More on Judy's Final Story

 

Judy was the one and only soulmate of my life. She left this earth because of breast cancer.

I've had other relationships since Judy, mostly short term that have helped me write a few fun blues lyrics, and maybe I'll meet someone else sometime who I can have a special life-partnership with.

Judy did set a bit of a trend in her love, her ability to give of herself, her ethics, her willingnes to give as much as she received and more to her soulmate and to her family, her lack of self-centredness, her considerateness and her willingness to play a full part in the needs of her family and friends. She was my devoted best friend, my lover, my companion and my soulmate.

I consider myself to have been lucky to have found her and to have been able to share the time I did with her. I don't expect to find anyone like Judy, but I know that she would share in my joy if I were to find someone new to share my life with and be as fulfilled as I was in our life-partnership that ended all too soon.

Judy was an inspiration to friends, family, work colleagues and others whose lives she touched and I'm sure that much of what I do comes from her inspiration and the time I spent with her. In writing this, I wanted to share her with others who never were fortunate enough to meet her and that's why I decided to include her on the site. Judy always joked that she felt she was actually born to be a princess and I guess she was right because she was MY princess.

This is the award established by Ottawa Blues Cruise in memory of Judy to honour those who make an outstanding contribution to the local live music scene.

My one and only soulmate, Judy, who brings back so many pleasant memories that her dying in my arms in early January 1994 is still something I feel privileged to have been there for to do what little I was able to to make her last moments easier in spite of the heartbreak it caused me then. My experiences the past 13 years have affirmed if I didn't already realize it that Judy was one of a kind in my life and in my heart. You have my undying love always sweet one and the best gift that was ever granted to me.

It's no doubt one of the most difficult things in life to do to let the love of your life know that in spite of how much you wish her to stay with you, her suffering is almost over and it's alright for her to leave you in spite of your breaking heart. I never had to say it aloud to Judy in her last few minutes as I attended to her final needs in the cancer clinic on 4 January 1994. Very shortly after I said it in my mind to my soulmate, she passed away in my arms as though she was waiting for me to say it was OK to leave.

Judy wanted to protect her parents from seeing her passing and had asked them to wait in the hall where they respected her wishes so I had to let them know of her death once the nurse confirmed it.

In her final hour, she had experienced seeing and expressed wonder at the bright light often reported during death or near death experiences. My artist brother Winston in honour of Judy composed this "Study in Light in Memory of Judy"

It was later donated to the cancer clinic. For brother Winston's "Soliloquy of Love Too Soon Did End", please click his painting.

I refer to this as Judy's final story, but for me, Judy's and my family and for others who's lives she touched and added light to, Judy lives on in our hearts and always will.

This was the start of our 30 year marriage together back in 1964.