Readings from Jon's celebration of life on April 29, 2012
The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams
so much depends upon a red wheel barrow glazed with rain water beside the white chickens. |
"For if Jack Buggit could escape from the pickle jar, if a bird with a broken neck could fly away, what else might be possible? Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, and that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery."
- excerpted from The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx |
A love note from Sabrina
This letter was written in February of 2012 as a valentines day expression of love from Sabrina to Jon. After reading it, Jon expressed how touching it was. True to form, he also approved of the way it was written.
Why do I love you?
I love you because you like words. I ask you what something means and you always have an answer.
I love you because you are so generous. You have taken my children as your own. You have cooked, cleaned, scolded, corrected, nurtured, provided and supported them even if when they have not been nice to you, and you have never reminded me or them that they are not your own and that you did not need to put up with them.
I love you because you are so planful and organized. By watching you and by living with you, I have learnt to plan, to be organized, to be on time.
I love you because you are so wise. You always give me good advice, you make me see others’ perspective, you hold me in check when I am too impetuous, you help me moderate my words without saying anything, and you help me see beyond my immediate reaction.
I love you because you have fortitude. You do not complain or demand when you do not feel well. You keep going with your life and mine, marching ahead against the setbacks, showing me that life is about overcoming its petty mishaps and pains.
I love because I feel so loved by you. You have been so open and strong about your love for me and you have made feel valued and appreciated, thus, being with you has made me more lovable and valuable. You bring the best out of me.
I love you because you are my best friend. I am more myself with you that with anybody else and I can always show you the worst of me and I know you will take it and still be there with me. You supported me through the hard times of my work, my schooling, my children, my mother, my life. You have supported me through my happy enterprises, career changes, school projects, diets, and anything else I come up with.
I love you because you have taken such good care of me. In fact, you are the only other man besides my father who has taken care of me. You have made feel protected and supported and I know I can always rely on you.
I love you because my life has been so much more comfortable, and colorful, and nicer, and relaxed, and I have been so much happier with you, so much that I could even start a happiness project!
I love you Jon.
Why do I love you?
I love you because you like words. I ask you what something means and you always have an answer.
I love you because you are so generous. You have taken my children as your own. You have cooked, cleaned, scolded, corrected, nurtured, provided and supported them even if when they have not been nice to you, and you have never reminded me or them that they are not your own and that you did not need to put up with them.
I love you because you are so planful and organized. By watching you and by living with you, I have learnt to plan, to be organized, to be on time.
I love you because you are so wise. You always give me good advice, you make me see others’ perspective, you hold me in check when I am too impetuous, you help me moderate my words without saying anything, and you help me see beyond my immediate reaction.
I love you because you have fortitude. You do not complain or demand when you do not feel well. You keep going with your life and mine, marching ahead against the setbacks, showing me that life is about overcoming its petty mishaps and pains.
I love because I feel so loved by you. You have been so open and strong about your love for me and you have made feel valued and appreciated, thus, being with you has made me more lovable and valuable. You bring the best out of me.
I love you because you are my best friend. I am more myself with you that with anybody else and I can always show you the worst of me and I know you will take it and still be there with me. You supported me through the hard times of my work, my schooling, my children, my mother, my life. You have supported me through my happy enterprises, career changes, school projects, diets, and anything else I come up with.
I love you because you have taken such good care of me. In fact, you are the only other man besides my father who has taken care of me. You have made feel protected and supported and I know I can always rely on you.
I love you because my life has been so much more comfortable, and colorful, and nicer, and relaxed, and I have been so much happier with you, so much that I could even start a happiness project!
I love you Jon.