Remembering

We met today at Chicopee Ski Club. Melodina's sister and brother in law Harmony and Mike were there. Indira and I were there along with our grandchildren Hannah and Carter. My sister Ellen came and skied with us. It seemed to be the right place to be today.

One year after Melodina died we were at the ski club where she learned to ski and where she spent many years summer and winter training to become an internationally ranked ski racer. Chicopee was a place Melodina loved; it was her playground. It was a place I always felt was safe for her. Everyone knew her and everyone looked out for her. It was like a second home - an extended family.

We saw many old friends who knew Mel and in some cases had taught and mentored her. It brought us comfort to be in the place she loved so much, participating in the sport that meant so much to her. A groomer asked where Melodina was. He hadn't known she'd died. We hadn't known that he knew her. He told us his fond memory of the young skier who would wait at the bottom of the hill shaking with anticipation, waiting for the groomers to finish preparing the slopes and put their equipment away. She wanted to be the first one up the lifts and the first one to ski down the hills. Her enthusiasm had somehow left an indelible mark on him. It was as if Melodina's presence on cold winter mornings served to remind him of the purpose behind his job, of the joy he gave people by fulfilling his mandate. Melodina affected people that way. She valued everyone and everyone tended to get something intangible but valuable from her.

Later we had dinner at Harmony's house. Indira lit some candles and Hannah enquired about the purpose. (Hannah had coped with her aunt's death by imagining that she had turned into a fairy) Harmony explained to Hannah that it was one year since her Auntie had died. Hannah said "Oh, its the birthday of a fairy." We all cried and wondered at the wonderful thought of a five year old child that death is really a birth day.

I'm home now writing this to share with everyone who reads this blog. It has been a sad day; a year of firsts is over. It has been a comforting day with many of those who loved Melodina together, family and friends. It was a day I will remember as being appropriate.