Judy's on the Lake

We met at Judy's house for Quartet this month and she lives in a house that overlooks a small lake that is nearly covered this time of year with lily pads.
We sat out on the deck and ate sweet cherries from a yellow pottery bowl, a delicious dinner and blueberry buckle for dessert.

Then we each read some of the writing we've been working on. Ali recently lost a close friend who was in her 50's when she died from cancer. Ali was freshly back from the funeral out of town, and read the eulogy she wrote, which was so touching and sweet, but also really good writing.

It's funny how some of the best writing comes when you are in the middle of an emotional time. Ali and I talked about this at lunch a few days later.... how this kind of writing comes straight from the heart when you are feeling too vulnerable and weak to put up the usual walls and do the self-editing that comes automatically when we think about things too much.

Ali's friend was lucky to have someone who cared so much and was so talented that she could send her off with a beautiful sentiment that perfectly captured her personality. I hope I'm that lucky when it's my turn to go.