For Steph
If these words arrive late, it is because they are hard to write. You were my dear friend, and Stewart was my dear husband. Now you share the same Yahrzeit, a year apart. Maybe you are reunited somewhere, who knows? You live on in our hearts and minds, shining a lovely light.
I met you at High School when we were eleven and became friends through Sylvi. We gathered in “the Jewish room”, during Christian assembly, so we could be ushered in for notices. We ate our packed lunches and socialised at the local Jewish Youth Club. You seemed in your element there, dancing to the live band.
I saw you grow through your teens with a certain savoir faire. By the time I visited you and Sylvie at your kibbutz ulpan, Ma’ayan Zvi, you were confident, your own person. You and Sylvie already knew you would return to live In Israel. By the time I decided to live in Israel, you and Ami were married and living in Bat Yam.
Later you moved to Kfar Saba, the natural choice for Stewart & me when we were looking for a bigger apartment and when Robin was born, you and Ami were the natural choice to ask to be godparents. You kindly agreed and a wonderful, loving godparent you were and Ami is.
When our time in Israel ended, it was so hard leaving you, Stephie, but we kept in touch. You and Ami visited and, somehow, the blog became a daily rendezvous, where we laughed and collaborated. You were the Photographer, generously sharing your beautiful photos (with copyright) and I wrote daily poems sparked by your great range of subjects. How wonderful to see your photos now on this superb website and exhibited at a gallery!
Wherever we were, we would all get together. At Chaggim, your visits to England, the blog, on Skype, we would always pick up where we left off, with laughter. We miss you, Steph, a beautiful person inside and out.