Your loving, poignant and utterly beautiful tribute to Ruby honors all relationships with inanimate things that embed themselves in the lives of us humans.
Oh, no! You're saying goodbye to Ruby? You said the time would come, but who knew you already had a replacement? I just hope Vinnie (he?) knows what he has to live up to. Wishing the two of you safe and happy travels. Let the adventures roll on! ❤️
Well, to be honest, I’m still in negotiations about Vinnie. Fingers crossed. It seems a good news.
But mostly, it’s become clear to me that, given the new status of my health, Ruby and I must part ways. She’s wonderful in many ways, but living in her means a life fairly rough around the edges. And my body is not up for that Right now.
And yes, to adventures rolling on. Yours and mine. The cruise sounded wonderful.
Oh the bittersweet -- I felt like this leaving a house of 20 years where I'd home educated 4 children, set up an indie press... it was a quirky house full of weird shapes and built into slatey ground -- leaving it was heart-wrench even to go somewhere I wanted to be and love. It was character and memory and sanctuary -- though not mobile like Ruby. Beautiful, evocative writing.
Oh Jan, I can only imagine how hard it would be to say goodbye to a house like that, so full of memories. I’m glad it was to go to a place you wanted to go.
Thank you ever so much for reading and commenting.
This is a beautiful goodbye. It took me over two years to unwind from my home of 30+ years. Writing helps, reliving those moments of presence and grief and adventure and comfort. It seems like Ruby was both container and companion.
“Reliving those moments of presence and grief and adventure and comfort”—this is so well stated. It really highlights one of the gifts of being a writer. I wonder, if I didn’t write, particular memoir / personal essay stuff, how differently I would reflect on past (and so present and future as well). Interesting contemplation for sure.
And Ruby was, indeed, container and companion.
Thank you, Julie, for seeing that and for reading and commenting. ♥️♥️♥️
Oh Holly... I actually feel like crying. Happy new travels Ruby... may you be loved and cherished and journeyed as happily onward as you have been... may the hearts that beat within you be as warm ♥️
I'm sad you must say goodbye to Ruby, yet I know you've loved one another well. And there are times we must make that parting, bittersweet as it is. Thank you for sharing your stories and your love letter to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed your ode to Ruby...it seems you loved each other very well. I look forward to you and your new wheeled casa getting to know one another...oh, the places you'll go!
Holly. Oh my. Such a love letter. I'm about to cry. Because it's about so much more than everything. This, "And then came the moon cooling and the donkeys braying and the bats balleting, and I slipped into silvered velvet hot springs." So lovely, so full of love.
Omg Holly! I live on the other side of the world and I’ve never even met Ruby, and yet, my god am I sad to see her go! This was an incredibly touching tribute. So much emotion poured into those memories. So much depth and joy for your times with Ruby. I loved this!
I remember ages ago I shared a post about the universe and the idea of panpsychism (consciousness is in everything) caught your attention, and you explained how you thought Ruby as a living entity. I feel she was alive, whether through panpsychism or through the life you breathed into her with your many adventures together. Either way, here’s to Ruby van Jangles!
Also, I loved this line: “I adorned its cracks with those little bejeweled thrift store plates, stuffed it with books, and hung crystals below it to throw dancing rainbows across every bit of you.”
Awwww, farewell sweet Ruby. Her womb, though now barren of your warmth, will always remember your adventures. I’m all in with animism and no doubt your tender care will rally her to soon share life with another lucky traveler.
Me too! I am excited to clean her out, give her a thorough washing, make sure everything is in working order, and start the search for her next adventure partner. I think she’ll make a lovely starter van for the right person. ❤️
Thank you thank you, Prajna. Sharing her and our adventurous has been more of a delight than I could have even imagined. And I was pretty sure it would be fun.
I so appreciate you reading and commenting . ♥️❤️♥️
Ohhhhhhh. I felt this tribute in a deeply personal way. Could not help but think of my Sweet Petunia, whom I’m longing for since the ravages of Helene and this winter journey across the Atlantic. I cannot wait to meet Vinnie.
All of these that you stated Holly: Time to move on, make a change, let go even though it felt the end of an era you were loathe to let go. Trying to do these very things… All the best for you, Ruby and Vinnie. We will be looking forward to the next adventure…
Your loving, poignant and utterly beautiful tribute to Ruby honors all relationships with inanimate things that embed themselves in the lives of us humans.
Thank you, Rona. Sometimes I think it’s a little over the top how much I can love inanimate things. But there it is. I do. ♥️
It’s because I love certain inanimate things that I mourn their loss.
"Dear Ruby" --a favorite essay about your travels and the photos are, as always, startling! The bison --wow!
A stunning love letter to your beloved companion. Happy travels to Ruby 🚐 ♥️ and you
Thank you, Veronika! ♥️🚐♥️
Oh, no! You're saying goodbye to Ruby? You said the time would come, but who knew you already had a replacement? I just hope Vinnie (he?) knows what he has to live up to. Wishing the two of you safe and happy travels. Let the adventures roll on! ❤️
Well, to be honest, I’m still in negotiations about Vinnie. Fingers crossed. It seems a good news.
But mostly, it’s become clear to me that, given the new status of my health, Ruby and I must part ways. She’s wonderful in many ways, but living in her means a life fairly rough around the edges. And my body is not up for that Right now.
And yes, to adventures rolling on. Yours and mine. The cruise sounded wonderful.
Oh the bittersweet -- I felt like this leaving a house of 20 years where I'd home educated 4 children, set up an indie press... it was a quirky house full of weird shapes and built into slatey ground -- leaving it was heart-wrench even to go somewhere I wanted to be and love. It was character and memory and sanctuary -- though not mobile like Ruby. Beautiful, evocative writing.
Oh Jan, I can only imagine how hard it would be to say goodbye to a house like that, so full of memories. I’m glad it was to go to a place you wanted to go.
Thank you ever so much for reading and commenting.
This is a beautiful goodbye. It took me over two years to unwind from my home of 30+ years. Writing helps, reliving those moments of presence and grief and adventure and comfort. It seems like Ruby was both container and companion.
“Reliving those moments of presence and grief and adventure and comfort”—this is so well stated. It really highlights one of the gifts of being a writer. I wonder, if I didn’t write, particular memoir / personal essay stuff, how differently I would reflect on past (and so present and future as well). Interesting contemplation for sure.
And Ruby was, indeed, container and companion.
Thank you, Julie, for seeing that and for reading and commenting. ♥️♥️♥️
🥰
Oh Holly... I actually feel like crying. Happy new travels Ruby... may you be loved and cherished and journeyed as happily onward as you have been... may the hearts that beat within you be as warm ♥️
Gah! Susie, this is perfect. I will pass this wish on to Ruby. And I do so hope to find someone that will receive joy and adventure from her. ♥️♥️♥️
I'm sad you must say goodbye to Ruby, yet I know you've loved one another well. And there are times we must make that parting, bittersweet as it is. Thank you for sharing your stories and your love letter to her.
I look forward to the next chapter.
Thanks, Paulette. I so much appreciate you reading and commenting. ♥️♥️♥️
I thoroughly enjoyed your ode to Ruby...it seems you loved each other very well. I look forward to you and your new wheeled casa getting to know one another...oh, the places you'll go!
Thank you, Eileen. I so very much appreciate you. ♥️♥️♥️
Holly. Oh my. Such a love letter. I'm about to cry. Because it's about so much more than everything. This, "And then came the moon cooling and the donkeys braying and the bats balleting, and I slipped into silvered velvet hot springs." So lovely, so full of love.
Thank you, Jocelyn! That was my favorite line, so I so much appreciate you pulling it out and highlighting it.
♥️♥️♥️
I love it when that happens! xoxox
Omg Holly! I live on the other side of the world and I’ve never even met Ruby, and yet, my god am I sad to see her go! This was an incredibly touching tribute. So much emotion poured into those memories. So much depth and joy for your times with Ruby. I loved this!
I remember ages ago I shared a post about the universe and the idea of panpsychism (consciousness is in everything) caught your attention, and you explained how you thought Ruby as a living entity. I feel she was alive, whether through panpsychism or through the life you breathed into her with your many adventures together. Either way, here’s to Ruby van Jangles!
Also, I loved this line: “I adorned its cracks with those little bejeweled thrift store plates, stuffed it with books, and hung crystals below it to throw dancing rainbows across every bit of you.”
:)
Awwww, farewell sweet Ruby. Her womb, though now barren of your warmth, will always remember your adventures. I’m all in with animism and no doubt your tender care will rally her to soon share life with another lucky traveler.
Me too! I am excited to clean her out, give her a thorough washing, make sure everything is in working order, and start the search for her next adventure partner. I think she’ll make a lovely starter van for the right person. ❤️
This is such a beautiful story thank you so much for sharing your love for Ruby. Amazing.
Thank you thank you, Prajna. Sharing her and our adventurous has been more of a delight than I could have even imagined. And I was pretty sure it would be fun.
I so appreciate you reading and commenting . ♥️❤️♥️
Ohhhhhhh. I felt this tribute in a deeply personal way. Could not help but think of my Sweet Petunia, whom I’m longing for since the ravages of Helene and this winter journey across the Atlantic. I cannot wait to meet Vinnie.
Beautiful, touching essay, as always, Holly.
Thank you!! Sweet Petunia. I adore that name. I wish comments allowed for photos. I’d have to request one.
I so much appreciate you being here. And I can’t wait to share Vince and all we get up to.
Some day, I should tell you the story of how she got her name. But her personality is not at all petunia. I look forward to meeting Vince!
Oh I love a good naming story
All of these that you stated Holly: Time to move on, make a change, let go even though it felt the end of an era you were loathe to let go. Trying to do these very things… All the best for you, Ruby and Vinnie. We will be looking forward to the next adventure…
There are certainly not easy things to do. Wishing you all the peace and comfort and ease in your efforts. Thank you for sharing.
And thank you for the well wishes—from me and Ruby and Vinnie. Looking forward to sharing what’s next for us all.
What a loving tribute to ruby & Holly
Thank you, thank you. I so very much appreciate you reading these pieces. Much ♥️!!