Heather Anne Muller

I met Heather in the fall of our sixth grade year at Harpeth Hall. Our struggle in adjusting to a new school brought us together and introduced me to Heather’s extraordinary powers of perception. She had a much greater awareness than I did of everything around her. I used to tease Heather that she was like the bunny Fiver in Watership Down, because she had a kind of “knowing” that the rest of us didn’t. Heather also had a tremendous ability for expressing her thoughts in art and poetry. I’d never before met anyone with her talent. I treasure the watercolor landscape Heather made for me and keep it hanging next to my bed. I have also thought many times of her poem “untitled” as it captures so well my feelings during difficult transitions in my life. My favorite memory of being with Heather is horseback riding. When I met Heather, I had never been near a horse before. Nonetheless, Heather was certain I could ride one. I don’t remember if she put me on Glory be! or Cricket, but Heather assured me the horse would show me what to do, and I’d be fine. I remember Heather laughing at my shock after the horse jumped over a fence one day. (She told me the horse had known I was ready.) It seems crazy looking back that I had such complete faith that Heather and the horse would take care of me, but I did. One day while riding Heather and I wandered over to the Nashville Steeplechase. We crossed the track and lingered in the interior field to watch the races. I remember that afternoon as one of the most magical ones of my life. I last saw Heather 25 years ago. She was visiting Nashville, and we were able to talk as easily as ever. She laughed when I told her I thought she was the most amazing artist I’d ever known, but it was true, and I continue to feel this way about her. Remembering our adventures on horseback and how I used to compare her to Fiver, I recalled these lines from Watership Down. Fiver says to the other bunnies: "Look. Look. That's the place for us. High, lonely