Here is the poem I wrote today.

For House Zmayhem.

We need
Flowers, fruit and seed.

We need
The turning of seasons.

All this is guaranteed
To Earth but not to us.

We crave the weight
Of Sacred fellowship,
The anchor of mind holding mind,
Of soul holding hard to soul.

So then we see
Beloveds' bonds as gravity.

Joy and love carry
Us along as cosmic dust rings
Around their planet's turning.

Meteor bursts the atmosphere
Pulling apart star stuff.

Each moment now is holy pollen
Seeding new cores, new galaxies.

Love's constant elements
Reform to hold new heavy Earths,
New seasons, flowers, fruit,
New weight effulgent.

I don't think our culture has a convenient word for these gatherings (yet?) but this has become one of my most precious rituals. All the outpouring of love and memory and grief-mixed-with-sweetness and so, so much support in all directions that's always the best part of a really solid funeral (no offense to the priests and rabbis and prescribed words and whatnot) -- but while the person is there to witness and receive it.

I'd say "more of this" but of course I don't want more of y'all dying -- I just want more of this absolutely blessed knowledge that -- for once -- we've had a moment to express all that love, fully cognizant of the context that we're in, and drawn by the need to be there for and with each other.

That's a really lovely way to put it. Very grateful to be a part of this community, and immensely grateful David was willing to share this time with us. Also mostly a lurker these days, but sending love to everyone. (It's not really a post until I edit it...)

Hello to all the lurkers (Betsy! Haven’t seen you forever, hope you are doing well!) and sorry I had to drop off. I’m glad she was able to hear and feel some of the love.

Just to share a small personal celebration: I just crossed the 10,000 word mark on a work of original fiction for the first time since November 2016.

Well done, Susan!

Love seeing the lurkers! You are my family and you have been missed.

I'm so sorry I missed the zoom call, but I'm happy to know the love of the buffistas is still strong and beautiful.

My heroes.

Today was a wonderful gathering of all of our love, and I'm of course also reminded of a similar gathering we had with amyth. I don't think our culture has a convenient word for these gatherings (yet?) but this has become one of my most precious rituals. All the outpouring of love and memory and grief-mixed-with-sweetness and so, so much support in all directions that's always the best part of a really solid funeral (no offense to the priests and rabbis and prescribed words and whatnot) -- but while the person is there to witness and receive it.

This is so much more meaningful, to me.

I hope the left casters are high and dry. Looks like Hilary was a sloppy mess. My coast is looking at Gert, Emily, Franklin, and a couple of unnamed tropical storms. The Atlantic storms are still being pushed away from the coast by the strong El Niño, so far so good.

A morning here feeling all the feels after spending time with Jacqueline and family, and so many of my Buffista family. Love to you all.

Thanks beekaytee for hosting and thanks everyone for coming together in support of JZ and family. That was lovely and sad and life-affirming all at once.

Everything you have all said, yes. So grateful for the gathering yesterday, and this community, and for JZ. And the whole Zmayhem family.