Ellen Williamson

Joy, kindness, grounded, fierce, loyal, brave, creative, loving...these are just a few words that come to mind when I think of Ellen Williamson, a life cut WAY TOO SHORT by breast cancer. Today I spend the whole day remembering our times together, our times apart but when I was constantly reminded of her by all that is beautiful in nature and life. She was beyond special. It's like she was hardwired for goodness. No matter the injustice she would voice her disdain and then quickly turn to the light in everything. She loved Titos and soda, funky stylish clothes...oh, and, never forget the shoes, food of all sorts, humanity with all its gnarly warts. Like no other, she could flip something negative into possibility. She laughed. She loved. We all lost when she passed this week. I remember when she generously went shopping with me. I hate shopping, but with her it was doable, fun, an adventure. She was always to the rescue, bringing her uniquities along with her. She painted many pet portraits for me, a couple were my motley animal crew, a couple for dear friends. She captured their essence, their expressions. Even today, it is as if a living creature looks back at me in those paintings. Those renaissance painters had nothing on her. She taught me how to love unconditionally. Through her actions, she taught me what grace truly was. She was a champion for others, young and old. She taught me how to radically change your life when her body was under siege -- ditching sugar, booze and embracing all that is natural and healthy in the world. She demonstrated the bravest actions day in and out throughout her second battle, recording live on facebook her trials and triumphs. She shared her grand adventures no matter the magnificence -- a trip to far off lands equaled the wonder of the songbirds in her backyard. I was angry when I got the news. I went to my usual script - in a world that is full of hate and evil, why on earth can this beacon of optimism and hope be snuffed out so early...so young. Then I decided to just honor her...honor her gentle and kind voice and presence that drowned out the sadness of the world. I genuinely believe that what she said was what she meant. It wasn't some sort of self-help mantra she read in a book and repeated out loud to convince herself. It was literally in her DNA, her soul. Her smile lit up a thousand rooms of darkness, many of which were within me. She gave life a crushing bear hug and when it bit back the first time she had breast cancer she fought it off with Amazonian might. Ironically that was a huge gift for her. A come back with a powerful gentleness to teach us all gratitude and grace. Courage to quit an oppressive job and career. Fearlessness to fuel her rise to a queen of kindness, creativity, and brilliance. She is an inspiration for happiness. Her legacy is one many of us only dream of, one where every human she encountered was uplifted to their next height by just being around her. I can't thank her enough for all she did in our brief friendship. Some tangible, like dropping the grammar hammer on my first book when I asked her to pre-read and edit. She shared her merry band of friends with me who all unknowingly to them gave me the courage to take risks and live without the parallelizing fear of the odds stacked up. Some intangible like how kindness and empathy are our best weapons against the struggle in this world. She was a lightning rod of joy. It's like her energy transcended time and space. She was truly a unicorn. I'm blessed to have encountered such a magical creature. Rest in peace, my friend. Your legacy of hope, kindness, and beauty reverberates eternally.