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Her gift to Ask Questions by Margarita Suarez
I am finally sitting down to write a letter for your 90th Birthday.
We have been invited to write about you, what do we believe we received from you... our appreciation, the impact you had in our life, experiences with you and the teachings most significant to use.
Yet I find myself distracted about wondering about how you are, and even what has changed now... Where are you? What changes have you gone through? What would you say if you were here with us?
I do remember the last celebration we did for you, and how happy and grateful you were. In fact it is one of my favorite pictures, you with a crown of flowers over your head and your smile...
Now is different, for this your 90th birthday. I feel like it has been long time since you were here...yes about 16 years, since you left and then, when we celebrate your birthday next August, it will be 17 years...
How will all this be now if you could visit with us? What new things will you say? What would you add to all you have given us?
I am sure you have seen all that has been done since you left. The many people that have continued sharing what you taught us, the many books, the many articles, and chapters in books, even this book John [Banmen] is putting together. The many new students who never met you personally but are able to understand your teachings, and pass it on. And all the ways we are connecting through the world, from the old ways of phone and letters and now through the internet.
I also wonder about your meeting the others that have left after you...Anne, Mabs, Shauna, Madonna, Edith, and others... Did you all meet? Did they give you some news about here?
And I also wonder how do you feel we have done...Even more specific how do you feel I have done as Executive Director? And also as Margarita?
You know at times people here use you and/or your name to get a point across, something like "Virginia would have liked this or that"... At times that gets to me since we seem to have different ideas about that. And also what would you say now, may also be different given all the changes here in this world, and again given all that you probably change.
Ok this is suppose to be about your gift to us, to me... and I am just going around dealing with my many questions... But maybe that was the biggest gift you gave me... The ability to ask questions, to think and to try to understand what is new.,.. and so that is where I want to be... I want to celebrate your 90th birthday asking you questions... and then being silent so as to see what I hear from you now...
Happy 90th birthday dear Virginia, with lots of love, Margarita.
Printed with
permission from Margarita Suarez, 2007 |