Jan Little

Jan Little, nee Muller (born Nov. 27, 1929, died February 10, 2018) was a truly remarkable human being. She was a totally original person, who faced unbelievable hardship and trauma in her life, overcame it with great dignity and continued to be one of the wisest, most genuine and warmest people we know. Jan was born to Jessie Boyd Muller of Sacramento, California and Bill Muller, originally from Friesland in the Netherlands. Diagnosed with Usher’s Syndrome in her teens, Jan experienced progressive hearing and sight impairment, but never considered this a barrier. After high school, she worked for the State of California. Jan later moved to San Francisco where she attended San Francisco City College. Her daughter, Rebecca, was born in 1955. She moved with Rebecca to San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico in 1958, with a desire to live a natural, self-sustaining lifestyle. There, she met and married Harry Little and moved with him to his homestead in the Lacandon jungle of Chiapas, Mexico. Their homestead flourished as Jan made connections with several botanists and researchers from governmental agencies and universities. She obtained seeds and cuttings for experimental growth, introducing of variety of tropical food plants to the region. In 1973, amid the changing social and environmental landscape of Mexico, the Littles relocated to a remote homestead site deep in the interior rainforest of the Brazilian state of Amazons. The conditions there, however, were less favorable to their homesteading efforts and the family struggled in isolation. By then, Jan was deaf and completely blind. In early 1980, the family became ill from an unknown jungle virus. Both Harry and twenty-five-year-old, Rebecca succumbed to the illness, leaving Jan to survive on her own for over four months before being discovered by a group of cargo men bringing supplies up the flooded tributary of the Rio Negro. Jan returned to Sacramento, where she cared for her aging parents until their death. She worked with a British author who wrote her biography, but never credited or paid her. Over the past 7 years Jan has written down her own story, an amazing piece of writing. From correspondence with a friend we’d like to share this extract: Due to years of malaria and body weakness, I have had severalnear-death experiences,astonishing out-of-body, very beautiful,affirmative experiences. I came back each time because mydaughter was too young to be left without my care. Once, she wascalling me, or her father, and her cries led me back, to my reluctantdisappointment, until I was fully aware once again. I want to finish[my] work before I make my departure, so I take care of my health. Iguard against carelessness and accidents, and I live a comfortableenough, grateful life. Living as I did in the wilderness in the Amazon jungle, I becameaware of the earth's ages. In Brazil we were on the edge of theworld’s oldest mountain range, a range that existed before thecontinental drift when the Western Hemisphere broke off from Africaand drifted beyond the waters that came to be the Atlantic. I becameaware of our Creator, not as a personality who micro-manages ourlives to suit our personal needs, whims or designs, but as an all-encompassing Vitality, a Life Force that stretches to the ends ofCreation, far beyond my comprehension. Living continues to be a Learning Experience. I've been very slow inlearning. I only hope I can do a good job of maintaining enoughenergy to keep learning. But then, isn't that what Life impels eachone of us to do? Be the best we can be and recognize that is whateveryone, essentially, desires to be. When I have deep quiet time, Iconsider the possibility that Consciousness is not confined to theinsides of our head, but is a part of the Creation. It is the idea thatGod ~ or the Life Force or the Creation ~ is yearning, moving torecognition of itself. It's mysterious to be a part of that Dawning. Everything can be taken from you, everything except your attitude,your choice of how to respond. Life can be very difficult; it can seemcruel, even impossible. I have felt overwhelmed, certainly. And inthose moments, another thought has come to me: there issomething beyond the impossible. When I was so ill and alone in theAmazon, I crawled in the hope I would be found and rescued. I kepton crawling. Today, I am alive to tell you of my life. When I become lost under the heavy weight of discouragement,disappointment, even deep anger, I remember that some twentybillion humans have come before me. They have endured andpersevered past suffering. So many contended with greaterhardships than what weighs upon me. I have shelter, food and otherhumans who know and care for me in some adequate measure. Ifeel I should give Life my best effort; as good as I can muster..... By the time I was fifty, I knew, deeply so, that Death was not theissue. Existing with gratitude and humor is the most flavorfulresponse to Life and makes it the most easily digested. Enjoymentcan dilute regret. A celebration of Jan’s remarkable life will be held at “The Gathering Place,” a room connected to Carmichael Presbyterian Church, 5645 Marconi Ave., Carmichael, California on Friday evening, March 23, at 7:00pm. All who knew and loved Jan are invited.