Wednesday, December 18, 2024
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I will truly miss my friend. She was the one person who truly understood me, and validated me and my love for nature. Years ago, I decided to homeschool my children and wanted to open my own school called nature camps. Class would be held in nature and would embody experiential learning, which Trudy absolutely loved. One day I knocked on her door, introduced myself, and she graciously invited me in. I didn’t know her love for nature as I do now, so you can only imagine how bright eyed and open she was to the idea of me beginning a school based on nature & exploration of the environment. I thought to use her grounds for some of my learning experiences, but she was concerned about the ticks in the area. For anyone who knew her, she had contracted Lyme disease, and so her concerns were incredibly valid. But from that point on we nurtured a beautiful friendship. The one thing Trudy taught me, of many, was how to listen with curiosity. Whether she was speaking with me, other people or just simply standing out in nature, she always listened with curiosity, as demonstrated in the image below. I took this picture of her on one of our hikes.
Her sense of wonder was contagious. Her thirst for understanding and her patience for delving deeper to see what was beneath that which was visible to the eye, astounded me. There was never a dull moment with Trudy. Whether we were sharing a cup of tea, sitting out on her porch, enjoying a leisurely hike or deeply analyzing theories, she was always so beautifully, attentive and enthralling.
I think what touched me most was her love of her brother and nephew. I won’t get into the intimate details of their relationships, but I can only say, that to be the recipient of that kind of love is a true blessing.
Her book sits on my shelf where I can see it daily, as it serves as a reminder to always remain curious, always appreciate the simplicity and complexity of the world around us, and to never ever take a single moment of this life for granted. She taught me that the more I understand my environment, the more I understand my place in it.
My only regret is that I didn’t grow up with her as a childhood friend. I can only imagine the adventures we would’ve gone on together. But I will just have to be grateful for the adventures that we did share. I will miss you so very much, my dear friend.
Love, Janeen
Janeen Yodakis
Colts Neck,NJ
