A Toast

As if by magic my yellow Iris bloomed today. A fitting gesture, for these are the iris growing in the same garden bed as the lily plants that were given to me by my friend, Janice, some 8-years ago or so. Not only that, but Janice held a special fondness for the iris. This morning, Janice passed from this life. 

I met Janice in 1999, when we both enrolled in the Transformational Energy Healing class, along with six other brave and foolish, strong and fragile, amazing and beautiful women. Together, we disclosed, shared and learned more than any of us imagined we would about ourselves and one another. We all learned, validated and reinforced much from and for one another. Janice proved no exception.

One thing that Janice reinforced for me, and heightened to fresh definition is ... the nature of gratitude. I used to spend a good deal of time in her shop, visiting, sharing, shopping, and occasionally helping out at the register. Janice knew I was a wine drinker and one day she announced she had a bottle of wine and offered me a glass. I accepted. She poured me a glass of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. In a flash my wine snob evaporated and all I could do was laugh, say thank you, and share that I had not sipped this particular vintage since high school. 

So this evening, to celebrate the life of Janice, a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill was properly chilled and served in the fine crystal wine glasses that were my Nono's, and glasses were raised to honor the life and spirit of sweet Janice.

Cheers, my friend, my syster. May we forever be as one. Ashe. Ashe.