These mosaics aren’t about my sister, per se — more about clearing out her apartment. The first four pictures show how she lived. The second four, the clean up.
As of this morning, it’s done. Keys handed over. Inspection performed. Cancellation of lease signed.
There were a lot of people at the housing office. Bundled against the cold. Stacking and restacking all the papers they’d brought. Proof of this. Proof of that.
It wasn’t lost on me that to each and every one of them, my sister’s death represented a boon — a chance to move up a slot on the waiting list. My sister was on that list for eight years. Waiting. Wondering. Whenever she’d trot out her conspiracy theories, I’d push back, “Nah — we’re just waiting for someone to die.”
I’m thinking the blue cross in my new quilt piece (more of a doodle than anything) might represent aid coming from unexpected places (a blue cross being a less recognizable symbol of aid than a Red Cross). The bird and flying insects represent freedom. The underlying thought is that it’s too bad my sister had to die for me to be free. It wasn’t the route I would have chosen. And my problems didn’t set it up that way.
In other fiber news, I added an external pocket to my denim travel bag for my phone. Yeah! Also, the pennant I contributed to Mo‘s project, “I dream of a world where love is the answer” has flown home, along with tokens. In particular, I love the little white star. Thank you, Mo!
And lastly, the woman who taught the Indigo workshop I attended in 2014 down in South Carolina, Donna Hardy, posted this on Instagram this week.
I am shipping off a heavy weight cotton rectangle with a simple resist that came from Africa. It’s an honor to be part of this project, too.
Mo Crow – Sydney, Australia – I am an illustrator & bookbinder living in Sydney Australia with the spirits if Old Man Crow wordsmith & musician and our bossy muse Ariel P. Cat
Mo Crow
Sorry to be a bit distracted and kind of “elsewhere” in response to the return of the pennant and the tokens. I was anxious about getting the death certificate which did in fact arrive in the same post. But you should know that getting the package from Australia really did blow me away — the care of everything being wrapped in lace, the thin strings tying it all up, the postcard and the silk pennant. You are a shining light, Mo, and I’m so happy to know you.
Whew! What a job to clean up your sister’s apartment, and how wonderful it must feel to be done. There is freedom in that accomplishment alone. Congratulations! The larger implications of being freed by the death of another are so hard to extract from their entanglement with familial memory, love and duty that it is difficult to talk about, especially with someone outside the circle. I wish you the joy of your release. Fly away to Italy and enjoy yourself thoroughly.
Love the look of your bag’s photo pocket, and congrats on finishing cleaning up your sister’s apartment! Quite the accomplishment and, I’m sure, incredibly cathartic. Have a great trip!
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(((Dee))) I just put these photos of your beautiful pennant coming home over on the ripples post
https://itscrowtime.wordpress.com/2019/04/04/the-ripples-of-love-as-the-pennants-and-talismans-fly-home/
PS good to hear your eye is feeling much better, have a fab time in Italy, you deserve it!
Sorry to be a bit distracted and kind of “elsewhere” in response to the return of the pennant and the tokens. I was anxious about getting the death certificate which did in fact arrive in the same post. But you should know that getting the package from Australia really did blow me away — the care of everything being wrapped in lace, the thin strings tying it all up, the postcard and the silk pennant. You are a shining light, Mo, and I’m so happy to know you.
Whew! What a job to clean up your sister’s apartment, and how wonderful it must feel to be done. There is freedom in that accomplishment alone. Congratulations! The larger implications of being freed by the death of another are so hard to extract from their entanglement with familial memory, love and duty that it is difficult to talk about, especially with someone outside the circle. I wish you the joy of your release. Fly away to Italy and enjoy yourself thoroughly.
Thanks Dana. It is complicated, isn’t it?
The blue cross is what the United Nations uses, but I think about Italian sunsets tonight and this old spiritual : [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veiJLhXdwn8&w=560&h=315%5D
Such a big job, completed! Yay! xo
Love the look of your bag’s photo pocket, and congrats on finishing cleaning up your sister’s apartment! Quite the accomplishment and, I’m sure, incredibly cathartic. Have a great trip!