A LOVELY TRIBUTE TO SWEET DADDY-O FROM BEAUTIFUL SOUL SISTA - Claire Lewis Evans... HER FAMILY OUR NEIGHBORS IN CASA Y CORAZON... HOUSE AND HEART. The first person who really introduced me to both the symbolic and limbic power of light was Bill Mallard, who served as my expert source for my sixth social science project on the rose windows of Notre Dame cathedral. How I arrived at this topic isnt worth telling, but it was one of those seemingly random things in life that in fact are absolutely perfect (thanks Bill, and thanks, Mom). Probably everyone in my FB community who knows the amazing Mallard family (MallardMallardMallardMallard), who we Lewises (Lewis Lewis Lewis Lewis) have lived next door to in facing houses since Gatra roped us into the neighborhood in 1974, already knows that Bill finally passed into the light yesterday evening after a long, sometimes difficult, often fascinating journey that Winn has shared openly on FB but has also posted on her blog. Winn has been the most openly verbal in her sharing, but the entire extended family has been very closely involved in the process, and I dont think its too big a breach of their privacy or story to share that everyone was active and aware in the family circle at Bills crossing. Dr. Mallard, who was on faculty for years at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, was a scholar and avid enthusiast of many things, among them Flannery OConnor, and he served as an expert source for me again a few years later for a high school project on the peacock lady. (Come to think of it, he was probably my first and second interview ever, and I vaguely even remember figuring out how to cite him properly in my first-ever bibliography.) He was a regular fixture jaunting around the neighborhood with his telltale gait, to and from campus, and just to walk, and I thought of him when Coleman and I stepped out for a stroll last May, when I stopped off while passing through town on the way home from ArtFields. At the time, I thought we were sort of picking up and carrying on the walk in his absence, since he was no longer able. As it turns out, that was the last time I spent with Coleman. What a year its been for so many of us whove lost dear ones! Sitting in solstice circle the other day, one person shared her experience involving her recently departed mother. I did not come out and say that Colemans presence/absence was also palpable to me, but she probably knew it. Ive been thinking a lot about such dualities this week, about the shadow and the light. Anyway, Bill Mallard for years and years led the congregation in song at Glenn UMCs Christmas Eve service, and I expect someone will probably repost the video someone shot from the balcony of his rousing performance of Amen! (a hallmark) from last years service for our mutual enjoyment and sorrow. When I spoke with Mom earlier today, she reported that the service for Bill will be next Saturday, 1/3, and then she said that Rob and Reid were signed up to lead carols tonight in his place. A little while ago, Dad sent me his own picture from Glenns balcony to show Reid and Rob were up front addressing the congregation, and that the song does indeed, ring on. Sing on, sing on, in the darkness and the light, regardless of the language of the singing. bill mallards final frontier a daughters peek into her sweet daddy-os journey to the world beyond BILLMALLARDSFINALFRONTIER.WORDPRESS.COM
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 17:09:28 +0000
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