More lucid. More words, more connections, more info.

[captainsblog]

Thank you all for so many kind words in this day of reeling from expected-but-not-now news.  They have helped me, as I'm sure so many friends' words have helped the family and those even closer to Janice than the longago and faraway friend that I became.

These are the words I posted to Doug and the boys in the first moments of realization of this loss:

Janice is the closest thing I will ever have to a longlost twin sister. We grew up and were confirmed in the same church, shared those many amazing years in East Meadow that so many friends here will remember, took different paths but walked much the same walk on them for oh so many years. The richest blessing of my recent life was getting to spend a little time with her this past fall. She loved my wife who she never met, and the feeling will always be mutual.

I will move heaven, earth and possibly snowbanks (yours, not mine for a change) to join you in celebrating her life and those in who it will always live on.

On that last point: Doug has posted the arrangements for this coming week. Everything will be at the Bartholomew & Son funeral home in Bellmore, Long Island, with calling hours 2-4 and 7-9:30 Wednesday and 2-4 Thursday. The "send off for her final journey" will be on Thursday night from 7-9:30. My plan is to be there for those latter two, heading back as far north/west as I can get late Thursday night and getting to at least Rochester by Friday afternoon.

Yes, that's her next to me in the userpic, from when I was blessed with that final random chance to see her, looking as we will all love and remember her. There are far more beautiful, and better quality, and spirit-capturing shots on her Facebook wall, which you can scroll through by clicking this.

Eleanor and I went to the early show this afternoon at Emily's high school, which her boyfriend stars in and for which Em has been doing makeup. It's called Leader of the Pack- the link to a local piece about the musical won't be freely accessible for another week or two, but from reading the newsprint copy of the local weekly, I knew it was the story of Ellie Greenwich, who you probably haven't heard of but whose late '50s to early '70s pop music you certainly have. What I didn't know was that Ellie grew up in Levittown, Long Island: Janice's home town and one over from where I was raised.

I'm thinking she enjoyed the songs today as much as I did, even if she was a little further up in the balcony than a day ago.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

MihoさんにHonoluluで上手なスタイリストを教えてもらう。

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

What a gorgeous smile. I'm glad you have so many happy memories of your friend. I would like to have met her.

*hugs*

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

::hugs:: I'm so sorry.

[headbanger118.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad you are getting to go to Janice's memorial service. I know her family will appreiciate that. Safe journey to you there and back. You continue to be in my prayers as well as her family.

Sounds like a great show at Emily's high school!