A Year of Loss
This has been a year of loss, beginning with the sudden death of my son, followed exactly 30 days later with the death of my mother. Then a few months after that, my uncle, (her brother) died.
My mother and uncle were well into their 90’s, even though their passings were sad, at their age, it did not come as a surprise.
My son, however, was an entirely
different loss. Only 54, he passed away within an instant on an early Sunday
evening in March. Even as I write these words, I still struggle to comprehend the incomprehensible as I feel that sharp pain in
my heart and hollowness in my womb.
Images of him flood into me as I try to honor this pain and not become consumed by it, instead, holding it in the light and bowing with acceptance, but it is hard, no doubt.
Then today I learned Tony Fitzpatrick died, a true Chicago icon and legendary creative talent. Even though I did not know Tony, I met him at his studio several years ago. He was surrounded by energetic young artists he was mentoring as they were helping him turn his creative visions into his uniquely Fitzpatrick collages.
As I was introduced to him by my friend, who knew him very well, I was like a star-struck groupie, meeting a rock star in the creative arts arena. I had admired his work for decades.
