Don and I have lost two friends recently. Both of them lived in our area of the Hudson Valley.
Bob, who was about as good as they come, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) several months ago. It was quite advanced at the time of diagnosis and within a couple of months he was gone. It hit Don especially hard. Bob was always there for us, bringing his chainsaw to help us deal with a fallen tree, checking the brake line on Don’s now-gone car, one winter he helped Don unfreeze a pipe in the basement. Always giving, always kind. We can’t believe he’s gone; here one day and gone the next, much too quickly to take in.
Mery, who was diagnosed with Breast Cancer a few months ago, died on Thanksgiving. Mery owned and ran a café in Saugerties, NY called Café Mezzaluna. Don played there for Sunday Brunch many times, as have most of our musician friends. Mery was a great supporter of musicians, visual artists and writers. There were art exhibits on the wall. Poets read their work. Musicians played their music.
Mery was a force of nature and her spirit was pure and loving. Cheri, Mery’s partner in life, was by Mery’s side during her illness, all the while continuing to cook the delicious meals that came out of Café Mezzaluna’s kitchen. Needless to say, the community is reeling. Cheri is trying to buy the café so that it can continue to be a haven and joyful gathering place for everyone and there’s a fund in place to try to raise the money. If it fails, this wonderful place will be no more.
Cheri decided to open up the restaurant for brunch yesterday, so we drove up to Saugerties. I’m so glad we were there; to hug Cherie, to be a source of support, to mourn, to witness, to celebrate Meri and the business into which she poured her heart.
Bittersweet and very sad, yet beautiful.
We grabbed a few minutes after brunch and visited the wonderful used bookstore that is in Saugerties, Our Bookshop. I wrote about it in August on Just Let Me Finish This Page. I wanted to look at the vintage children’s books. I’m trying to gather some of my personal favorites from childhood. My mom had some lovely books that she read as a girl, then passed on to us to read, and somehow our estranged sister ended up with them. Mom had all the Anne of Green Gables series, all the Louisa May Alcott books, Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, and more titles I can’t remember. All from the thirties. All lovely editions.
So I try to buy them when I can.
I came home with Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery and The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion (A Nancy Drew Mystery) by Carolyn Keene. Don grabbed King Kong. (That’s my signed edition of To Kill a Mockingbird on the left.) There was a newer set of the Nancy Drew books in the shop but I didn’t like the binding or the look of them. The one that I bought yesterday is lovely.
And, on Saturday, some carpeting arrived for the dollhouse.
Actually, two runners. I got them from a wonderful Etsy seller, Maison de Petite. The runner that she was selling came in a wider width than my narrow stairs could accommodate, so she kindly reduced the size for me. But I underestimated the length, so I’m ordering 3 more – one that will cover the remaining steps and, since I like the look so much, two more for the stairs leading to the bedroom from the den.
Isn’t it beautiful?
Dollhouses become special worlds, don’t they? No sickness, no sadness, no too-young deaths, no heartbreak. They’re happy, carefree little worlds. I think that’s why so many of us love our little miniature havens.
New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.
Happy Monday.
It’s hard when people you are fond of suddenly aren’t there anymore. I hope your friend is able to keep on with the cafe. Loss seems to make this time of year especially difficult. We have organized a Christmas Social these past five years for seniors that are alone and I feel as though it’s been to my benefit hearing their stories.
I like your choice of colour for the stair runner in the dollhouse. Dollhouses certainly are a small haven – mine has proved very therapeutic in recovering from illness.
They are very therapeutic indeed, Barbara.
I am sorry about your friends. I think when a loved one dies during the holiday season, it makes it sadder and, for me, hard to cope with. My grandfather died on Christmas Eve, while I loved in Germany. I was 6 months pregnant and the airlines would not allow me to fly. I always regret that and Christmas Eve is always hard for me.
The carpet runner is so pretty. Dollhouses can be perfect, like you said. The sun can always shine and life can be so wonderful.
I, too, love the older Nancy Drew books. I love the older covers and the drawings. I also love the Hardy Boys books.
I actually went to a signing in Ohio about 10 years ago. Susan Wittig Albert was a ghost writer for some of the Nancy Drew books. I was there for my daughter, Ashleigh, to get her books signed for the Beatrix Potter series she writes. She is a very pleasant writer and very down-to-earth.
I hope you have a warm and pleasant day.
Hugs,
Deb
I’m familiar with her books and have read some of them. I didn’t know she was a ghost writer for some of the Nancy Drew books – thanks for the info!
My condolences to you and Don on the passing of your friends. From your warm words of how they lived their lives, they will most certainly live on in your hearts.
Indeed they will, Kathy. Thank you.
My condolences to you, and Don, on the loss of these wonderful people who enriched your lives.
Thank you so much, Susan.
I’m very sorry to hear about your friends’ passings, Claudia…they sound like very special people, and I know you will miss them.
I agree about the dollhouse…it is so lovely and is a special little world of its own!
I will, Linda. Both of them gone far too young. Thank you.
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your friends. It’s tough anytime…but seems more so at this time of the year. I hope your friend can raise the needed funds to keep the restaurant open…sounds like more of a gathering/performance place! The colors on your runner are so pretty…they look mighty fine going up the stairs. And yes, Caroline’s world is just about perfect…no death, no hunger, no violence, no politics….I’d like to retreat there sometimes. ;)
I think we all need to retreat there. Wouldn’t that be lovely?
So sorry about the loss of your friends. Some special people make the world better just by being alive! It is nice for us when we meet them and share their journey. I have met and lost a few like that. I never forgot them even after the passing of years. Meri and Bob will live on in your hearts.
They will. Their kindness and compassion and love of life will continue on in our hearts.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friends. It is never easy to people leave us. Especially when they are special people. People who are there for others. Some times I wonder why the good people have to leave so soon. They do so much good for the world.
I agree, Teresa.
I am so sorry for the loss of these good people..I do hope Cheri can keep the restaurant going..it sounds it would be a sad loss to many people..The stair look so nice with the carpet runners..I think a dollhouse is a wonderful way to retreat from the world..
I hope she can keep it going, as well. She’s a good person. To have to lose both Meri and the restaurant would be too much.
It’s hard to lose friends any time but the Holidays seem to make it harder..Glad the ALS was diagnosed late..that can be a long, hard trip..
I agree. That was a blessing of sorts.
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of friends. I find it to be a troubling aspect of life as we get older– to lose a family member, parent , grandparent, aunt and uncle is something we expect; but to lose a contemporary , a companion, a friend and peer— well it has a deeper meaning for us, I believe.
Praying for peace and comfort in your loss.
On the topic of childhood books– I find it comforting ; like grill cheese and tomato soup- to read them again! Enjoy
They are enormously comforting, Pat! I was just thinking of having a grilled cheese sandwich, too!
I love the vintage Nancy Drew books. I have quite a few from my childhood and have picked up other vintage books when I have happened on them. My twelve year old granddaughter has inherited my love of these books and actually prefers them over the more recently written ones! I love your new shelves. My best loved books are in a bookcase, but I have others stacked in several places. Need to follow your example and get some shelves.
It took a long time for me to get on that – but I’m so happy we have the shelves now.
I’m sorry to hear of the losses of your friends Claudia. We also lost two people this weekend. Basically the same story. One diagnosed with stage 4 cancer just 4 1/2 weeks ago died on Saturday morning. The other an elderly man from our church collapsed in his driveway the same afternoon after helping a neighbor who had fallen from his roof while hanging lights. So sad. It seems very unreal when you see the brightness of everywhere else in the world with the holiday season upon us.
It has truly taught me once again to enjoy and make the most of every. single. day. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your friends.
Blessings,
Betsy
My condolences to you and Don, Claudia. It’s hard enough to lose one friend, but two at the same time, and near a holiday? That’s doubly difficult. I guess the best thing we can do is remember the wonderful times, all the laughs and smiles and good talks and fun. Wishing all good luck for the cafe in Saugerties too. I have friends who’ve lived outside Saugerties for about 40 years, in an area that was called ‘High Woods’ when they first moved there. Way out in the country. But Saugerties is the nearest village and they consider it home, do their shopping etc there. I’m sure they’ve been to Cafe Mezzaluna. They’re in Boston for the holiday weekend right now, but next time I talk to them I’ll be sure to let them know about the cafe fund. They travel quite a bit [are in Boston at the moment] but I know they’d want to know about that. PS – did you see the “CBS Sunday Morning” feature on PD James yesterday?
I love your dollhouse, Claudia. My ten year old granddaughter asked for a dollhouse for Christmas and she wants me to help her decorate it. I have shown her photos of your dollhouse and she is so excited to begin on her own, which I found and purchased yesterday. We will definitely be using your dollhouse for inspiration!
And I am so sorry to read about the loss of your two friends. That is very sad. It is always so hard to lose those that we are close to….
I’m so sorry for the loss of your friends. Glad you had the chance to go to the restaurant to be a support to Cheri. And, of course, lovely that you got to visit the used bookshop again. I’m not into dollhouses (I was when I was little…don’t know how I lost that interest ) but I swear, the interior of yours is so pretty and charming that the photos make it look like a real house!
It is always sad to lose friends and especially those that have enriched your lives so much. I am so glad you were able to attend the brunch. Hugs to both you and Don. Love the carpet for the stairs!! The doll house is like a little dream isn’t it!
hugs,
Linda
I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your two friends. It is always so hard to say goodbye.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Oh Claudia, so sorry for your (and Don’s) losses. I hope things can work for the café to stay open. Just catching up again on blog reading after being away for several days. And will be out of commission again towards the end of the week. In so many ways it feels like deep winter already…and I am ready for Spring!!
It’s always very sad when someone dies too young. We all know someone – at least one – who has died early. Maybe cancer or some other sickness, maybe a tragic accident.
Love the additions to your dollhouse.