Sunset on a Master of the Fresh Perspective: Susan Sexton 1939-2009

It's been far too long since my last post here but this one demands to be set upon the page and so it is.....


Since hearing the news that my dear friend has passed from our world on November 11th, 2009, I've been dumbstruck. Feeling like I am walking in water over my head, shedding tears and yet also trying very hard to follow the old poem's dictate: "don't weep for me". She would want it that way, no weeping, just recognizing that she is still here in the hearts of loved ones, that she lives on in the beauty of her work. I guess I'm not up to her standards just yet though because the tears just don't seem to abate so easily.

Susan was a special friend to me and, although I know she is gone, I also am very sure her spirit will live on in my heart and in the hearts of so many friends and, of course, in the hearts of her beloved family. She was the kind of person who touched deeply, who made a difference in so many ways. She was bold, assertive, smart, insightful and commanding while also kind, generous, loving and fair. Truly, her artistic sense and photographic excellence and achievement was a pinnacle which remain the goal so many of us mere mortals aspire to. And yet, she was so down to earth, a real person, without the swelled head that sometimes comes with such great talent and success.

We were not to be lifelong friends, having only a handful of years together. Mostly we lived far apart, not seeing each other, yet we remained connected. When she would visit her family in Arizona, she always made sure to reconnect and it was like we'd just left off yesterday, so comfortable, so caring, so much fun. We shared birthdays two days apart and would joke about our Libran ways. I felt enveloped by the love of a good friend whenever I was with her and that feeling, along with her warm and genuine hug, is how I will always remember her.

Beyond her great and undeniable artistic gifts, Susan was such a great lady and a wonderful friend. So sweet and gentle, strong, wise and warm, her friendship was one of those gifts in life, adding such a unique richness. I'm so thankful and honored Susan chose me as a friend. Her influence through her work, through her creative and adventurous personality and through what she shared of her beautiful loving spirit enriched me and continues to be an inspiration.

Susan and I spent many hours together this summer. She was so very alive, so happy to be healthy again after beating that first round of this illness in 2008, so ready to reinvent herself through her work once more. If you know about her life's path, you know this was nothing new to Susan and she relished the challenge and the change. She had plans for great things for her planned "real" retirement phase of life that was just beginning this year and I'm sorry we won't be privileged to see them now. She was so energized and ready to jump into new horizons before the last episode of this terrible disease. We talked of past, present and future, plans, dreams, art and vision, words and connections, actions, perspectives and deeper meanings and, of course, of family and friends. Her sweet smile was almost ever present, her wonderful laugh a welcome punctuation in the conversation and that soft hushed but powerful voice laying out loving and wise words in so many directions - to the world, to the horses, to all her people....like a tonic, having that voice wash over you with all it carried.

Susan so loved her people. I cannot think of a time we met when she did not speak lovingly and proudly of each of her children, their accomplishments, their strengths, her love for them shining brightly through. She spoke lovingly too of her grand babies and their mother, her brother and sister, nieces and nephews, her sweet cousin Beth too and her friends, oh, so many of them, far and near, from all walks of life. I cannot recall her gossiping or talking about someone in a bad light - this was just not her way, she instead would acknowledge, accept and understand that others might have burdens we just did not know about, things that might push them to make poor choices and so she would move on to the positive, always the positive.

I'm going to miss her terribly. Honestly, I do already. But I am all the richer for having known her, for having been embraced by her wonderful friendship. My prayers and thoughts go to her family and friends now - she loved them all so deeply and fully.

Susan, my darling friend, fly free and far, bask in the glow of the beautiful heavens, feast your eyes upon the beautiful horses, ride them into the sunset and across all the rainbows, delight in the glories of heaven and know that as you so deeply loved, you were loved by many.

tail light....

..... in motion here. Swoosh! And Swish! The light was so pretty on this softly curving tail in mid-stride ..... but looking at this now, it reminds me to think about: being stuck behind tail lights, what kind of tail lights I am leaving behind for others, what type of tail lights have I been following, forgetting about tail lights and concentrating on headlights, tail lights in motion and tail lights standing still. So many facets to what at first glance seems to be such a simple and ordinary thing, tail lights. What do they make you think of?

thank you...

...thank you, thank you! Ever notice how accomplishing most things means some level of partnership? This lovely pair achieved a beautiful ride together at this dressage show, after lots and lots of work at home. I know this rider was thinking about all the hours of tedious work that had now culminated in this wonderful payoff of a lovely few minutes in harmony in front of the judge.

Life is like that. Work is like that.

So "thank you" to all my partners, to those who make my work possible and to those who help me be the best I can be in my work.

And it goes without saying to all those who do the same in my life. Know you are so very much appreciated! Thank you...

on a frosty Tucson morning....

.... a rider warms up her horse for their dressage test. We don't typically see quarter blankets and parkas here in the desert but it's been very cold for much of this winter. It's a novelty in a way, for me, a throwback to growing up back East. Regardless of chattering teeth, it was fun watching all that steamy breath of athletes exercising against a beautiful backdrop such as this sunrise.

reaching...

...forward, as far as you can, to improve, excel or meet a goal. What keeps us reaching? What stops us from reaching? What do you do to reach?

watch closely....

...and see how it's done. Don't you just wish that all of life would have a guide to show you how it's done? I do sometimes, when the choices are tough and the stakes are high. If only there were someone perfectly experienced who could just lead through that spot....