Remembering Grandpa David 2.8.25
My paternal Grandfather, David Hart, passed away in early December of 2024. So much has changed since then for me since then. A lot of space gained in heart and mind, perspective gathered, grief that’s moved through, relationship wounds coming up, brilliant new friendships forging, dreams arising, new options for life being explored. This time also is allowing me to reminisce about Grandpa’s time on earth, the 31 years during which I was honored to know him.
Right now I want to focus on Grandpa’s legacy. What Tia, Uncle Ed and Dad all said in their reflections ring so true for me as his granddaughter, too. I didn’t experience these things in the same way, of course. Nevertheless, Grandpa taught me about spirituality and the power of writing in his own grandfather way. We wrote letters regularly to one another for part of my time at Denison. I loved writing to him and Gram, as they both were so thoughtful with their responses. I remember feeling overwhelmed with the amount of intensity and information they would respond with sometimes, yet at that point I still had capacity to be with what they would talk about or offer. It was in fact, my information era! College was so full of learning, so writing some letters to my grandparents about what I was learning was easy, probably even helpful for me processing what I was learning at Denison.
Acceptance of life as it is. What a beautiful practice. The thought has crossed my mind before that Grandpa was a true practitioner of acceptance of life, yet it wasn’t truly until the Sanbornton service that it really sunk it. When he walked into a room, he wasn't trying to change anyone or anything. He was present with life as it was. This attributed to the grace my Dad spoke of in his reflection during the service. What grace it takes to love the people, the places and the world at large just as it is. What a beautiful foundation for making positive, lasting and impactful change. I see now how much space he kept in his heart to receive life. That is a lesson I will carry with me. The more open and accepting my heart is of life as it is in the present moment, the more I can show up in my life with loving kindness.
I also feel some fear coming up around the family being untethered now, as if the older generations have not passed on through history! Possibly it feels different in these modern times, as we are hyper connected, therefore less intentionally connected. Grandpa and Grandma’s generation was exceptionally good at staying in touch. They did not know having such a wide range of connections, from all parts of the world, both known and unknown. There is an acceptance I want to carry on that they both exemplified in this area as well. Staying in touch with people they love, but knowing when it is time to let go as well as knowing they cannot keep in touch with everyone. I am soothed by the fact that the modern world seems to be turning back to intentional connection. At the very least, I am doing that in my own life. My friends are also doing this. His passing reminds me how important it is to write letters, essays, poems. How important it is to be part of a community of people I really care about, share values with, support and by which I am supported.
Community. I am so inspired by the way both Grandma and Grandpa were committed to their various communities. From the Granby church, to Taylor Home, to Sanbornton church- they found meaningful ways to manifest their love for people and God’s work. I don’t say God lightly or vaguely here. Grandpa inspired me because of his full trust in God’s plan for him, for his life. Even with his learning, reading, writing and conversing about a wide array of spiritual paths, thinkers and writers - he continued to bolster his belief in God. I absolutely loved that he was a lifelong learner of all things spiritual, religious and esoteric. He inspired me to think outside the box when it came to what connecting with something greater than myself meant. Yet, in the end, his learning seemed to always just expand and solidify his trust in the Divine. You can choose your name for the Divine, I don’t think he would have blinked an eye. Gramps used God. In the end he just cared that those around him knew there was something much greater than us at work in this world, that was the most important thing.
I wish I could have told Grandpa more about my dance community. This eclectic, wonderful, thoughtful and powerful group of people who are challenging the status quo each dance, maybe even each day, with the way they lead with love. In my humble opinion, the dance community in Portland holds love and acceptance of everyone at the core. It is a I feel so blessed to have found this community. It feels like my church. With emotional and spiritual conversations happening regularly, with community gatherings of all sorts, with people authentically wanting to support one another. It is a lot to receive, after years of closing my heart off to the possibility that the world really IS full of infinite love. Yet, my heart continues to expand in response to the invitations from my friends in the dance community.
I will remember my Grandfather David fondly and with reverence. Both his legacy, and my Grandmother Olive Lee’s legacy, live on through me. I will carry with me the lessons of being open to life, of trusting in God and of continuing to learn about everything that sets my heart on fire. Rest in Peace, Gramps. Thank you for all the love you gave to me in my life. Much love to you, always.
