Nelson transitioned on April 20, 2011 with The Style Crone and Camille at his side, loving him and touching him as he drew his last breath. His dazzling smile and inspirational spirit live on in the air that we breathe.
Now cracks a noble heart
Good night, sweet prince
And flights of angels
Sing thee to thy rest
-Shakespeare
Judith, Through you I feel like I knew Nelson…I weep with you! What a beautiful man! I wish I could hug you…you are an amazing woman.
Judith, I’m so sorry for your loss. From what I’ve read here he was an exceptional human being. May his spirit be soaring and at peace.
I find myself in tears. I wish there was some way I could comfort you and Camille.
sending you love & strength. the man you’ve shown us through your words was wonderful, kind and strong. thank you for sharing him (and your extraordinary love for each other) with us through this blog. so sorry for your loss.
Judith, like the others I did not know Nelson, but I could feel your great love affair through the blog. My heart goes out to you, as you try to create a new normal for your life. I so admire you and my thoughts are with you. Peg
I’m deeply saddened at the loss of Nelson. Altho, I’ve never met him I can see what a wonderful man he was thru your words. I’m touched by your love for each other and it
has changed my life. My love, Suzie
Ahh, Judith, I’m so sorry you have lost your sweet prince. Thanks to both of you for sharing your lives with us. Your love for each other shone through in every word and picture. God bless.
My condolences. His smile is so bright, his spirit shining. What an absence I imagine you feel.
Judith, thank you for posting this glorious photo of Nelson and the beautiful words. You have honored him so well. Deepest condolences to you and Camille and all those who love him and will miss him. Warm wishes to you during this time of loss.
Sending healing and peace your way. I am sorry for your tremendous loss.
Thank you for sharing this lovely man with all of us. I wish you peace.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Like waiting for the angels, have been waiting for your voice. As others have said – what honor, what love, what guts, what work, what style. Sending all the love one can over cyberspace –
So sorry for your loss, so happy for your eternal love.
Lonnie & Terry
I am so sorry for your loss. May you find strength in the love of family and friends and in the beautiful memories of a truly special love.
Judith and Camille,
I am so sorry for your loss.
The first thing I noticed in the picture of Nelson was his smile. The second thing I noticed was the two lovely roses so close together. It made me think of the two of you and what a special love you had.
So sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing so much of him, including this beautiful photo.
No one can truly feel what you are feeling, but I think we can all understand what you are feeling. My heart aches for you and my soul looks upon you, so impressed and touched by the way you have weathered this storm and lived it fully to the last. You are a brave woman (oh, yes, you are; you may not feel brave, but you are) and you have shown all of us grace, beauty and love personified. Bless you and Nelson, always.
Thank you for sharing a small bit of this amazing man. What a loss I am sure you must feel, words cannot express my sorrow. May you find peace in the love you keep in your heart.
Dear Judith, my heart breaks for your loss. Thank you for sharing a bit of Nelson through your blog.
Thank you for this beautiful picture. I continue to hold you in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. Although I never met Nelson, I felt his beautiful essence through your wonderful blog and mourn the loss of such a great man. Thank you for making us part of your lives.
Oh, I just had a feeling. I am sorry for your loss and simply cannot imagine what I could possibly say to touch it. Just know that there are many of us who are spiritually holding you up.
Oh, Judith. I am so sorry you have lost your beautiful Nelson. Your love has affected my life profoundly. Thank you for including inviting us to read about your journey these last months. My heart breaks for you tonight, and my spirit joins the others above. On some level, I hope you can feel our love enveloping you. All hope for peace to you and Camille.
So sorry for your loss.
I could feel that was happening, my dear Judith. That is why I wote to you.
I have no words, I just hug you tight.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Oh, dear Judith! I saw the update today on my reader and I thought: Cool! News! and when I opened the post I found this beautiful picture of Nelson and the news of your loss. As I can I mourn for someone who never met?? And however, I have tears in my eyes and my heart shudder … I just want you to recuperate quickly the illusion of life and keep forever Nelson close to the soul.
What a fabulous picture of your beloved Nelson. The life you shared was, from reading your posts, beyond measure. My heart goes out to you and Camille. Shalom.
Dear Judith and Camille,
What a wonderful picture of Nelson. He will love on in your memories and in your readers as well. Thank you so much for sharing your love story. I send my deepest condolences and love,
Jill
Dear Judith
I’m so sorry to hear your news. As, it happens, it arrives on the anniversary of my mother’s death from cancer three years ago. I am so sad that Nelson is dead (even though I never knew him) but I am glad that you can look back on so much love experienced, a life so lovingly shared and a dying so lovingly supported. Kia kaha. Mary
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Peace be with you.
Judith- I’m so sorry for your loss. Nelson was a great man full of so much energy and pazzazz and a beautiful smile to boot. After reading Debbi`s note about the roses I couldn`t help but see the one higher up in the bush and thinking that is Nelson now looking down on you and Camille. May he be with you forever.
Love always, Devon
Thank you for sharing your love story with all of us. There must be thousands, like me, who have silently followed your journey, but now feel the need to let you know that you have touched so many more people than you can ever know. Bless you.
elegant life, most elegant ending. Someday I would like to know more about the choices you were both able to make about end of life and the loving support you all had to be at home, surrounded by beauty and love. It has been an honor to be with you in some small part as this very normal incredibly difficult passage has moved along. I can see the winged spirit of Nelson over the rugged mountain ranges, whole, happy shinning spirit, that smile lighting up the world.
Judith – Your spirit, and Nelson’s, SOAR on these pages. As does your shared sense of love, beauty, commitment, hope, tenderness and living every moment with purpose and grace. I have been so moved to read your posts and feel I know both of you by all you’ve shared. Your story and your incredible sense of style and how it carries you through, are utterly inspiring.
I pray that same sense of beauty, and all the love he gave you, will be a constant companion for all your days. Much peace and love to you – and thanks to you BOTH, for making this world, truly, a better, kinder, more lovely place. Namaste! Janine
I’m so sorry. Your love and your acceptance have been inspiring, but I’d happily forgo the inspiration if you could have had many more years together.
I’m so sorry to hear of Nelson’s passing….I remember you both well from Goodfriends when I waited and bartended there from 1990-97. Blessings to you and yours at this difficult time….
So sorry for your loss, Judith! I’ve been incredibly touched by your posts the last while. You were both so brave and such an incredible example to the rest of us who know our time will come as well one day. Even though we’ve never met, I’ll be thinking warm thoughts for you now that your beloved is at peace. Big hugs!
Sending you love and light, Judith.
Angela
I have no words that haven’t already been said by others…you have my sincere condolences for your tremendous loss. Thank you for posting the lovely photo of Nelson with his incredible smile–his spirit shines through in that smile. Thank you also for sharing your love story with us, with it’s challenges and joys. I feel privileged to have been able to read about the moving journey that you and your beloved Nelson experienced together, and I wish you love and strength to get through your sorrow.
May you have strength and presence in these difficult days. We all send light to you and your family.
Dearest Judith & Camille,
Thank you for sharing the beautiful photo and heart-felt tribute to Nelson. His spirit truly shines through….The Love you shared is an inspiration. I will never forget his smile and his laughter, or his kindness and gentleness. I am honored to have known you all through working at Goodfriend’s Restaurant in the ’80’s. I had the pleasure of running into Nelson from time-to-time at the Cap. Hill Whole Foods over the past couple years and he was always quick with that smile that could light up a city block and a warm embrace.
Love & Light,
Cherie Miss
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful man.
Judith, I am so sorry for your loss. Men like Nelson make the world a better place, and he will be missed even by those of us who never got a chance to meet him in person.
I write this through tears. Your blog has been inspiring. As no words can adequately express my deepest condolences, you will be in my prayers.
Oh Judith,
I am sending you and yours a bushel and a peck’s worth of Southern hugs. I adore that photo. May your stories and memories be salve for your soul.
I’m so very sorry to hear this. What a heartache for you and your daughter. I have found your resilience very moving, but for now I wish you warmth, rest and peace to replenish your strength. You have been through so much, and given so much by sharing the journey. Peace to Nelson, and to you and Camille.
That vibrant, wonderful photo of Nelson made me smile, though I feel such sadness at the same time. I feel I’ve gotten to know you both through your blog, and can only say my heart is heavy. I am so sorry for your loss.
I feel lucky to have met Nelson and to have experienced his warmth and his vibrant personality, if only briefly. Thank you for sharing your blog with me so that I can read more fully about what an amazing man he was. I hope you will find solace in the fact that you, and he, will continue to inspire people to live life to the fullest
May perpetual light shine upon him and may you and your daughter be sustained by the loving thoughts of your many readers.
I stop by from time to time to admire your spirit. My heart goes out to you and Camille. My Mother was in hospice for a week and a half recently and died on April 9. I’m glad you were able to experience the tender caring of so many wonderful people. Since it is Spring, a time of renewal, here in the midwest, I felt as if my Mom was being reborn into the Universe. I’m finding it hard to comprehend it all. My heart goes out to you.