“The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination.”—Maya Angelou It’s three years today since my friend – my family – Donimo passed. In the weeks leading up to her death she tasked me with finding words about beauty and nature. Closer to her leaving she asked for meditations on spirituality and death. […]
Forget-Me-Nots for D today and thinking of her on May 12th International Awareness Day (and month) worldwide 2022. 💙💜
All text taken from The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. I wanted to make a poem about Donimo from The Summer Book, it being a favourite book for both of us. I was quite amazed when I reread it how many words and phrases jumped out at me and spoke to me about Domino – […]
Today is May 12th, 2021 International Awareness Day (and month) worldwide. I am dedicating this day and month to Donimo. 💙💜
These are two images I drew as this first year came to a close. They are part of a series I’ve been posting on Instagram (@sarah_leav). I usually include words in my comics but when I made these it felt like I didn’t have any. Ideally I would want these two pages to be read […]
April 21st, 2021 I drove out to Ruth Lake this afternoon, just a year since Donimo left us. I wanted to remember her in the place she loved… and see if I can still find her there… The day was much like it was last year, grey and cloudy. The ice a bit further off […]
Today some of us in Donimo’s immediate care circle gathered at her grave to mark one year since her passing by MAiD. Her partner Sarah suggested we create a collective “ethical will” for D. An ethical will is the legacy of values, experiences and lessons passed on by a person to their family and community. […]
Last night I spent some quiet time remembering you. I made a batch of that chocolate pudding recipe you shared with me more than 10 years ago. I stirred in some marshmallows, instead of butter, for more “richness” and added another marshmallow for garnish. I knew you wouldn’t approve, but you would have smiled knowing […]
As the cherry blossom comes out again, I miss you. I miss discussing words and deep thinking with you. I miss appreciating beauty and sharing small daily sustenance. There have been so many moments this year I wanted to tell you about, get your thoughts on, laugh or cry about with you. Nothing can stay the same. I see myself changing. I feel you alongside me, as well as the space you have left.
(A line from a poem by Jackie Kay, which I read after you died, and it feels like it will always be true)
