Tribute to Ed

LITURGY FOR ED

Some things I’ll never forget.  How could I forget the way Ed offered us coffee and cookies when we went to his place to write?  We’d run out of coffee and Ed would offer to make more until we were all wired tight as a spring and popping up every few minutes to go to the bathroom. 

I don’t know why, but for some reason Ed represented both of my parents simultaneously: the “good father” that my dad could sometimes be, intelligent, articulate and kind, and also my nurturing mother who praised minor accomplishments and always saw the good, never the bad. My husband summed it up succinctly by saying that we respected Ed. 

Tonight, I am looking at my watch, and thinking of both Ed and my parents. The watch was inherited from my mother, and has a delicate paua shell bracelet and face, and I like the way it looks on my wrist. My other bought the watch in Australia. I got it in 1999 when she passed away but I only started wearing it this month, for the bracelet was too big for me. I admired it sitting there in my jewelry case, and when the watch I was wearing broke, I took my mother’s watch to Van the Jeweler’s and had a couple of links taken out.

Now I am looking at the watch, and thinking of Ed and remembering mom and remembering dad. Ed, you shine as softly as the paua shell watch. Yes, Ed we are like family and you are one remarkable man.

Janet Bellinger

c June 21, 2004