Remembering A Sister

Photo: A Sister

 My sister Judi (Judith) would be 73 years old now. 

She died when she was 65 years old,

 8 years ago around June 22, 2015.

 

She was the older sister and we were not close.

Her estranged husband called my younger sister 

a month after the death to inform her

and that sister called me. 

It was 2015.

That is all I ever heard about her death.

She and I were never close and I was also was estranged from her.

I do not know if she was cremated or buried.

For a few years, I even wondered if it was a "joke" as she really could be alive somewhere laughing as she pulled a  great one over on me.

(yes, she was that mean)

That was until last summer.

I stopped letting ugliness yank me around

and called the department of health in the city where she lived.

The sweetest girl helped me, and I ordered Judi's death certificate.

I am honored to have all the information I wanted now.

Judi died alone, and her body found days later.

I know what she died of and 

how the coroner handled the events.

That's all I wanted to know.

The anniversary of her death is next week.

I will remember her in prayer and love as I have for the past 8 years,

but this year I will be able to remember her on the days of the anniversary.

May she rest in peace.

Love you beyond the moon.

Me

The Last Gift

Sometimes, old memories are the best.

It gives you a chance to escape back to happier times.

Since learning of the death of my sister, Judi,

So many wonderful memories have flooded back to me.

Here is my older sister Judi and me. Easter 1962.

Mother made our dresses and hats.

My sister, Judith Frances Stevenson Arthur

1949-2015

 Larry and I had a private memorial for Judi

on August 23, 2015.

It was a Sunday at sunrise.

 Larry and I went to Baby Beach, 

about a 5 minute walk from the cottage.

I carried the lei that I had in memory of her

and on a scrunched up piece of paper,

the schedule that I wrote out.

{I was frightened that I would forget my plans when emotions hit}

We wore shorts and bare feet.

The sun rose gently.

My heart beat in that same fast, sad, way

in the moments you know 

that will live in your heart forever.

The lei lay on a beach rock.

It was beautiful.

It was infinity.

It was the last gift that I would ever give Judi.

Judith Arthur.

Sister.

A few personal memories.

Prayer of Love.

Lords Prayer.

As Larry dedicated Judi's Lei to the sea,

We read the hymn, I Danced In The Morning.

{This hymn was sung at my Mothers memorial. It is my favorite}

I Danced In The Morning

I danced in the morning 

when the world was begun, 

and I danced in the moon 

and the stars and the sun, 

and I came down from heaven 

and I danced on the earth, 

at Bethlehem 

I had my birth. 

Refrain: 

Dance, then, wherever you may be, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, 

and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe 

and the pharisee, 

but they would not dance 

and they wouldn't follow me. 

I danced for the fishermen, 

for James and John - 

they came with me 

and the dance went on. 

Refrain: 

Dance, then, wherever you may be, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, 

and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

I danced on the Sabbath 

and I cured the lame; 

the holy people 

said it was a shame. 

they whipped and they stripped 

and they hung me on high, 

and they left me there 

on a Cross to die. 

Refrain: 

Dance, then, wherever you may be, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, 

and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

I danced on a Friday 

when the sky turned black; 

it's hard to dance 

with the devil on your back. 

They buried my body 

and they thought I'd gone, 

but I am the Dance, 

and I still go on. 

Refrain: 

Dance, then, wherever you may be, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, 

and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

They cut me down 

and I leapt up high; 

I am the life 

that'll never, never die; 

I'll live in you 

if you'll live in me - 

I am the Lord 

of the Dance, said he. 

Refrain: 

Dance, then, wherever you may be, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, 

and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

Larry and I stood on the sand.

God's sky was above us

 as we read the words of

the hymn, 

tears ran down our faces as we watched her lei float outward.

Larry took a picture, so I could remember everything.

He whispered: did her lei form a Heart?

I could not speak.

Then we both said, Goodbye Judi.

 This was our quiet goodbye to Judi.

My older sister.

Love you.

Me