Union

Union

Today is a rather rainy, gloomy day here in Brooklyn. The sort of day that makes me pensive and even a bit sad. Today though, I do have reason to be sad, we just found out that our best friends here will be leaving New York in July, moving out to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am not only really close with the Mom of this family but also the three girls are Jasper and Carys's best friends, and our next door neighbors. So this is hitting our family hard. We have not talked about it too much with our kids yet, since they don't have a developed sense of time I don't want to make them upset far in advance of the move, but I find that for myself I am processing it slowing. Imagining each instance in which I am so used to their presence and then imagining their absence.
Having moved many times throughout my life I have left friends, and moved to different places where I made new ones. Living in New York has been different, I have lived here for so many years that I have watched so many people move in and out of this city and it has never gotten easier. It is a very transient place, people come for a while and leave, and this has been one of the hardest things about living in New York for me.
This new painting is about the Union of one soul with another. Not necessarily in the romantic sense, although that is what I was thinking about when I made it. As I was looking at it today I was thinking about how it illustrates for me the delight in another person, that soul connection that you have with a friend which feels so good. I can imagine few things better than those moments where I feel fully heard, acknowledged and seen by a good friend.
We meet friends like that throughout our lives, and even though I know that this is true, it is hard to let them go on with their journey when it takes them far away.

6 comments:

Estelle Hayes said...

Oh Faith, I am sorry to hear about this. I can imagine what a change like this will mean for your family. I really appreciate what you said about being fully heard, acknowledged and seen by a true friend. Those are the most amazing connections. It sounds like your family has been blessed by this friendship. I wish you well during the transition. And that is a beautiful painting. I like imagining both kinds of unions in it.

Lori said...

Hi Faith. I am so sorry to hear about your friends. That is hard. I'm sending love to you. I love your new painting and the meaning behind it so much.

Škorčica said...

Beautiful painting, really, bitter-sweet.
And then we are complaining, here in Slovenia, if we have to move, but it's so tiny country, that wherever you go, you're still close, fortunately.

Faith said...

Thank you so much for your words here, all of you! This is very sad for us, but so bitter sweet because I feel so lucky to have had then here, next door. What a true blessing they have been in our live, you are right Estelle! We are trying to suck in all of the moments that we have together before they go!

jacqueline said...

Dearest faith, so sorry to hear that your best friend is leaving town. :( I'm sending you lots of love too! I am loving this new painting lots! Reminded me of how badly i would love to re-unite back with my fiance in Germany. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

Wini said...

Dear Faith, I'm sorry to hear that your friends are moving. I know how painful this can be. Your painting is a beautiful testimony to your wonderful friendship. Wishing you all the best! :)

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