A PRAYER FOR SARA

This summer I attended The Science of What Connects Us, the 2017 Conference for the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). Since the conference was held in Oakland, California, I got a chance to spend some time afterwards visiting family and friends in the Bay area and points north. And, of course, had several wonderful Spiritual Traveler experiences.

One of those experiences occurred during my visit to Humboldt County where my dad grew up, one of ten siblings flourishing amid the redwoods. two delicious days in Eureka visiting with Zuretti (Zuey) and Brenda Goosby. They are friends. And Zuey had also been the loving husband of my cousin Sara O’Hara Goosby who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1999. Sarah was so loved and valued by her friends and family that a garden has been planted in her memory at the Humboldt Botanical Gardens. I got a chance to visit those gardens on the morning I was leaving Eureka on my way back down to San Francisco.

The Spiritual Traveler experience at the gardens was one of deep appreciation for the place. The lavender was in full bloom and wood trellis that covered the walkway (lovingly built by Zuey) was festooned with pink roses. Memory benches provided resting spots for those who wished to stop and pray, reflect or meditate.

My visit to Sara’s Garden, however, was the beginning of my Spiritual Traveler experience. That experience continued after I got back to Michigan when I started to explore the history of Sara’s Garden and found prayers which I wish I had said during my sojourn there.

Here are the fruits of my explorations:

THE PRAYERS:

My father’s side of the family is proud of it’s Irish heritage and Irish blessings have played an integral role at family events. Here are two prayers that I say now for my beloved cousin Sara. The first is a traditional blessing that our family has used many times and the second is one that I think my cousin Sara would say to us now:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in
the hollow of His hand.

Remembered Joy

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!

I follow the plan God laid for me.

I saw His face, I heard His call,

I took His hand and left it all…

I could not stay another day,

To love, to laugh, to work or play;

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

And if my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…

Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.

My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:

Good times, good friends, a loved-one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—

Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.

Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,

Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

And for the second blessing, I will add:
Enjoy the flowers in my garden.

THE HISTORY

The following are my reflections, not only about the history of Sara’s Garden, but of my relationship with her:

Before I left Eureka to start my journey back down to San Francisco, I stopped at the Humboldt Botanical Gardens to visit the garden there planted in memory of my cousin Sarah O’Hara Goosby. Sarah was my buddy when I spent the summer between freshman and sophomore high school with her family in San Francisco. She was a kindred spirit who shared many of my views on life and spirituality. She married her high school/college sweetheart, Zuretti (Zuey), a deep and loving man of African American and Italian descent who I am proud to call my friend—then and today.

Sarah and Zuey settled in Eureka and Humboldt County, home of the giant redwoods and the childhood home of her mother Ann, my father Neil and their eight brothers and sisters. The Montgomery roots ran deep in Humboldt and now the O’Hara/Goosby roots were firmly planted in this beautiful, yet foggy and wind swept place. Soon, both Sarah and Zuey became integral members of the Humboldt community. They and their daughters flourished in a loving environment and a home filled with quirky furniture and an amazing backyard garden.

The last time I saw Sarah alive was at her daughter Jenkin’s wedding in San Francisco. It was a lovely wedding and Sarah looked so vibrant and healthy. What a shock to find out that she had ovarian cancer, a deadly disease that all too soon robbed her of her life and the rest of us of one of the bright spirits who make this world a better place.

Sarah left us in 1999. She is gone from our midst, but not forgotten. The idea of dedicating a garden to Sarah came soon after her death. It was a way for those who loved her to keep Sarah’s memory alive. It would be a fitting tribute to Sarah, who,in life was a committed teacher, devoted counselor and tireless advocate for children and adults in her community. Her contributions to Head Start, the Humboldt State University Infant and Toddler Care Center, Humboldt Child Care Council, the Centering School of Arcata and Options Counseling Center.

It took a long 15 years to make that garden a reality. The dedication ceremony for Sarah’s Garden at Humboldt Botanical Garden was held on May 15, 2015. Here is quote from Julie Fulkerson, one of her many friends:

“Sara’s capacities for love and forgiveness were extraordinary as were her abilities to see and celebrate the divine spark in each person, and she remains in our hearts. Sara’s Garden is a way for us to create a reflective, scent bloom-filled place for her friends and family and for all people to visit and enjoy.”

I was not able to attend that dedication in 2015. But I was able to visit in 2017, a Spiritual Traveler, grateful for this living memorial to the great soul who was and is Sara O’Hara Goosby.