glimmer: a transition, a grieving time

I've been here in Ely for almost two months now. My co-worker and friend Aubrey joined us pretty straight away and due to other commitments, all important, can only stay until the 2nd of June. Aubrey (or Haubi or Aubit as she is sometimes known) has been on staff for three years. We have grown to be dear friends over these years and i have come to appreciate much of what she offers to the world (and to me as a friend).
This summer she has been my roommate - sleeping in the top bunk, sometimes with my cat pungkin to my envy, whispering (not so quietly) into the night and sharing in many adventures and escapades in the woods and in town. Aubrey is the one who formed with me the Haubi and Husni show this summer out of our desire to learn to use power tools and use them well.
This morning as Aubrey led singing during worship with her final group for the summer, i was able to enjoy her love of music and her gift at inviting others into that love.

A few days before Aubrey leaves i head home to Ohio for a week with my family. Tonight is our last night as roommates and we plan to celebrate and grieve. I will miss Aubrey dearly. One of the many things that i enjoyed doing with Aubrey this summer was planting the gardens, both vegetable and floral. Enjoy the pictures below of the planting of the giraffe flowers (sunflowers by another name).
Aubrey is heading off to Bolivia this August, to spend the year teaching traditional Jesuit music to folks in a community called, . I wish i could be a little bird and watch her as she teaches, as she learns and as she loves. Partly b/c then i could see, but also because she delights in birds. My thoughts and prayers will be with her...
and i will continue on here in Ely until the end of September...

walking with gentleness in other relationships and in my job here at Wilderness Wind. Even in the transition and the grieving, I overflow with gratitude.