Remembering Anna Jane....
DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL
Death is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other
That we are still
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed
At the little jokes we always enjoyed together
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the household word that is aways was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of a shadow in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
There is absolute unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you for an interval
Somewhere very near
Just around the corner
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost
One brief moment and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott-Holland, 1847-1918, Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral on Whitsunday 1910, while the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster
My dearest Anna Jane,
You were one of my first friends on Nantucket, when I moved there year round in 1977. I was such a naive, green teacher who wanted to share my love of picture books with your eighth graders. You welcomed me in with enthusiasm and open arms! From then on we became great friends and colleagues. You were an exemplary mother, wife, teacher, and friend. Your boundless energy, positive “ can do” attitude, humor, selfless acts of kindness, creativity, political passion, empathy, graciousness, gentle spirit, work ethic, and absolute love for family and friends are qualities that made you stand out from the crowd, Anna. I have been your biggest fan for all the years we’ve known each other.
Your courage, strength, and dignity as you learned and dealt with cancer truly amazed me; your reflections on death mirrored my own. Some of my last thoughts of you as you were dying were that there will never be another sunrise or sunset that I see, that I won’t think of you, dearest friend. You were sunshine morning, noon, and night, as you lit up my life every time we talked! Thank you for being such a special friend always.
Your beautiful daughters have inherited your goodness, gentle spirit, humor, boundless energy, graciousness and love of family and friends.
What a privilege it has been to know you, love you, and say “Until we meet again.”
All our love,
Karla and Stephen ❤️💕xo❤️💕xo
Karla and Stephen Butler
Nantucket, Massachusetts
