Dear Carol, Suspending the blog seems right now. Reading your note makes it clear that this is a time of contracting, not expanding, focus. Besides, the blog has unleashed a flood that seems to be building, not abating! Even I woke this morning with a belkoom for Mike in my mind. Here it is, with much love to you both from John and me. May he go in peace. Audrey
Dear Mike,
You imagined choice ‒
A long swim,
No other voice.
But no, a slew
Of thoughtful tender beings
Is swimming with you.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Message from Margaret Fulton
Carol dear and family, I have just reread all the tributes to Mike and you. I can only repeat my love for you.
Knowing Mike's love of literature, I thought these few lines from Shakespeare at this time might be of some comfort for you:
There is Providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come;
If it be not to come, it will be now,
If it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.
I'm sure that Mike and you and all his many friends are ready. I am totally with you in spirit
Knowing Mike's love of literature, I thought these few lines from Shakespeare at this time might be of some comfort for you:
There is Providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come;
If it be not to come, it will be now,
If it be not now, yet it will come. The readiness is all.
I'm sure that Mike and you and all his many friends are ready. I am totally with you in spirit
Another From Rick and Adrianne in Cambodia
HI Mike, Carol and Alison,
Here we are in the middle of the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia, taking the clinic to it’s new destination on the Stung Sen River, it is day three and we are able to find internet... hard to believe. You are all travelling with us in our hearts and we know you are surrounded by family and friends and we wish we could be there with you if it was possible.
Mike you would laugh as Rick seems to find work to do on this slow boat/clinic and is constantly in motion, today it was figuring how to pump out the bilge by motor. You two have had many discussions together and spent time talking pumps and other Island living challenges. I wish you could have been on the shore when we were taking off, it was a bit of a gong show as the small boat that is towing us took off and those that were not coming with us were scrambling to get off the clinic and then the plank got caught and almost put the outside cooking stove through the wall. Then the clinic broke loose and we were adrift and Rick had to jump ashore and then he fell in to the water up to his waist, everyone yelling and pulling and jumping in the water trying to help. You can imagine!!!! Somehow Rick just can’t get away from “messing around with boats”.
We are sending you all our love and missing you all.
Adrianne and Rick
So glad Victor is there too, your trusted and constant companion
PS we do not know how to blog so are sending this the regular way
xoxoxox big hug!
Here we are in the middle of the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia, taking the clinic to it’s new destination on the Stung Sen River, it is day three and we are able to find internet... hard to believe. You are all travelling with us in our hearts and we know you are surrounded by family and friends and we wish we could be there with you if it was possible.
Mike you would laugh as Rick seems to find work to do on this slow boat/clinic and is constantly in motion, today it was figuring how to pump out the bilge by motor. You two have had many discussions together and spent time talking pumps and other Island living challenges. I wish you could have been on the shore when we were taking off, it was a bit of a gong show as the small boat that is towing us took off and those that were not coming with us were scrambling to get off the clinic and then the plank got caught and almost put the outside cooking stove through the wall. Then the clinic broke loose and we were adrift and Rick had to jump ashore and then he fell in to the water up to his waist, everyone yelling and pulling and jumping in the water trying to help. You can imagine!!!! Somehow Rick just can’t get away from “messing around with boats”.
We are sending you all our love and missing you all.
Adrianne and Rick
So glad Victor is there too, your trusted and constant companion
PS we do not know how to blog so are sending this the regular way
xoxoxox big hug!
Message from niece Sharon Matthews
I am thinking of the three of you, being brave together.
It is amazing that in this time of great sorrow, you bring people together and make art out of it.
Uncle Mike’s “g-ness” is spreading, even as his physical being is going in the other direction.
I echo what was said earlier – this world is a better place because of you three – your bravery and your powerful warmth and grace.
I am glad Uncle Mike cannot see me, barley able to type, a weeping woman at my computer. But there it is.
All my love,
Sharon
It is amazing that in this time of great sorrow, you bring people together and make art out of it.
Uncle Mike’s “g-ness” is spreading, even as his physical being is going in the other direction.
I echo what was said earlier – this world is a better place because of you three – your bravery and your powerful warmth and grace.
I am glad Uncle Mike cannot see me, barley able to type, a weeping woman at my computer. But there it is.
All my love,
Sharon
Message from Neil Smith
Like so many of us who care about you, we have followed the wonderful stories posted on the blog, and like so many of your friends, we struggle for meaning, question the lack of fairness, and try to make sense of what is happening in your lives.
But then we step back from our immediate sadness and we try to imagine your experience as you move from day to day. It is in this imagining that we recognize the incredibly special thing you have created together as a family; the strength, intensity and deep love that the three of you share.
As we read through the blog, your influence on the lives of friends and colleagues is evident in each and every story. Each writer’s life is enriched by your fierce courage, infinite energy and full commitment to building a better world.
Together, you have truly offered us the very highest of standards – whether they be measured by love, moral courage, or humour.
For that we thank you. Our hearts are with you ... Neil and Deidre
But then we step back from our immediate sadness and we try to imagine your experience as you move from day to day. It is in this imagining that we recognize the incredibly special thing you have created together as a family; the strength, intensity and deep love that the three of you share.
As we read through the blog, your influence on the lives of friends and colleagues is evident in each and every story. Each writer’s life is enriched by your fierce courage, infinite energy and full commitment to building a better world.
Together, you have truly offered us the very highest of standards – whether they be measured by love, moral courage, or humour.
For that we thank you. Our hearts are with you ... Neil and Deidre
Friday, 24 February 2012
From niece Leah
Dear Carol and Alison,
My sadness as I read of Mike's decline is profound, but it's tempered by admiration, wonder, and even laughter as I read the many messages on the blog, each of which captures Mike's essence in it's own unique way. What is also abundantly clear is the love the three of you have for one another and your strength as a family. All three of you are facing the unthinkable with inspiring bravery and dignity. It seems so unfair that the incredible love you have for one another should have to be disrupted, and yet I know it is the strength of this love which will get you through the dark times ahead.
With all of this in mind, I have a few more things to add to the list of 75 things we like about Mike. I won't bother trying to number them, because I'm sure others are also sending their lists. I fear I'm taking up more than my share, but I can't imagine anyone will object if there are more than 75 things on the list
That he married Carol (I like this for two reasons. It demonstrates that he was smart enough to recognize what an amazing woman Carol is, and it made him part of our extended family)
That he and Carol raised an amazing daughter
The way his eyes light up when he talks about Charlotte
That his profound love for his family is evident in everything he says and does
That he has touched the lives of so many family members, friends, colleagues and students
That he is, without a doubt, leaving this world a better place than he found it
Sending you much love,
Leah xoxo
My sadness as I read of Mike's decline is profound, but it's tempered by admiration, wonder, and even laughter as I read the many messages on the blog, each of which captures Mike's essence in it's own unique way. What is also abundantly clear is the love the three of you have for one another and your strength as a family. All three of you are facing the unthinkable with inspiring bravery and dignity. It seems so unfair that the incredible love you have for one another should have to be disrupted, and yet I know it is the strength of this love which will get you through the dark times ahead.
With all of this in mind, I have a few more things to add to the list of 75 things we like about Mike. I won't bother trying to number them, because I'm sure others are also sending their lists. I fear I'm taking up more than my share, but I can't imagine anyone will object if there are more than 75 things on the list
That he married Carol (I like this for two reasons. It demonstrates that he was smart enough to recognize what an amazing woman Carol is, and it made him part of our extended family)
That he and Carol raised an amazing daughter
The way his eyes light up when he talks about Charlotte
That his profound love for his family is evident in everything he says and does
That he has touched the lives of so many family members, friends, colleagues and students
That he is, without a doubt, leaving this world a better place than he found it
Sending you much love,
Leah xoxo
from Sharon Tillie
Hi Carol,
Please know that I stand as a member of that wider ring of people who have been touched by you and your dear Mike and I offer you the words of this old Irish Sun blessing:
May the Longtime Sun Shine upon you.
All Love Surround You
May the Pure Light Within You
Guide your way Home.
sharon tillie
Please know that I stand as a member of that wider ring of people who have been touched by you and your dear Mike and I offer you the words of this old Irish Sun blessing:
May the Longtime Sun Shine upon you.
All Love Surround You
May the Pure Light Within You
Guide your way Home.
sharon tillie
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