June

The title of this post has nothing to do with the lovely month between May and July. I wish it did.

In December, the world lost a sparkling soul.

To say June was “sweet” would be to completely miss the depth and breadth of her character. Warm intelligence, gentle strength, playful love, and an unexpectedly sharp wit are the hallmarks I remember best. Even that seems to force a round peg into a square hole, and the June I came to know and love was more of a star shape, with squiggles and curlicues bursting out from every point of the star.

I have not written about her until now for two reasons. First, it was just too hard. I wanted to sit with my memories and my loss. Second, two weeks before June passed away, my family lost another gentle soul. It was too much. (I hope to be able to write about that loss someday soon, as well.)

June’s lovely husband, Bill, has been sharing her poetry, and I can’t think of a better way to honor her memory, so here is the latest:

Hi daughter / son,
She / he who once accompanied me,
Little hand in bigger one
As we walked to Atkinson.

Hopes nestled within. Though,
Those of mine, in part,
Far afield from yours.

Nevertheless, hand in hand,
Words and feelings, perhaps,
Never understood by either one.

Now all the challenges and teachings
Are ours, not having known then
Just what would be most useful now.

But cherished still, the mother
Tightly holds the memories of going forth.

 June Denham, née Quackenbush
September 1, 2019

2017 Writers Group: Kara, Shari, June, Celia, Arlene - all of us wearing the beautiful scarves Arlene brought for us. We might look innocent, but I’d say we could have easily invoked a Marauder’s Map: “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”

Know what I mean, Jelly Bean? (Another June-ism). Oh how we miss you!