Magdalena and Darcie in
Just a Good Place

Just beyond my bedroom, at the time between dusk and darkness, fireflies gather at my window and flicker in a cascade of tiny lights. Each time one light fades, another returns to shine. A pulse of light and dark, light and dark almost as if in a silent symphony… If not for their light, I might not even notice them, being so small in this big world… But oh the light… And if I’m lucky enough, this silent chorus shimmers bright enough to make me even think to write about it here for you to read… Bright enough to make me think of what Jill, Magdalena’s mom, wrote earlier…

“A couple years ago, I saw a post from a very talented watercolor artist, Daune Sheri. She was beginning a series called “Just a Dog” and asking for pictures. I was really touched by her explanation of what she wanted to do with her series, so I submitted a couple photos. Daune quickly responded and asked my permission to use one. My girls and I were in a good place when that picture was taken. When I look at this picture, I see our family. What kept us together and kept us going is right there in this picture. It was just a simple moment, but I remember my heart being full of gratitude for everything that existed in that moment.

“Time passed and I watched Daune’s beautiful, heartwarming series unfold as life took a really rough turn for my family, particularly for [Magdalena] Magda… and no doubt our dog, Darcie has been there through the darkest times too. A few months ago, one of my girls nearly lost her life. Little did I know how that picture captured the calm before the storm.

“Thankfully, things have taken a major turn for the better. Seeing my daughter thriving with her Italian Greyhound...well it means more than ever before because they are still here together and thriving. I can’t even put it all into words right now, but basically Daune was starting the painting on a significant week in our lives. I had been discussing with my own counselor what would help me experience that day as a victory… Out of the blue, Daune contacted me saying she wanted to start this piece on the very day my family could truly say the storm had finally passed.

“My girls and I were in a good place when that picture was taken. What kept us together and kept us going is right there in this picture.” A pulse of light and dark, light and dark almost as if in a silent symphony… If not for her light, I might not even notice her, being so small in this big world… But oh the light… And if I’m lucky enough, she shimmers bright enough to make me even think to write about it here for you to read…

Bright enough to make me think of Magdalena…

©Daune Sheri
July 31, 2020