Two days ago, I drove my friend Gia (my former massage therapist) and her dog Stella to her friend’s house in Staatsburg. Imagine my delight when after crossing the mighty Hudson I soon had to turn on to route 9-G and the indications were to Rhinebeck! This was Rachel’s stomping grounds and I must have surely passed her property on the way to the final destination.
Well, the reason I drove my friend was because the next day (yesterday) her friend with whom we were staying would take her close to NY city to accept delivery of her new Tesla. For those who have experienced the purchase of the car I am told it is kinda impersonal, and not much involved in terms of human contact like sales people and so on. Well anyway my role was finished and it seemed a pity to go back to Rochester without at least viewing her house. Maybe I could try calling Zoe Madoff, Rachel’s partner, and find out more?
So I called her. It was easy to recall her address, I simply typed it on google since I recalled it from snailing so often, and found the phone number. As I was leaving a message Zoe picked up! She thanked me for calling and we chatted for a while about her passing, the various articles she said she did not like and Rachel would not have approved as it focused on aspects other than her writing, etc. She wondered if I would be interested in sharing my correspondence with Rachel as part of an archiving effort they were initiating. I do have to organize about half a dozen bankers boxes worth of snailee correspondence in my shed so I said sure. The pleasant conversation was concluded without my having the courage to ask if I could drop in (why? It seemed like I had said everything I needed to say in that phone conversation).
Anyway on the way back I could not resist turning into the driveway. I called Zoe from there saying I was there and may I talk to her in person for a few minutes. She was in her bathrobe but welcomed me in. We had a nice chat about various things and I got to see Rachel’s original tarot card designs, her writing desk with inks and some fountain pens, and her bed room arranged with her favorite panda bear on it. It was all so moving. I wondered how many of us would be so lucky as to have someone in our lives to cherish and care for our legacy when we are gone.
I am glad I stopped by! Anyway, I thought I would share as while this is not about pens it is about a person who was close to me…
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