The Art of the Well-Lived Life
by Ruth Ann Harnisch on 03/09/10 at 6:55 pm
Day 68
That little gasp you heard was the sound I made when I signed on to Caring Bridge a few minutes ago.
It’s the second time today I got a message saying that one of my friends had posted a new update. The first one was such good news that I was going to base today’s post on his message.
In short, my friend’s doctor told him, “live your life.” The prognosis couldn’t be better. Maybe another time I’ll have more to say about what he wrote, encouraging us all to remember that everyone has a terminal illness called “life,” and that we shouldn’t wait to live our lives as if we knew that the end was near.
Sailing on such happy news, it was a terrible shock when I opened the second message to discover that my friend Nancy Saturn made her transition this morning.
There will be many words written about her lasting contributions to the artistic community, the philanthropic community, the sisterhood of pioneering modern feminists, the fight against cancer, the work to provide dignified end-of-life care, and the many other ways she made a difference in this world.
It was a privilege and a pleasure to know her. My life is filled with reminders of Nancy and her work. There’s not a day when my hand or my eye is not blessed by something that came to me through her.
She chose the circumstances of her passing, resting peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends for the last weeks of her life. There was much joy and good food and love.
Until the end, she was Nancy, as Frank Sinatra sang, with the laughing face .
4 Comments
Kay West
Mar 9th, 2010
I know. Harry heard me react when I saw it this morning. He was in his bedroom and came to my office to see. Unfortunately, it is the 4th time in less that a year that he has heard the same sound, for the same reason. She will be so missed by so many. What a special woman.
Teddy Bart
Mar 9th, 2010
My friend Ruth Ann tapped into the precise words to shine Light on the soul of a lovely and spirited woman, Nancy Saturn. May she rest in Peace.
Jonathan Harwell
Mar 9th, 2010
I’m very thankful to have known Nancy and Alan through their daughter and my old classmate Samantha. I didn’t know them well but they always made me feel as though I did. Wonderful people. My prayers to those near and dear.
kokoe
Mar 11th, 2010
Seems like passings are things you will connect from this point forward in your life. So good that you are taking your sabbatical now and not waiting around to live.
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