All the Moments: Emily the ER Nurse at MCAD Sale

Sometime in 2017
HONORING Emma who brought you two hot sandwiches after you

had not eaten for twelve hours in the ER 

Honoring the Old Memories

Emily who remembers me from ER so long Ago

Last night I was at the MCAD sale with my work surrounding me like a peacocks tail open around me. The moments and the decades revealed...that's when I painted waterlilies by the Mississippi with Pat..that's the Romanina flower market I found beauty and inspiration in Cluj after my group saw the sign on the synagogue saying the Jews were rounded up fro Aushwitz there, here is my backyard, and the cardinal amid the flowering crab tree in the front yard...here it is all of it! The winter water lilies at Walker Art Center Conservatory long ago

And then Emily stops. I smile as she has my mother's name and then she remembers..

"I know You" I remember you!" You sat and painted everyone in the ER when

you were there with your late husband. And then I remember too.

I am no longer at this nice bustling art sale with a glass of white wine in my hand,

booming music and my memories and art arrayed around me.

I remember those nights.

When I called 911 so desperately 

when the minutes ticked by like hours 

and the siren's shrill call was comforting

because I knew help was close and on the way

after the men in heavy clothes evaluated you

after you were helped out to the ambulance

I ran out the back door with my

sketch book, paints and snacks.

I knew what to pack for these moments.

after the relief of finding you in 9B

or 8C or 7A settled in 
I created a small studio that was the extra chair in the ER room

the ghosts of those there just before us had not left

and we were there to endure the hours.

that's when I drew Emily

She said:

"You just painted and painted"

and I did

It was how I navigated the hours and uncetainties

as the Divine Hand held us.

The years have rolled by

but when an ambulance shrieks by ...

I remember all of it again

Emily and I hug.

I weep for what was

as I sit there in the splendor 

remembering the past

and enjoying those I draw in the moment

. 

How it was

ER that Time.  ER this time.  ER that time

                                                        

          
 

                               .