Beautiful Jan. Your reflections in the last paragraph reveal so much longing and honor for the two women who, unbeknownst to each other, shaped you indelibly. I also really resonate with this earlier reflection: “While I recount some the things that have happened on my journey so far — the frustrations, the near misses, the coincidences — I find myself making connections as if I was interpreting a dream. In the retelling I am able to appreciate more the unexpected things that have happened and joke about the missed moments.” As you’ve reflected on this journey through writing, I imagine a similar thing happened? Connections and understanding revealing themselves after the fact.
Thanks Kimberly, it’s so good to read your comments. Yes, the process of reflection continues even now or maybe especially now as I keep working with the text to bring it to the reader. There’s a sadness too knowing that the journey is almost at its end, that I’ll be leaving my two mothers behind to work on other things. Heading over to your page now. I’ve missed reading your words while away in India!
Beautiful Jan. Your reflections in the last paragraph reveal so much longing and honor for the two women who, unbeknownst to each other, shaped you indelibly. I also really resonate with this earlier reflection: “While I recount some the things that have happened on my journey so far — the frustrations, the near misses, the coincidences — I find myself making connections as if I was interpreting a dream. In the retelling I am able to appreciate more the unexpected things that have happened and joke about the missed moments.” As you’ve reflected on this journey through writing, I imagine a similar thing happened? Connections and understanding revealing themselves after the fact.
Thanks Kimberly, it’s so good to read your comments. Yes, the process of reflection continues even now or maybe especially now as I keep working with the text to bring it to the reader. There’s a sadness too knowing that the journey is almost at its end, that I’ll be leaving my two mothers behind to work on other things. Heading over to your page now. I’ve missed reading your words while away in India!