When great trees fall,

rocks on distant hills shudder,

lions hunker down

in tall grasses,

and even elephants

lumber after safety.

When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die,

the air around us becomes

light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.

Our eyes, briefly,

see with

a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened,

examines,

gnaws on kind words

unsaid,

promised walks

never taken.

Great souls die and

our reality, bound to

them, takes leave of us.

Our souls,

dependent upon their

nurture,

now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed

and informed by their

radiance, fall away.

We are not so much maddened

as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of

dark, cold

caves.

And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.  

-Maya Angelou

In Loving Memory of Jessica

It’s hard to put into words what Jessica meant to me. We met 27 years ago, working side by side, and what started as a working relationship quickly grew into a deep and lasting friendship. Jessica started doing my hair back then and over time those appointments turned into something so much more. She was an artist with her hands, someone who could transform a simple haircut into a moment of joy, confidence, and beauty. Sitting in her chair was never just about the hair, it was about the laughter, the connection, the trust, and the honest conversations we shared. I always looked forward to sitting in her chair, not just because she was amazing at what she did (and she truly was), but because it meant time with her.

Jessica had a spirit that was both gentle and vibrant. She was immensely talented, with an eye for beauty that showed up not just in her work, but in how she saw the world. She had such a gift, not just for hair, though she was incredibly talented but for making people feel seen and cared for. She was never in a rush; she listened. She noticed the little things. She had a calm, creative spirit, and she made people feel at ease just by being herself. Kindness was her nature and she gave it freely, without reservation. Whether we were talking about life’s little ups and downs, or off on some shared adventure, she had a way of making everything feel meaningful and fun.

We shared so many memories over the years and talks that stayed with me and small adventures that turned into cherished stories. Years later a unique and unforgettable detail of our story that still makes me smile is that our husbands share the same first and last name a rare coincidence that only deepened our connection and made our story that much more special. We used to laugh about how wild that was. It felt like life’s way of saying we were soul sisters.

Jessica was a beautiful soul, inside and out. She gave so much of herself to those around her, and I’m so grateful I got to walk through so many years of life with her by my side. She made the world brighter, and I’ll forever be thankful for the gift of her friendship. Her laughter, her talent, her warmth will stay with me always.

Thank you, Jessica for your kindness, your friendship, your art, for being my chosen sister and your heart. You will always be a part of me, and I will carry your memory with love for the rest of my days. Rest easy my beautiful friend.

With love always,

Christine Eicher