Nancy’s Life Parties
at the Gay Head Cliffs on July 10th & August 25th, 2018
and at the George Sand statue in Paris
on her favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, in Nov. 2018.
Of grief & gratitude
I'm constantly filled with a sense of desolation and gratitude as I prepare Nancy's manuscripts for publication, revisit her favorite spots, rearrange her earrings, kiss her image in photos and paintings, and write here - at her desk - looking over the water garden, forest and sea she wanted to return to, but couldn't.
I've spoken to her day and night on the beaches of the Vineyard and banks of the Seine - murmuring, invoking, raging, and thanking her… always thanking her.
I sometimes feel robbed and remorseful for spending any time away from my sweetheart, and, finally, for my failure to save her, but every thought of her also stuns me with joy.
Although I'm steeped in grief, I’m grateful to everyone who came to celebrate Nancy or has paid tribute to her curiosity, delight, moral clarity, generosity and activism. She exulted in being solidly alive and surrounded by the ocean, birdsong, wind, friends and family, and although we've lost her, she would have wanted us to remember her with long blissful swims, searching looks, dancing steps and waves of joy.
My love to all of you,
Duncan
caldwellnd(at)aol.com
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of our meeting
in the same room at Shakespeare & Company in Paris.
When we lived on the barge with rowboats beside it in the background.
I’m so grateful to everyone who sent the photos, memories and tributes
to Nancy that you’ll find on the following pages:
- More tributes to Nancy and her own writings,
and
I’m sure that you’ll also be moved by the following essays
that Nancy wrote under the name of Nancy Leenson Caldwell:
“Listening to the Kigali Night”,
which appeared in The New York Times,
and
“Memories to Moments on the Cancer Caravan”
which was published by the Vineyard Gazette.
***
Finally, here are
- some pictures of my love soon after we met
- and a link to a page about the memorial for her that Nancy’s Parisian friends and colleagues held beside the George Sand statue in the Jardin du Luxembourg on Thanksgiving Day 2018.
Nancy wearing her Yemeni red coral necklace
Nancy Caldwell curled up in Vincennes, circa 1976
Nancy Caldwell with soot on her face in 1976
Nancy after playing the sooty plate game in the room she sublet from Stephanie Stolin at Chateau de Vincennes
Nancy & Duncan Caldwell during the heat wave & drought of 1976
Nancy playing with me as I was writing a novel in her room at Chateau de Vincennes.
Clowning with our guest, Trevor Stuart (previously Trevor Smith), while he was studying mime & acting in Paris.
Duncan being teased by Nancy & Trevor while writing a novel at Chateau de Vincennes in 1976
Nancy & Duncan in the hull of the Klaidonis around 1978
Duncan and Nancy Caldwell on the deck of the Klaidonis, Paris, around 1978
Nancy on the deck of our barge in 1977 or 78
Nancy at the wheelhouse of our barge on the quai de Conti, Paris, ca. 1977
Nancy at the wheelhouse of the Klaidonis, circa 1977
Tweaking Nancy’s nose in Bethesda the day after returning to the family on Christmas Eve, 1977
Cutting our cake in Randallstown, Maryland , after “eloping” on July 10, 1978. Nancy’s wearing the Greek dress we’d bought as her wedding dress.
Trevor, Nancy and Duncan clowning around. I wish we could have all done so forever.
My love, Nancy Caldwell, standing on our boat in front of the Pont Neuf, statue of le Vert Galant - Henri IV, and La Samaritaine in the background. Paris, circa 1977.
Nancy and Duncan Caldwell. Inside our barge/houseboat, the Klaidonis, around 1978.
Nancy Caldwell holding our baby Olivia in the company of two girls on the bank of the Vézère river, opposite the Château de Losse.
Inside the hull of our home from 1977 through 1979, a Parisian barge named the Klaidonis.
Nancy Caldwell with baby Olivia during a family bike ride in a French forest.