Tribute Detail

Tonight in Portland I attended a viewing of Living Earth's Betsy Toll interviewing Ram Dass in Maui last summer.  In the interview she retold the story of the Shambala Warrior, and I was reminded of the two weapons: insight and compassion.

The first time I heard that story told was in the 80's, when I met Joanna and Fran at an Interhelp workshop.  I didn't get to know Fran more personally until 1987.   Jack and I were part of a group of lucky educators and psychologists traveling with him to Leningrad, Moscow, and Tblisi to participate in Despair and Empowerment workshops.

Fran and Joanna stayed with me in Portland when they came to reconnect with Chris, and what I remember most was his twinkle, as others have noted, and his joy and relief at seeing Chris again.  For me both Joanna and Fran have been two of the greatest teachers of insight and compassion, by their words and in their beings.

Until tonight I hadn't heard of Fran's death, which took my breath away.  His spirit has probably passed through bardo by now, but it is hard to imagine such a one as Fran coming this way again.

Joanna, I have heard you speak often of your love for Fran, and I can only guess at how much you must miss him.  I hold your heart in mine.