The connection was apparent from the first time we meet in Virginia, I a tender 20 year old pregnant with my first child and she a 22 year old career woman, newly married. There was a recognition on a soul level and an instant friendship began. It soon became evident as the years passed all sorts of coincidences were occurring between us that almost shouted to us both to pay attention. If it had been written in a Hollywood script I suspect the audience would not believe it.

I share this story with all of you to understand that quilt making can be a deep spiritual experience that allows one to connect to the possibilities. And show that we are all connected with every thought no matter the space we occupy.

In 1998 my soul sister came to visit me in California and as I hugged her I could feel her suffering. For many years we had little contact but in recent years strengthened our relationship. She traveled with two suitcases, one of which was completely full with her son's clothing. I had agreed to create some quilts for her from the shirts she brought. We spent a delightful few days together even though her spirit was low and her health somewhat fragile.

After her visit it took me several months before I could finally look at the clothes put away in a box. I felt weighted down opening the cardboard lid. I had never embarked on such project in my 25 years of quilting. In fact my soul sister saw my first few disastrous quilts as I learned my craft in 1974 yet was willing to trust me with this project. As I opened the box reluctantly and peered in at the garments I felt David's presence. His energy hovered just behind and above me. I could feel the joy and pleasure he sent me. I was startled at first, not because I felt his spirit, but that it happened so quickly. I hadn't even lifted out one shirt when he came to me. My mood instantly lightened and I found myself smiling as I spread out the shirts and trying to figure out what I was going to do with the varied cotton fabrics of knits and oxford cloth. The intention was to make three quilts if possible. One would be for David's sister, one for his fiancee and one for my soul sister.

David had passed over the year before in a plane crash at the tender age of 22. I had been having conversations with my soul sister on a regular bases by then. She had gone through a difficult divorce and was also struggling with some health issues that had depleted her energy. She was just beginning to recover and start her life as a single woman when David left his physical body. She has kindly offered the following for me to include in this essay.

"David was a fully acredited pilot, he had been a flight instructor for two years. He had his private pilots license before he graduated high school. He flew solo before he could drive a
car. He was a natural. The day he died he had just finished working, and went up for the fun of it with a fellow pilot. He had just taken delivery on his own plane, a twin engine, just two weeks before his death, he was waiting for the delivery of that plane to take me to Cape Cod, that was going to be part of his long distance requirements to the next level. He had always talked about taking his Mom to visit her special friend Martha. He was so excited about that plane. I know he is still in the clouds, feeling the joy of flight."

Several years before David's passing I had stopped quilting tops for women who made patchwork tops but didn't want to quilt them. Usually there were few problems with such projects except that I became aware that I picked up on the makers energy while quilting the piece. One piece in particular was quite difficult to work on because the maker was all tied up in knots and very angry. The actually top she made was quite pleasing to the eye and pleasant on one level to quilt. But each time I finished working on it my energy was depleted by the angry emotional energy the cloth held. After that project I made the decision not to finish others work.

So I knew that when I agreed to make these three quilts that I would be picking up David's energy. I knew him from an infant until I moved to Cape Cod when he was 2. I saw him several times over the next twenty years, growing into a handsome loving son, very sensitive and gentle in spirit. The dark cloud in his upbringing was the strained relationship between his parents. It was this energy that I was nervous about and hoped I would not feel as I handled his shirts.