gone too soon....time is the greatest gift....

Yesterday... she was here preparing to make the final selection of her photos....
12/12/12...  early this morning before the sun rose...she was gone...gone too soon...
This incredible woman...wife...mother...artist... is gone too soon... my friend....the artist...
Lisa Marie Kelleher was driving on Route 37 at the Moots Run intersection ...
she... or someone... ran the stop sign and was hit by an oncoming semi-truck...
when I saw the photograph of her silver Camry I could not see how anyone could survive this collision.
John, her beloved husband, has survived and had surgeries on this day to put pieces back together...
can anyone put the pieces back together ?
Little Myles...their only son for 9 years... and been a friend of mine since he was three...
Little Myles is left behind ...motherless..and frightened beyond his years of life's experience.
Little Myles is the light of her being...her reason for living an authentic life...to make a decision to live her life as an artist.
I have cried... and stunned... I have tried to make some sense of this day...but when the phone call came from another friend....I could only question why?  Why?
How does one make sense of this day?  What is the  plan?   I want to believe.... and yet right at this moment ...I am so burdened with doubt... why is the only question in my heart.
Yesterday she was in my studio laughing...happy...vibrant and so looking forward to her exhibit with me and others...she was my emerging artist...my chance to let her light shine.
Lisa and I  were chatting and sharing our collaboration with the curator Lyn Logan-Grimes.
Now there is only darkness...darkness in my heavy heart... the pain is difficult to articulate...but the pain is real.
I searched tonight's sky...saw Orion's constellation...searched for peace and then came in to curl up with Ken.  Human touch...kindness ...connections... a quiet space between us with prayers and affirmations ...
the moment to search for understanding...gone too soon.
My eyes are burning with tears...why Lisa? So many questions ...and no answers.... I hope tomorrow will ease my pain as I will make plans to have the exhibit with Lisa's journey...her sacred marks ... revealed in her photography.  I am not ashamed to say I love this woman ...she was my friend and brought me great JOY.
Shine Lisa Marie.  Shine shine shine...
Imagine and Live in Peace,

Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

There are 1440 minutes in each day....make sure you give them your best.  
This photo shows Lisa with her hand open and upward....live the day to the fullest.