Scarf: TJ-Maxx, $10
Blouse: Gap, $5
T-shirt: Hanes, $5 for 3-pack
Vest: secondhand Moda International, $6 from consignment shop
Jeans: gift
Boots: secondhand, $8 from thrift store
A funny thing has been happening to me lately. There's this woman named Briana Blackwelder whom I don't know and have never met. She passed away on Saturday, and inexplicably, the universe has been directing all of my thoughts toward her. No less than five blogs I read, representing five people I know, have featured posts about Briana and paid tribute to her. She was evidently this amazing woman, a Salt Lake City midwife, and I'm simultaneously really sad that I missed the chance to know her in this life AND happy to have been "introduced" to her at all.
Some links:
tribute video by David Perry
interview with Briana Blackwelder, produced by Kate and Neil
post at Our Mother's Keeper, featuring a beautiful poem written to remember Briana
I believe in meaningful coincidences. Most of what I've happened to learn about Briana is related to her calling as a midwife. She clearly cared so deeply about women, particularly pregnant and laboring women, and she dedicated much of her love and energy to helping women have positive birth experiences. I'm learning all this just as I've re-committed myself to becoming a certified doula (essentially a support person for women in labor), and the books I'm reading for that purpose just arrived this week. It's quite special and inspiring to have this example in Briana, this unexpected example of true passion and love. I am certain that all of her beloved ones would find it as no surprise that she's still teaching and still magnifying her calling, from that beautiful place where she must surely be.
Wow, I had not heard this news until I read your blog. I was totally stunned -- I kept thinking, she was sooo young! I didn't know her personally but have been in contact with her and her sister when I was looking into the Fertility Awareness Method and considered her as a midwife for my birth. She definitely seemed like someone special, based on all my research, and I was a bit sorry that she was only serving the Salt Lake area.
ReplyDeleteso sad such a woman passed so young. i am a huge homebirth/midwife advocate, i was even named after my midwives!
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous in these colors!
ReplyDeleteAsk the Duplex
All my mom's kids were born at home, and for my son I had a Doula. I think for my next kid we will definitely use a midwife.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Born To Be Styled