Dear Phil,
I was going to ring this evening — but have just checked my emails and see that I am too late to speak with Susie. I am so sorry about that. I have been thinking about the couple of times I visited Susie in Berkeley, when I was at SFSU. Especially one time when I turned up at Susie’s place with a new dress with an uneven hem. We tried to concentrate on even-ing it up, but, of course, kept on talking, and the dress got shorter, and shorter and no less uneven. And your Mom introduced me and my Mom to the beautiful rose garden at the top of the hill (can’t remember the name of the hill). We walked up there for the wonderful view at sunset and I remember feeling like I had made a small step into proper adulthood… Susie had brought a bottle of red (?) wine, and glasses, including one for me. My determination to remain a difficult teenager probably exasperated your Mom, but I remember her always appealing to my more grown-up self; she always made that gracious and loving assumption that we could be our better selves.
I hope your gathering went well this afternoon. There will be so many people sad to say goodbye — but, I hope, also celebrating your Mom’s remarkable life, her tremendous courage and kindness.
Love to you — and love to Susie —
Wendy