You are missed...

On the fourth anniversary of Cherry's death, I will post this essay again in her honor: Dawn Chorus

How did 4 years go by so fast? And why am I not surprised that I woke up at 4 am, before the birdsong, to jot down a few little notes about my newly-submitted manuscript, to write out the homeschool learning objectives for my children, and find the perfect pair of beach shoes for our upcoming Honduran adventure?

I can just hear you reading over my shoulder, about the manuscript, whispering about economy of language, and shaping the right turn of phrase, encouraging me to be my authentic self.

And about the kids, I think that's the hardest, because you would love them so much... you would absolutely love who they are becoming. I hope you're watching. 

And about the shoes, I can feel your emphatic squeeze of my forearm. You're saying, "Oh, honey, they're fabulous!" 

Cherry and Max at the piano, 2005