In the summer of 1968, when Tamar Griggs was studying art and dance in New York City, she accepted an invitation for a short sailing holiday in the Mediterranean.  Much to her surprise, that brief respite would lead to a year at sea, complete with a shipwreck on the coast of Spain before hitchhiking across the Atlantic Ocean.

Carried by three different boats across thousands of nautical miles, she found herself hurled into trouble, doubt, beauty, laughter and conversations with the dead. As she sailed along, Tamar simultaneously made her way through a parallel inner journey, confronting darkness and secrets that had haunted her life, and challenged her relationships for years, keeping joy at bay.  

In her 80’s Tamar sat down to write the stories of her life as a gift to her daughter Maya and her family and it was this particular chapter of her navigation across the Atlantic and her own uncharted waters that rose powerfully to the surface, even against her emotional protests. 

I had the pleasure of meeting Tamar, an accomplished nature photographer through the kind introduction of a previous guest on this podcast, her friend and fellow resident on Salt Spring Island, Lolla Devindish.  We first met at her artist’s booth at the Saturday market, just before her memoir, Tamar at Sea, was published and then for the conversation you are about to hear, which we recorded a few months ago. Her book with the subtitle, Navigating Love, Loss, Secrets and Self Across the Open Sea, became the metaphoric anchor and sails for our conversation. At the time, Tamar told me that she imagined with all the energy leading up to the holidays that it might be best to share the episode in the new year and so we programmed for a January slot. 

 I received the sad and shocking news less than a week ago, that Tamar has passed away peacefully in her home on the island.  After a conversation with her beloved daughter Maya, who was certain that her Mama would have loved it to be released as planned, I have chosen to do so.  It is my hope that in doing so, her voice, stories and beautiful spirit as captured here may provide some light and comfort to those grieving and celebrating her life.

In the past month alone, and in multiple ways, I have been reminded of the fragility of life and how life as we know it can change in an instance.  Tamar reminds us of the importance of allowing life to steep like a great cup of tea and then to share that tea party through story, image and laughter, for those who come next to better understand the path laid before them.

In Memory of Tamar Griggs (1941-2024)