I've lost my friend

I met Carol Parks a number of years ago online (just over a decade ago, perhaps?), and then in person, just a couple of years after that.   She came for my first class of the Artfest week, that year, and stayed for all the others- even though that meant paying twice for each of those two subsequent days, since it was too late to switch.  We connected, clicked.  She was beautifully crazy, and she shone with incandescent light.  Over the past four years, we became closer friends and I came to know Carol as a force of nature, a woman of grand gestures and ideas, of wild creativity, and sage advice.  I loved Carol.

And, now she is gone. 

I found out a few days ago, and since then, there is this hole, this space, this echoingly empty place in my heart that my mind rolls around to, where I think of her, and I cannot fathom that she isn't going to be in her chock-full-of art home, she isn't going to be emailing her latest fabulous ideas or her latest crazy news, we aren't going to screech with laughter, or cry tears of loss together.   Because, now the tears and the loss are mine, and she, beautiful spirit, has moved on to her next adventure.

My heart goes out to her tribe of friends, and to her daughters who have had a year of sorrow, losing their grandparents, and now their mom.

 

Comments

[Tony]

I'm sorry

[Kathryn]

I cried when I read this post. I'm so sorry you lost such an amazing friend. May you find some comfort in the memories of the time you had together. Big hug.

[Sally Calligan]

What a nice tribute to her. My sympathies.

[Christine Kalina]

Such a loss, and so "young". What a creative spirit!

[Syd]

You described her so well. I will miss her too.

[Jolande]

Oh LK I feel so sorry for you, sending you a big hug.

[Ann Somerset Miles]

I too am so sorry to hear this and will be thinking of you, and your friend's family.

[misty]

i am so sorry, lk. it's so hard to put into words, but you did so beautifully.
sending you many hugs & much love. xoox

[Loretta]

I am so sorry to read about Carol, LK. Hugs to you.

[Briana]

I am so sorry for the loss of Carol Parks. Thinking of you and her loved ones.

[Melissa]

I think of Carol sitting on her patio with colorful flags fluttering in the breeze behind her as she types a poem on her red typewriter. Everything in her art filled house reflected her creativity and her desire to share that joy with everyone. I will think of her when I do an art project with a child, make a valentine and email encouraging words to a friend.

[brenda shackleford]

So sorry to hear of your loss. I sometimes find this passage comforting in such a time. I hope it helps:

****

Death is nothing at all. I have only
slipped away into the next room.
I am I, and you are you. Whatever we
were to each other, that we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name;
speak to me in the easy way you always
used. Wear no forced air of solemnity
or sorrow. Laugh at the little jokes we
enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me,
pray for me. Let my name be ever the
household word that it always was. Let
it be spoken without the ghost of shadow
in it. Life means all that it ever meant...
there is absolutely unbroken continuity.
I am waiting for you — somewhere near
just around the corner. All is well.

***

Quote from In Lieu of Flowers: A Conversation for the Living by Nancy Cobb

[Carin Wallace]

So sorry to hear this. I was just thinking about her and wondering how she was doing. She was such a joy to talk to and I have been missing her creative space and energy. Years ago she missed Artfest because of her health and she sent me an e-mail to meet through this wonderful online space. I will think of her every time I look at my artfreak button.

[Renee]

So very sorry for your loss. I will think kind thoughts for those who loved her.

[Tina]

Oh, I've long looked forward to meeting her. I'm so sad!

[Dusty]

I'm sorry. I think she must have packed a lot of living into a too-short life.

[Mary Beth Shaw]

Oh LK, such a lovely tribute, I feel sure she is smiling at you from somewhere. I wish I had been able to meet her.