Peshe

My friend Peshe is dying. I met Peshe in February of 2008 at an 8-week Phenomenal Women's Journal group in Portland. We clicked and remained in touch. Through the past three years, we've taken classes together, Peshe took a class from me, and I sat with Peshe as she underwent a round of chemo at OHSU. A while back, Peshe mentioned that she wanted me to have some of her art things, then a couple of weeks ago Peshe called me from hospice to say that she had sorted through her belongings and had a collection of stuff she wanted me to have. On Monday of this week, Peshe's friends Philip and Keith delivered the first of a couple of loads. I spent Tuesday afternoon going through the boxes and bins. I cried throughout most of the process because Peshe had not only shared amazing art supplies, but she entrusted me with all of her family photos and memorabilia. When I talked to her that evening, she said she knew that whatever she gave to me would find its way into the world, either through the sharing and use of the supplies or through my art work. I was told emphatically by Peshe to do whatever I wanted with the photos and documents - they were not to be treated as if they were precious. I snapped some photos as I unpacked the boxes - I wanted to record Peshe's generosity of not only her stuff, but of her spirit. This first photo is of the journal we made in our very first class together, complete with art, notes, and dreams.



What Peshe entrusted to me is almost too overwhelming, which I told Peshe when I spoke with her. She thanked me for being so whelmed.






















The words on this stamp pretty much sum up Peshe's life.