When did you meet Mickey?
2004
Where did you meet him?
I knew him through Abby.
Memory of Mickey
There was a time when Abby was at Indiana University working on her doctorate. She was temporarily staying at my house. She was going through a challenging time. During this time, as I got to know Abby better, I also got to know about her parents and eventually also got introduced to them face to face.
During this time, Abby was writing down all the wise things her dad would say to her in conversation. She would often recant these wise insights with me and my children. It was wonderful to not only experience his engagement with her life and how close they were, but also to hear his perspectives. Wise. Centered. Thoughtful.
One day, I was experiencing a weird thing – blood was coming out of my ear. Gruesome , I know. Abby mentioned this to her dad. he had some concerns about it. She put him on the phone with me. This was the first time I had actually heard his voice. He was very helpful in terms of the immediate ear problem, but what really stayed with me was how powerful it was to hear the actual voice of the person whose “sayings” and “writings” and “insight” I was coming to love.
His voice harbored a resonance in my ear that was at once powerful and inviting.
I did not get to know Mickey except through Abby and very episodic moments during that brief time, but it was enough to respect him and appreciate that our paths crossed.
I remember that ear thing. That period of time was the greatest jump in emotional crisis (and therefore growth) of my entire life. I credit how supportive Dad was during that time for how well I’m doing now with his loss. Seriously. Thank you, Barb!