— unpredictable thoughts

I first met Hazel in 2009. I grew to know more of her in words on twit­ter, then images on flickr, then her blog The Asian Welder.

We cor­re­sponded in e-mail the most dur­ing her road trip in 2009 when she and her mate {Hank} set off in their Airstream trailer on a trip across the west.

We had short chats about her trav­els. I fol­lowed her blog. She dis­ap­peared from twit­ter. Later I found it just took too much of her time. She wanted more to be mak­ing art and living. I watched for post­ings about her doings and viewed her art from the beau­ti­ful pho­tos she posted.

I viewed life through her lens. I found great beauty and joy.

In June I vis­ited her blog and found that she was on a new jour­ney. She had can­cer. Months have passed and the truth of this jour­ney is more clear. Hazel has cho­sen to live her life with­out chemo. To find peace and an end on this earth in the same beauty which she has shown all of us that have know her in some way.

I am sad­dened to lose this kind soul. But I pre­pare myself to let go and know that her spirit holds a place in my  heart always. She walks in beauty on this earth.

Aloha Hazel.

hazel colditz, (aka buddhagirlAZ) sculptor, lover of nature the finest art, pas­sion­ate pho­tog­ra­pher, mother, Bud­dhist w/alchemist tendencies.