Friday, December 30, 2011

Death fairy.

Hello Jubblers,


When I shared my love of the little red riding hood doll it made me remember the death fairy.


This story begins with my aforementioned Aunt Edie. She was my hero and more of a mother to me than my own. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer she taught us all so much. She was prepared to die and talked very openly about it. Discussions took place about what her last breath would feel like and how she wanted her body handled. She was a knitting rockstar. She took her knitting to church, classes, the theater, in the car, on the toilet, in the bathtub and to bed with her when she died. She even knit hats for babies that hadn't even been born yet. The thought of bestie babies being born after her death not having her knitted gifts was not acceptable. Edie asked me to be with her when she died. I lived in Missouri and she lived in California. We talked on the phone everyday. I would ask her, "when am I coming?".  She promised me she would give me 2 weeks notice. I wondered how a person knew 2 weeks before the day they were going to die. When she called with the date I quickly purchased my airline ticket. This was Sept 11, 2001.  She wanted me there on Sept 21. 


Death fairy.


A very good friend of Edie's was a doll artist in Marin county California. She made dolls that were so luvvly jubbly you would go crazy when you saw them. Leigh made death fairies that would be suspended over your bed as you died... they would protect you, guide you .... bless your path towards the light. She would fashion the doll in your style.....coloring/hair/favorite dress/wings...bob's your uncle.
I did NOT want the death fairy hung until I got there. On Sept 17 I got a call from Edie. She apologized and said she would be dying very soon and would miss me being with her. At 11:00 p.m. that evening she left us. 


I was sent the death fairy. I don't have her out but I did take some photos of her.









I think most dolls look weird but this concept of a fairy hanging out with you at the end is pretty wicked.








Above is Edie with her husband, Brook. (my son's namesake)




Ta, xo J

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful doll.... Beautiful story. What a treasure to have always with you.

    Love you
    Dulcy

    ReplyDelete