I met Michele Turner at the Big Sur Writing Workshop in 2012. Parts of it were inspiring and valuable, but meeting Michele was the biggest blessing of the weekend. We clicked immediately (she was kindred spirit and another writer mama of two girls); because we live so far apart, we mostly kept in touch online, checking in and swapping stories about the directions our lives were taking over the past four years.
Michele had a recurrence of her breast cancer this summer; and, despite 10 rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer spread and was incurable. She passed away this morning. She leaves a hole in so many hearts. Her friend Vincent Louis Carrella wrote on Michele’s facebook page, “She was the Johnny Appleseed of love and she left orchards.” I love that. It’s true. It’s what we should all endeavor to do and be, I think.
Michele was a brilliant and utterly authentic human being with a kind and loving heart–a creative force who made this world better. Having the privilege of knowing her was a gift.
What is remembered, lives. So I wanted to write something down, to remember. To honor the beauty of her words and heart and spirit.
Michele introduced me to the idea of taking the kids on a “penny walk” allowing heads or tails to decide the direction of the stroll. I will go on a walk in the next day or so and bring a penny with me. I’m going to head toward the lake, because I want to remember her in the most beautiful place I have access to nearby, but we’ll see where I end up.
We never really know do we? We only know that our time is short and precious, and we need to cherish one another and all the moments.
Michele Turner. What is remembered lives.
