FliegendeWolf

Hey everybody, wish LouDiamond and Kevin922 a safe drive home; they drove eight hours to be with Holly's family yesterday and today. I had the pleasure of meeting both today (if under less than optimal circumstances) and they're both good guys. Also, if you haven't already, pop Kevin a thank-you note for really pulling together on behalf of our community for Holly's family. Lou and Kevin: did you guys make it over to Tecumseh? How were the skies? Did you see any angels up there? A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

High: Watching my girlfriend graduate with highest honors (I'm so pround) Low: The funeral was this morning... When I get to a scanner, I'll post the program. It included a heartbreaking excerpt from her diary. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

(for 4/24) High: Seeing my girlfriend's family who are visiting for her graduation (they rock!) Low: Holly's Wake A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Hello all, I have just returned from Holly's wake. As Kevin, Michele, and Wendy suggested, her family was very warm and welcoming to me. I met Holly's mother, father, and stepmother, and gave each of them a big hug and told them how special Holly was to our community and that all of our prayers are with them. Her father seemed especially touched that I had driven out to be with them. He asked me to post the memorial card that they were distributing there, so that is attached. Kevin did a wonderful job selecting a flower arrangement. They were very beautiful. We did well to put our trust in his leadership during this sorrowful time. The wake was an open viewing, and as I had never met Holly, it was terribly strange that this was the first time that I saw her in the flesh. I do not know where I stand on God, life, death, afterlife and all that, but I have seen enough photographs of Holly to know what her smile looked like, what her bright spirit looked like as it shone through that smile. I did not see that in the casket this afternoon. This tells me that the body is indeed just a container for the soul--I truly believe that Holly's spirit is soaring somewhere else, whether in the heavens, or all around us, brightening the existence of all that come in contact with her. Blue skies, Holly...I wish I had known you in person. May the light that you brought to this earth forever shine. Steve A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

[does another shot] Yeahhhhh...you tell'r Sheebazz (hic) I'd hate her too if she kept peeing on my windows and bushes... [thud] A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Ha! Here's a man who keeps making the same mistakes A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

High: Finishing all my coursework for the semester yesterday! Low: Remembering that I still need to submit my students' grades by tomorrow. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

So I suppose you'd never say that animal torture is one of your pet peeves? A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

The description in Hitchhiker of the substance that came out of the automatic drink making machine (its actual name escapes me for the moment) when Arthur Dent asked for tea was "almost, but not quite entirely, exactly unlike tea." A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Irony in the phrase "self-healing minefield" noted. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Kevin, Wendy, and Michelle, Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have decided that I will go to the wake tomorrow afternoon at 4 PM. Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement on Saturday and cannot make the funeral. Everyone, If there is anyone in the Detroit area that would like to go to the wake tomorrow, you are more than welcome to come with me. Steve A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Huh...so she's asking me to lick her poo...And here I thought all this time that she actually liked me. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

lol... Why do they do that? A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

I think I'd like to go. Farmington Hills is a pretty quick drive for me. I think it might be good to have a dz.com presence there as well. Two immediate problems: 1) girlfriend is graduating and her parents are coming in town. I might be able to go to the viewing, but I doubt I could make the funeral service. 2) I would feel incredibly awkward being there, having never really met Holly in person (I know this is my problem and no real reason to not go...any advice on this? What to say, for example, to family and friends when they ask how I knew Holly?) Kevin: when were you planning on going? A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Why? Are you in the mood for drinking something that tastes almost, but not quite exactly, unlike tea? A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

High: Getting a good night's sleep last night! Low: Trying to plug through one last term paper before the end of the semester (tomorrow!) A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

I was just thinking about this this morning, and it seems relevant, so I thought I'd post the text to the song. Some background: the text below is an English translation of a German paraphrase of Chinese poetry. The piece, from Gustav Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde is absolutely stunning! Der Abschied (The Farewell) The sun departs behind the mountains. Into all the valleys the evening descends With its shadows, which are full of coolness. Oh see! Like a silver bark The moon floats upward on the blue lake of heaven. I feel a soft wind blowing Behind the dark spruces. The brook sings, full of pleasant sound, through the dark. The flowers pale in the twilight, The earth breathes full of quiet and sleep. All longing now wants to dream, Weary men go homeward, To learn again in sleep Forgotten happiness and youth. The birds perch quietly in their branches, The world falls asleep! A cool breeze blows in the shade of my spruces. I stand here and wait for my friend; I await him for a final farewell. I long, O friend, to enjoy The beauty of this evening at your side. Where are you? You leave me so long alone! I walk up and down with my lute On paths that swell with soft grass. O beauty! O world drunk with eternal life and love! He alighted from his horse and handed him the drink of farewell. He asked him where he was bound and why it had to be. He spoke, his voice was veiled: My friend, fortune was not kind to me in this world. Where do I go? I walk, I wander into the mountains. I seek peace for my lonely heart. I go to my homeland, my abode! I will never roam in distant lands. My heart is still and awaits its hour. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

I buy boxes of 100 bags of Jasmine Green Tea from the local Chinese grocery. Have one every morning. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

LOL! Not too far off base, actually. The paper I'm presenting is about the Rocky Horror Picture Show and I'm arguing that although there is an overt message of sexual excess, there is actually a stronger covert message of restraint. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Thanks for the invitation! I'll keep it in mind, although I'll want to get my license and a rig before I start visiting other DZs.

But make sure you're keeping little goals-take one day at a time. Trying to look two or three weeks ahead can make it seem unbearable, but you can go all day today without a smoke, right? And if you can, then you can go all day tomorrow, etc.

I know, it's terrible, isn't it? I'm waiting for two things: A) a nice day B) a weekend that is not booked solid Because I'll be done with the semester on Wednesday, the latter will take care of itself soon. Living in Michigan, not so sure of the former! A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

What a thoughtful idea, Becky. Thanks for thinking!

I think that a good way to remember Holly is by keeping this thread alive with its original intent, so: High: Finding out that my paper was accepted for the conference Low: Not being able to sleep last night. A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All

Hey JT, I really dig your new avatar! Steve A One that Isn't Cold is Scarcely a One at All