Presence

I first met Charlotte Garrett this past summer at Hyperion Espresso, a downtown coffee shop here in Fredericksburg. Charlotte was a writer, a poet and an artist. She had lived for many years in New York City and upstate New York but was a daughter of the South having grown up in South Carolina. At age 75 she even retained the soft drawl of the genteel southern belle.

The Poetry Workshop of the Fredericksburg Center for The Creative Arts was her pet project. She seemed to like a few poems that I had written and was constantly urging me to write more which I never did. She always seemed disappointed and gently chiding when I told her I had nothing new for her to read.

Last night her daughter called me at home. She was calling to tell me that her mother had died on Tuesday the 2^nd of January. For some inexplicable reason Charlotte had taken a liking to me and had me on her “notification” list.

The last time I saw Charlotte was as I was heading for the door on New Year’s Eve at our down town coffee hang out. She came in bubbling over with the story of her Christmas trip back to upstate New York, her old home stomping grounds where she had spent the family holiday.

When I saw Charlotte that New Year's eve, I greeted her with a hug and the requisite Happy New Year greeting. Her eyes lit up as she answered my question about her Christmas trip. Instead of sitting back down with her and listening for a bit, I went ahead and left. Of course, had I known that she would be gone in a few days, I would have stayed. I wish I had. 

The point of all this is presence, being present to the people around you. We never know how much we can give with our time and sadly we only find out when it is too late. That is the sorry debt of not being ‘present’ for someone, for not recognizing their need for your presence. I’ll miss her.

Comments

[Susan]

That is, unfortunately the way it generally goes. Sadly we often forget how fragile life is, and that sometimes those distracted nods, and answer may be our last with the person we are too distracted to see.

Your tribute of her memory and what impact she made on your life is outstanding. Maybe now you will honor her memory even more by following her wishes when she was alive and present in your life by writing more.

You really should, you know.

[Alain Jourdier]

Jim,

Your heartfelt tribute does Charlotte a great memorial and a strong reminder that death often catches us or those around us when we least expect it. Thanks for sharing that part of your life.

[Pam]

Jim,

I agree with both comments posted on this - especially Susan's observation about your writing.

This was a very special piece and tribute you wrote.

I enjoyed reading it so much that I shared it with friends and family.

Presence ...you said it so well....a great reminder to those who read it to "be in the moment" and to appreciate "the moments".

Pam