A Meaningful Moment
Guest Writer: Melinda Bower
“Anthesis” refers to the opening up of a flower for pollination and bloom. In so many ways this is the imagery we desire in opening up our living room to the community: to connect to people and their stories, and hold unhurried space for the purposeful moments of life.
This past January, the Deviled Eggery had the opportunity to lend our space to a local photographer who first visited the Deviled Eggery when helping to harvest produce. Diana Jex, whose friend was facing a new diagnosis of breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy, asked if she could use the Deviled Eggery to gift her friend a photoshoot.
This resulted in beautiful, vulnerable photos of a body about to undergo a massive transition.
Breast cancer statistics are staggering. Breast cancer accounts for 12.5% of all new annual cancer cases worldwide, making it the most common cancer in the world. Here in the United States, breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases among women annually, resulting in over 42,000 deaths a year. Locally, Sonoma County’s breast cancer rates exceed California’s averages, and right down the road in Marin County, they have the highest rate of breast cancer in the state. But beyond the statistics, we have learned that when raw and emotional experiences can be faced within community, and they are witnessed, shared, and held – communities grow stronger.
As best as we can, we are trying to embrace these vulnerable moments of life together. Our theme of Creative Expression has given us an opportunity to partner with artists across various art forms and seek out these moments of connection and shared human experience.
Back to the anthesis ~ we don’t usually stop to watch petals unfold because it’s near impossible to see in real time! We experience flowers more as moments. When the bloom stands open, we may comment on its beauty. It might make us smile, and connect us to something quiet inside of ourselves. Maybe we pause, lean in, and breathe. We admire its gentle, invitational way of stating something so symphonic and yet delicate. We are aware of its impermanence: so precious is this moment, right here.
Photos and blooms both have the power to capture delicate moments of time. As we move towards spring, we want to remember this story that left us feeling honored to be a part of these moments of friendship, vulnerability, and pause.
In honor of this collaboration, we are hoping to raise $1000 for the North Bay Cancer Alliance to help cancer patients in our community meet their basic financial needs. Please consider donating to support their work and under company name, write “Deviled Eggery: A Meaningful Moment” so we can report back on how much Diana’s project raised (she made the first donation already).
A little about the photographer: Diana Jex aims to capture life’s authentic moments of connection and true beauty through her photography. She is especially inspired by families, and engaging with them to document their memories. To learn more, please check out her business at Diana Jex Photography (www.dianajex.com).