HARMONY ART ORGANIC DESIGN
  • Fabrics
  • Ordering Fabric
    • Fabric Calculator
    • USA Ordering >
      • Organic Cotton Plus
      • Honey Be Good
      • Silver Needle & Thread
      • B2B (business to business)
      • Whoelsale Application
    • EU Ordering
    • EU B2B
  • Who's Using our Fabrics?
    • Featured Designer
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • Baby
    • Bedding/Home
    • Children
    • Pets
    • Service Providers
  • Press
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Why Organic?
    • Why Organic?
    • Textile Truths
    • Organic Evolution
    • Organic (r)evolution
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • GOTS Certificate
    • History of Harmony Art
    • Artist Statement
    • Speaking
    • Trees Talk
  • Fabric Glossary
  • FAQ
  • BUZZ

100% Organic Cotton Fabrics

For home sewers, businesses, retailers, and anyone who gives a scrap!

Happy "Special Day" Harmony Art

1/15/2014

8 Comments

 
Picture
My brother, Christian, never liked birthdays. In fact in his presence they were always referred to as "special days" not birthdays. Yes, we have been known to publicly sing "Happy Special Day" to the Happy Birthday tune.  Harmony Art turns 9 this month! 

Nine years ago this week, I was in Michigan with my father-in-law as he was released of his body. That event was the bitter sweet beginning of the Harmony Art journey. Just over two weeks ago I was with my brother, Christian (pictured above) as he was released from his body. It's hard to be happy and celebrate right now. I miss him terribly.
PictureChristian, Harmony & Merit
Someone told me when my father died that losing someone you love is like having a permanent hole in your heart. Lately I have been trying to imagine the hole as being a hug so when I reach for it I feel his presence and love rather than his absence. I can't say I am always succeeding but I am trying.

Christian was selfless, dedicated, and quirky. When Wendy (his wife) found the bathroom extra dirty and asked Christian about it he confessed to letting a homeless man in to take a shower and to pick out clothes from his own closet. Yes, Christian was THAT guy  -- the one who would truly give a stranger the shirt off his back. He did these acts never begrudgingly but with a full and open heart.

Christian was dedicated.. . .  to his job, his family, his friends, his church, his CAL Bears and all of us lucky enough to have inhabited this world with him.

If you EVER attended a Northgate girl's volleyball game you knew Christian or at least heard him. His cheers were legendarily loud. I'll personally never forget his Bronco whinny.  When it came to cheering on his team (and daughter) there was no such thing as self-consciousness just utter dedication to having his support heard and felt. 

A family story goes that Christian got in to one fight as a child. The reason? Someone was bullying his little brother, Merit. If you had Christian on your team he would go that extra mile. He cared about what he did and who he did it for more intensely and selflessly than anyone I have ever known.

Picture
Christian was quirky. One of his nicknames was BananaMan - he made it a point to bring bananas with him when he went on family outings or vacations. Why? To give them to people who were working that he encountered of course! It started with the sleigh driver and became standard operating procedure from there.

I for one will miss his big hugs, calling him my little brother despite his size and age advantage, our philosophical conversations - usually in cars, and just his unwavering loyalty and love.

I challenge all of us to keep Christian with us by being a little more selfless and loving when it comes to helping others, to acknowledge those things we are dedicated to -- to go that extra mile with a smile, and maybe even quietly perform a random act of kindness.

Christian, I don't know what to say but I LOVE YOU.  This year's "special day" is dedicated to you. 

8 Comments
Stacy Iest Hsu
1/16/2014 12:46:41 am

Oh Harmony...I am so sorry for your loss. I am giving you lots of hugs and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. What a wonderful person and inspiration. Wishing you all the comfort in the world! Love Stacy

Reply
Jane Reichhold link
1/16/2014 02:54:53 am

Harmony, Christian sounds like the best brother for you to have! I understand you more having met him through your words. I loved your idea of envisioning a hug where others might feel a hole in their heart. Good work. I do not know if it helps you, but it has helped me to think of my departed loved one as closer than ever. To think that freed of his body he is now in the very air you breath - closer to you than every before. He is not gone; he has only changed to be closer to you and all those he loved.

Congratulations on the birth of Harmony Arts! You are the best of the future.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{Harmony}}}}}}}}}}}}} until we meet again!
\o/ Jane

Reply
Tami Chaulk link
1/16/2014 03:11:40 am

Happy "Special Day" Harmony.

Reply
Cara
1/16/2014 03:37:43 am

Christian was an amazing guy. He had a great, silly sense of humor. He was also incredibly intelligent. Although he never made you feel dumb. He was humble and kind, and utterly selfless. He did for everyone. It never occurred to him to think that a gesture might be too small to be noticed. He did it anyway. And it was ALWAYS notice, even if never commented on. I loved that he treated me the way he treated his little sister. He never made me feel younger than him, except when I understood that he always cared about our (Harmony, me, the rest of her friends) welfare. We should be so fortunate to know another guy like Chris in our lives, and I'm so glad that I have . . . because Mattman is just like him! The world is a better place for having had Christian sit in its waiting room . . . big love and hugs to the extended Herman clan.

Reply
Laurie Lemmlie-Leung link
1/16/2014 06:32:41 pm

Dear Harmony,
So sorry for your loss, know that I am thinking of you. Christian sounds like a truly special person, how lucky you were to have him in your life!
Lots of hugs,
Laurie

Reply
Harmony link
1/17/2014 03:56:57 am

Thank you all for your sweet words. I do feel very blessed and grateful for all the wonderful memories of Christian. In response to the outpour of love for my brother's family, a college fund has been opened for his two children. http://www.gradsave.com/matthewandemmaherman

Reply
Mira Knaster link
1/17/2014 05:30:07 am

Dear Harmony,
It makes sense to me that you would have the kind of brother you've described, for his qualities are those that you, too, embody. May the recollection of Christian's loving kindness and generosity help to heal your heart and the whole family.

Big hugs,
Mirka

Reply
Ann Savageau link
1/20/2014 05:18:03 am

Dear Harmony,
I am deeply moved reading your tribute to Christian. I read it with a mix of grief and joy and it brought tears to my eyes. You have brought Christian to life for even those who never met him, thank you. His warmth and generosity towards others personified what a true 'Christian' should be--what a fitting name!
Ann

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    www.HarmonyArt.com

    Harmony in an oak tree

    Harmony Susalla

    Founder of Harmony Art organic design.


    Thought as a System book cover
    currently reading
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    January 2015
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Braggin
    Business
    Challenge
    China
    Co Creating
    Co-creating
    Design Process
    Diy
    Family
    Friends
    Giveaways
    Gmos
    Goals
    Gots
    Guests
    Humor
    India
    Interviews
    Knits
    Misc.
    Monsanto
    Organic Fabrics
    Packaging
    Plastic
    Politics
    Product Guides
    Products
    Recycling
    Research
    Retailers
    Sales
    Soapbox
    Speaking
    Special Offer
    Travel
    Tutorial
    Usa
    Video

    RSS Feed

Stay in the Harmony Art information loop:
Subscribe to Newsletter
© harmony art 2005-2023
Proud to be a  member of:
Global Organic Textile Standard Logo
Organic
Certified by IDFL
010655
(707) 884-3347
info@harmonyart.com
PO Box 892 Gualala, CA 95445
  • Fabrics
  • Ordering Fabric
    • Fabric Calculator
    • USA Ordering >
      • Organic Cotton Plus
      • Honey Be Good
      • Silver Needle & Thread
      • B2B (business to business)
      • Whoelsale Application
    • EU Ordering
    • EU B2B
  • Who's Using our Fabrics?
    • Featured Designer
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • Baby
    • Bedding/Home
    • Children
    • Pets
    • Service Providers
  • Press
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Why Organic?
    • Why Organic?
    • Textile Truths
    • Organic Evolution
    • Organic (r)evolution
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • GOTS Certificate
    • History of Harmony Art
    • Artist Statement
    • Speaking
    • Trees Talk
  • Fabric Glossary
  • FAQ
  • BUZZ