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Anam Cara.

In the early Celtic church an Anam Cara was someone who was a soul friend.  Someone who was a companion, a life counselor at the deepest level.  A friend who loved you beyond all measure.

I have had the great good fortune to be the love of someone's life several times over.  

In my case, our little family has always been filled with cats and dogs.  So we don't think of it as being a little family even though there are few of us people, but in fact it is a pretty good sized one.  There has always been great affection between all of us.   And some of these relationships were remarkable in the depth of love given and received.  These were the ones in which we shared dreams as we slept all in a huddle through the night.  We spent as much time as we could together and devoted our attention to the other's well being.  Because their joy was our joy and our joy was theirs.  

A few days ago my doggo Daisy who was my mongrel confidante, my twenty two pound beloved, and she-who-was-inseparable-from-me died.  It was a good death in that she did not suffer.   I was and am her favorite person in the entire world.  I treasure that honor with a joyful gravity.  Right now my house feels empty, but my heart is full.  As with the others, I will carry her love like a papoose in my heart.  We will meet again in the thin spaces between here and there, in our dreams and, I hope, after I release my own body.  An artist friend suggested we will meet in my paintings.  Now that is a happy thought indeed.  

But, as Ed said to me the other day...Right now, today, we who are here are all together and so it is a very happy day.  Let's enjoy it.

A Little Creek Runs Through It was painted in Daisy's favorite park with her in attendance.  While I painted she puttered about, rolled in the grass, ate some treats, took a rest and then went for a nice walk with me when I was done for the day.  Very congenial times indeed.  

I hope that you are the great love of someone's life too.  What an experience to be so exalted.  It makes us proud, keeps us humble.  It brings out the very best of us.  

With great love, affection, and joy...because today you and I... we are all together,

Jill Peckelun