July 14, 2008
“Mother’s Day” Joy and her mom, Virginia (July 24, 2008) — Image by kenne
Now,
separated by time
on this Mother’s Day
there will be no
Mother’s Day call
only memories of
past calls and photos.
— kenne
The Woodlands, Texas, October 10, 2004 — Images by kenne
(CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE A LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.)
After Virginia passed away this past April, I began going through photos to have in a video. I thought I had identified all family images with her, however, recently I was looking for an old document and discovered untitled images misfiled in a folder, “Master Plan ISD.” I wonder how many others I may have misfiled.
— kenne
“Saying Goodbye I” — Image by kenne
— kenne
“Saying Goodbye II” — Image by kenne
— Federico García Lorca
“The Dining Room Table,” A Still Life — Images by kenne
In a little while we will be leaving Tucson, driving to San Bernardino to be with family as we celebrate the life of Virginia Chapman, Joy’s mother.
Since Virginia’s death, we have spent time reading Marie Howe’s powerful book of poems, “What the Living Do.” In a time of grief, her poems provide instruction for the living, one of which I share with those who follow this blog:
The Dream
I had a dream in the day:
I laid my father’s body down in a narrow boat
and sent him off along the riverbank with its cattails and grasses.
And the boat — it was made of bark and wood bent when it was wet —
took him to his burial finally.
But a day or two later I realized it was my self I wanted
to lay down, hands crossed, eyes closed. . . .
Oh, the light coming up from down there,
the sweet smell of the water — and finally, the sense of being carried
by a current I could not name or change.
— Marie Howe
Virginia Chapman On 85th Birthday (June, 2009) May she rest in peace! — Image by kenne
— kenne
With Virginia’s passing, the family and friends will not be celebrating her 90th birthday this June, at least not as planned. In lieu of our not being able to share her 90th birthday celebration, I share a video of her 85th birthday party celebration.
Virginia Chapman’s 85th Birthday Celebration, June, 2009
Jeri, Mother Virginia, Joy & Jody (July 8, 2012) — Image by kenne
It was just less than three weeks ago that Joy was in southern California planning her mother’s 90th birthday celebration with sisters, Jody and Jeri. This past Tuesday she returned, this time to her mother’s death-bed. This afternoon Virginia pasted away peacefully. She is survived by her eight children, many grand and great-grandchildren.
— kenne
