even more delightfully, RantWoman was assigned to room with Doris and her youngest sister Florence. RantWoman is feeling deprived because Little Sister's medical matters are more tiresome than average right now; RantWoman was touched just to soak up octagenarian sister vibe. The sisters giggled for 10 minutes when RantWoman confessed that if Little Sister were around, she and RantWoman might stay up all night giggling.

RantWoman is also holding tenderly reasons each shared with RantWoman that she worries about / frets over / just thinks the other sister is maybe a little batty. Please hold tenderly the thought from Facebook "Thank you for ordering the Crazy Cat Lady Starter Kit"  and the point that someone MIGHT not find that funny.

RantWoman did not really ask to have a roommate who needed to go to the hospital late on Saturday night; RantWoman is VERY grateful to lots of Friends who stepped in to handle different pieces. The stepping in is part of why Quarterly Meeting seemed so well held--in spite of....

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Invitation to Serenade Doris, who it turned out was not long for this world.
Why:
Because we love her
Because she loves us
Because music speaks to her heart
Because our hearts long to ease her journey
Because she cannot visit with all of us

What:
Gather and sing
songs from the Quaker song book
(extra copies will be there to share)
Sign the memory book
You may bring cards or poems to other items
to slip into the book if you like
Bring instruments if you are so inclined and can follow the music

When:
Date:   Friday, May 3, 2013
Time:  Singing will begin at ~ 6 pm.
(You can still make the Peace vigil at the old Federal Building from 4 
- 5
pm)

Where:
Outside Doris' home

How
CAR POOL and park a ways off -
please reserve parking near her home for handicap accessibility

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Finally, from Doris' daughter
Dear friends and family,
Please pass the word that Doris passed over, peacefully, around 11:20  p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013. We tried to compose a "To:" list, hoping  that each of you who receive this, will know others who will want to
know, and pass the word.

This morning, she felt better than she had in days, and was sitting up  smiling, lots of energy around 9 a.m. But she was still extremely clear that she did not want to embark on any kind of hospitalization. She just
thought that because she was feeling so much better this morning, perhaps she had a few more days to say her good-byes. But she also expressed, many times, in the past several days, what a wonderful, full life she had had, and how she was ready to go.

One of the last experiences she was awake and alert for was a "serenade" by Friends and friends, who gathered in her backyard at 6 p.m. Friends hymnals were passed around, the window was open, and Doris's little cat Sunshine sat on the windowsill and looked -- a bit astonished! -- at the gathering. Mimi Freshley led the group with her guitar.

About thirty people began singing; as the minutes passed, more and more joined in, until there were nearly 50 people standing outside her window. As each person passed by the window, she could see their faces.
She smiled and waved.

The caregiver who was present with her in the room said she'd never seen anything like it,  in all her years as a caregiver.

I was so privileged to receive hugs and blessings on her behalf, afterwards, as well as flowers and cards. Later that night, when she became very sleepy, I read all the cards aloud to her. I think the love came through.

Later in the evening, I talked to her softly for about an hour, remembering good times, treasured moments, and then sang lullabies, as her breathing grew quieter and quieter. I knew immediately when she moved into the Light. "Go toward the Light, Mom," I said, as if she didn't know. "I love you." As if she didn't know.

You have all been blessings to me and to Doris, in her latest adventure. One thing I always honored about her was that she kept changing, kept growing, throughout her life. And now I see she still is.

In Love, Peace, and Joy,
Virginia