There once was a girl called Sally who loved Sunflowers she was sunny and bright and always turned her face towards the sunshine in search of the light just as Sunflowers do and who spread sunshine wherever she went …
This girl was my best friend for 38 years before she finally lost her battle with Cancer …
Sally was the brightest, most positive, courageous, fun loving, full of mischief, grab life with both hands and squeeze every last drop of life and living from every day that I have ever met !
Sally battled with mouth and facial Cancer for 16 years and never during all of that time did she ever once ask ‘Why me ?’ but instead always said ‘Why not me ! ‘
Sally’s form of Cancer meant that she endured many gruelling operations that left her face more and more disfigured and her speech and ability to eat more and more impaired but instead of shying away from the light and hiding herself away she embraced each and every one of her scars as to her they were a symbol that she had survived for another day, month, year … and boy did she make the most of each day !
Sally loved clothes and make-up – she could turn shopping into an Olympic sport ! You never, ever saw her looking less than her best, she was a master of applying make-up not to hide her scars but to enhance them and turn her face toward the sunshine with the brightest shine in her eyes that could light up a room and her face …
So many of us can learn a lesson from Sally’s approach to life as so many of us get so hung up with searching for perfection in all areas of our lives – to be thinner, prettier, better at what we do, constantly worrying about our flaws and people’s perceptions of us instead of embracing our imperfections as Sally did and celebrating our imperfections as we are all perfectly imperfect just as we are …
During the last weeks of her life I was having a major crisis of faith about continuing on with my business Gilly Page Jewellery and was on the verge of giving up on my hopes and dreams and Sally made me promise to never give up – written on a piece of paper as she was unable to speak …
Sally’s Sunflowers is a celebration of ‘my girl’ and all the things that she loved – cosy sweatshirts and hoodies to keep her warm as she watched her beloved son play Rugby, a make-up bag of course, canvas tote bags as you never knew when an impromptu shopping trip might occur ! A generous mug for steaming, frothy coffee especially with Gingerbread syrup, cosy cushions to relax with on the sofa reading her favourite magazines and watching anything to do with baking especially the Great British Bake-Off and Nigella so aprons were a must as she loved to cook especially cake – even though she couldn’t eat it as she had a liquid diet although her love of chocolate meant she always found a way to enjoy her favourite truffles even if she did have to mash them up with plenty of cream and Baileys !
Sally would be bursting with pride that her niece Sarah now has her own artisan chocolate business @bloomchocolate and she would be first in the queue to buy some ! and my first love, jewellery especially the little silver Sunflower charm that started it all as a keepsake to raise funds for Primrose Hospice who looked after her in her final days …
The love of Sally’s life was her son and it was her greatest wish that he should be able to receive professional help and support in dealing with her loss should he want and need it so that it why 20% of the profits from each sale from the Sally’s Sunflowers Collection is donated to Primrose Hospice Children’s Bereavement Team supporting children and teenagers dealing with the loss of a loved one …
I decide to include a packet of Sally’s Sunflower Seeds with every purchase from the Sally’s Sunflowers Collection as Sunflowers were Sally’s favourite flowers and it was important to me to continue to Spread The Sunshine in her memory and to help the environment too as Sunflowers huge smiling faces are giant landing pads for Bees and other pollinating insects. In the Autumn and Winter months a packet of Sally’s Sunflower Seed Bird Food is included to help feed our birds during the cold weather when food is difficult to find, therefore helping the environment all year round.
Gilly 🌻
P.S
Did you know that on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is covered by clouds it is said that Sunflowers turn towards each other to share their energy supporting and empowering each other. Truth or myth what a wonderful way to be !
This was the essence of Sally and I’s friendship and a lesson we can all learn – Together We Are Stronger
This picture of Sally and I was taken just a few short months before she left us and is my favourite picture of her and I – she was not feeling well on this day and was in pain yet still she sparkled and shone, spreading her sunshine and making memories to last a lifetime 🌻
