Belated Gratitude…

Dear Deb,

My partner and I joined you for RADIO SILENCE this past autumn just before my aunt passed. I've thought about the experience with you quite a bit since and have drafted numerous emails in my head, getting stuck about it, as written words don't feel like the right offering. This season has been very deathy and grief stricken and I have felt debilitated at times. When I think about your offering, I am reminded how grief can be generative and I feel so inspired by that possibility. What a gift you are offering by sharing your story and this embodied sound experience. I've reflect on your son's memorial in those woods quite a bit as well and appreciating some of the lessons on impermanence. One of my students died tragically at just 30 years young a couple months ago, just after my aunt died, and I was in touch with her parents feeling that impossibility of despair, wondering how they will go on, holding space for my other students, my co-trainer, and feeling both full of death stamina and also curious about what to "do" with all of it aside from just being in it, how to turn it all into something the way you have. It is such a gift and I want to thank you deeply for sharing it with me and my partner Tracy (who brought me to experience this as a surprise date of sorts). So much more I could go on about, other inspirations, living and dying practices and grief stories, but I'll leave it here for now. Thank you so much for sharing your story and modeling what generative grief could look like and become. Much appreciation for your generosity in sharing. -Tam (JP Resident and MassArt Alum 1997-2002)