Ann Follows came by the wood today to talk around the project called Spell Songs, words from Robert Macfallen’s Lost words put to music, which Janet Koralambe with the help of Waveney and Blyth Arts, hopes to stage (outside) in Halesworth next year (COVID permitting). That being the reason she came.
As soon as she stepped into the wood, she stopped, turned to me, and laughed, ‘Hello’. We’d only seen each other on zoom this last year and she was right to stop and notice how odd to now see in front. I’d also not realised she’d never been to the wood – although she’d seen photos of on Facebook, and she was immediately curious as to where she was, so we walked through the oak nuttery and some of it’s history which is always a pleasure to be reminded of.
Then, as we arrived at the Cabin, she said:
“I met the man who built this cabin. We met as strangers on a train. What I have a strong recollection of is how passionately he spoke about his current work, building this cabin in a wood. He said something about meeting a whole family of friends.’
It was touching to meet Graham unexpectedly again like this.
What did Ann say? Something about some projects and people who nourish beyond their boundaries and Graham certainly does that. The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis talked this very morning of Rabbi Sacks legacy. Mortality is written into the human condition but so too is the possibility of immortality in the good we do that continues long after we are here. Sacks last thought for the day was May this year, and in Mental Health Awareness week, he spoke of Loving Kindness – it was a beautiful, selfless last message to leave with us. One of the enduring memories during these COVID period, will be the extraordinary acts of kindness it evoked from friends and strangers When fate was cruel to us we were kind to one another. Kindness redeems fate from tragedy. Lifting others we ourselves are lifted.
Kaliwood 