Fly away
A recent post chronicled the journey of a young woman named Meta after her death this past September. The journey of Meta and her family, her friends, those of us who are now privileged to know her story…. In addition to tens of insightful, heartfelt, touching comments that followed on this site, I received over 100 private emails in response to that posting – her story has touched us all.
One of those emails was from a woman who has written to me before, a woman who – in fact – was instrumental in getting me to believe that I could run a half marathon next April. An Olympic runner herself, Joan Nesbit Mabe took time out of her life and training to cheer me on months ago. My recent fall has put those plans on hold, but I remain indebted to her for her care and encouragement to this stranger, me.
Joan wrote after reading Meta’s story and sent a remarkable photograph, with the following note:
"Talk about ‘get out of jail free…’ I ‘found’ this graffiti art in Carrboro and just loved the shadows from the bars of the fence (I was outside of the patio where this bird is painted). I didn’t know exactly what this symbol meant in my life – I just knew that I was powerfully drawn to it – until I read your amazing post this week. Thank you for making connections for all of us! Humbly, Joan"
It’s an amazing image to accompany Meta’s story. I hope you’ll agree. I am intrigued by the word "mine," faintly seen to the right of the painted bird.
