A neighbor turned into a dear friend after I came across her sitting on her stoop dazed. She had inadvertently disturbed a Wasp Nest and been stung with ferocity. We developed a deep friendship. She was decades my senior. We spent hours talking and walking very slowly around our neighborhood. She believed in me, supported me and was always happy to see me. She imparted a quiet wisdom, hard won over the course of her difficult life. When she died I was honored to be with her, caring for her alongside her partner. Though her death was not a surprise, I miss her deeply. She would hate to think about those wasps! But I am struck by the different ways we remember things, assign meaning to experiences and appreciate beauty even in pain. I made the wasp nest awash with all of these thoughts and feelings and it’s become a bit of an exploration for me.
