Life Is Not Forever ~ Love Is
In Celebration of the Lives of
Jason & Andrew Colvard
I wanted to share a story with you…
In October we returned ‘home’ to California where I was born and raised and where my son and grandson, Jason and Andrew, were also born, each of us in the same country hospital in rural Sonoma County. We felt a deep need and longing to gather with our family for a small memorial service to honor our ‘boys’. We had waited until we felt it was ‘safe enough’ to travel with my elderly Mother, and when there was a small window when the virus was less rampant, we flew. We gathered at my Mother’s old family farm on a warm October day to sing praises of Jason and Andrew, share stories, and take comfort with each other. My family had purchased two beautiful Ginkgoes’ that we planted side by side in the field next to my Mom’s home. There they will grow for centuries as Ginkgoes are known to do, growing from the ashes we planted in the soil and holding the memories of Jason and Andrew in their strong limbs and beautiful leaves.
The next morning, we carried their ashes, their stardust, to the old family burial plot in the Sonoma Mountain Cemetery where my Grandparents are buried. I’ve long loved this sacred space, where souls have been put to rest under the old oak forest that grows wild in the volcanic landscape. As we knelt in prayer over Jason and Andrew’s Memorial Stone, my brother placed an olive branch on the headstone. Wondering where the olive branch came from in this old oak forest, my brother pointed above; directly above us was one lone old and gnarled olive tree, a symbol of peace and renewal, growing amidst the oak forest.
That afternoon, returning home, we went out to circle the Ginkgo trees and to sing one final parting song before we all left for our homes again. As we began to sing,
“Fly like an Eagle,
Flying so high,
Circling the Universe
On wings of pure light”
Right above us, two beautiful white shoulder Hawks appeared and began to circle above and around us… singing with us in their high-pitched tones. They circled and sang above us the entire time we were singing, and as we finished the last verse, these two beautiful hawks flew off…. into the star world and the world of spirit beings.
With love and light,
Rosemary
Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment,
and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die…
Jason and Andrew were huge animal lovers and cared passionately for the well-being of animals.
The family had four pit bulls that lived with them and many feral cats that they adopted and cared for. Their four dogs, Beau, Cita, Gremlin, and Buddy, were taken to the Oconee County Animal Control who did an outstanding job of caring for them, and finding loving homes for each of them. They were soon adopted out to loving families. The kitties were fostered out in several homes and were cared for by Campus Cats, a non-profit organization that cares for homeless cats.
In Memory of Jason and Andrew, we invite you to make a donation to the Friends of Oconee County Animal Shelter or to your local animal shelter.
Donations can be made via mail or online. Please include a memo stating:
In memory of Jason and Andrew
Donate via mail:
Local Dog & Cat Shelter
Oconee County Animal Service
1171 Branch Road
Bishop, GA 30621
Campus Cats
P.O. Box 902
Watkinsville, GA 30677
[email protected]
Update: Beau, Buddy, Cita, and Gremlin have all been adopted by wonderful, caring families!
Stories keep the memories alive and bring the departed spirits back to life. If you have a story that you’d like to share about Jason or Andrew, please share it here.
“Thank you for the stories; they are manna to the heart. And thank you for your love and support this past year. We felt it deeply. It was only because of the love and support of family and friends that we were able to bear what was truly unbearable”
Dearest Rosemary,
Sending you, Robert and all the family love and the deepest prayers for peace. I write this listening to Biko and Aromas music and yes Ancestors too soon.
I had the pleasure of traveling with Andrew through the jungles of Ecuador with you and old soul he was indeed. I remember gathering everyone to get on the bus and Andrew would always be drinking in all the magic until the last minute, bounding to join us with that shy and magnificent smile. How proud he was to have a Grandmother so grand.
So much love, Kat Maier
Back in 2000, Jason built my first Rosemary’s Garden website. We worked together while he also taught me how to use computers. Andrew came with him and sat at the table upstairs doing the 7-year old thing. One time, Jason walked through the front door and my computer shut down, actually that happened twice. His energy….strong and vibrant. I adored working with him and we created a friendship. Although we hadn’t seen each other for many years, we kept in touch via social media and I always made sure he knew that I loved him. He connected me with Eleanor many years ago, being that she and I had the Swedish in common and so glad that Eleanor brought Andrew in to say hello last year, I think it was. Beautiful human beings. The loss…I can’t even imagine, Rosemary, and the rest of the family. Know that I will continue to mention Jason as I always have. He will always be a part of what I do with Rosemary’s Garden. He made a difference! Sending love and light.
2/20/20
For Andrew
How do you weigh the kindness
I saw in the depths of your eyes
You have caught me off balance
As your spirit breaks free and now flies
What is the gauge of a heart
Where even the stars seem smaller in size
Just know you are forever loved
As I remember our moments together
The snapshots of your beauty
Will always be here tethered
Your smile, laughter and soul that was gentle
This is how a life should be measured
I remember meeting Andrew when he was a young teenager and he was visiting Sage Mt. while I was there at one of the week long Apprentice programs. He demonstrated how to make Rosemary’s famous root beer. I think it might have been the first time he was in front of a large group of women and of course, we encouraged him and he did a wonderful job. He was a very sweet young man. As one of the homework reviewers for the course, I was always impressed by Jason’s website; such wonderful work. I could tell a lot of love went into it. As I sit at my desk and review a batch of lessons, I have a rose candle lit to bring them both light and love. Watch over us all now, dear father and son.
I first met Jason via his mother’s stories when I was a student. I met him in person at a fundraiser for United Plant Savers several years later. At this same event, his then six or seven year old son, Andrew, was selling lavender lemonade. I can still hear Rosemary giggle, in the way only Rosemary can, and say, “wait until he finds out he has to give a portion of the proceeds the UpS.”
Through the years Jason and I would converse on FB and have such amazing political conversations. He was always willing to help me with my computer woes and would send me YouTube tutorials to watch telling me it was “easy” and I “could do it”..
Fast forward to last June…I’m struggling to walk a delivery of cranberries to one of the vendors and this very nice young man, out of no where asks if he can help me. I gladly accept his help and ask his name. “Andrew”, he replied. I asked if this were his first conference and he said, “No, I’m here to help my Aunt.” I asked who his Aunt was and, of course, if was Melanie Carpenter. I then made the connection that this polite, beautiful, helpful man child was the son of Jason and the seller of the lavender lemonade. Twenty years had passed since I had seen him and it seemed like, looking back, that those twenty years just flew by as life has a way of doing. I’ll never forget this father-son team who were kind, generous and thoughtful. My prayers are with you all, candles lit and love and hugs to everyone.