Mayaash thoughtfully posted her tribute to Lori. It was very moving. Here’s a “comment rescue” for those who might not be reading a thread from a few days ago.
Message from Mayaash
I hope Kate and some of the others who put together and/or attended Lori’s memorial will post. I’m in NC and was unable to get up to MA for it, though Lori’s wonderful friend, “Doc,” graciously read the below for me. It was suggested that I post my brief by very heartfelt tribute to Lori, so I shall do that. From all reports, the service was lovely and very Lori. So here is my small contribution to the day:
She was the friend who said “I’m on my way over” when a dog was sick and the friend who said “please come” when a beloved cat was dying. She was the friend who hefted the load when help was needed and she was the friend who didn’t often enough say “I need help” when the shoe was on the other foot. She was the woman who didn’t pick up the phone when she wanted to rid her backyard of a concrete slab but, instead, picked up a jackhammer. She was the most delicate but vibrant of petals on the orchids she delighted in and the toughest of stems who supported and nourished her friends and family. She was the excited child who called with amazement to say she’d seen an albino deer in her yard and the fierce mother-tiger when she saw wrongs that needed to be righted. She was the mother with boundless love and pride in her daughter and the niece who adored her “Mart-Mart.” She was the rarity who was as easy with her tears as with her uproarious laughter. She was the wounded who had been let down by the country she fought to better and she was the victor in her tireless battle to engage and empower others in the cause.
Lori, my dear friend, you will always be held in the embrace of the many you graced with your love.
Lori’s service went quite well. It was an open service and anyone who chose to could speak.
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p>Blue Mass Group was very much a part of the service.
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p>Amber Paw attended and read a poem that she had written and was posted on BMG.
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p>Lori’s daughter, Kristina, read the first part of Lori’s post from last summer, “We are all Responsible.” Thanks to tblade for reminding us of her thoughts.
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p>In my own remarks, I referenced BMG:
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p>Thanks to sabutai for that great post!
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p>BMG was an important thread in the tapestry of Lori’s life, as it was in the tapestry of Lori’s service.
…. where the great trees soared all around us, birds swooped and dove, and the wind provided the music…in a high canopy which was made of steel, but cleanly functional, so that there were even outlets for coffee…
I’ve posted a couple of files: one with the remarks I prepared for the occasion, and one of pictures that I thought captured Lori’s spirit.
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p>I was worried that what I had to say was too dark, in what was an otherwise pretty upbeat (if sad) celebration of Lori’s life. It was what I was moved to say, however, so I went with it. Afterwards, I was pleased when several people told me that what I had said really resonated for them.
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p>My greatest reward came when Lori’s daughter, Kristina, gave me a hug, and said, “You said what I would like to have said about my mother.” I doubt she meant that she would have literally used the same words; I think she meant that I captured the spirit of what she was thinking. In any case, it was very gratifying.
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p>Kate did a superb job in leading the service, allowing all who wanted to grieve or share a remembrance to come forward and speak for as long as they were moved to do so. It was a touching event, and a good way to end one stage of grieving and move on from there.
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p>Thanks, Kate! and thanks to everyone who was there to share the burden, both friends and family. We are truly blessed by our community of caring, and many of us know each other because of Lori’s activism. It was a nice “good-bye!”
Michael,
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p>Thank you for your kind words. It was you, Amber Paw, and all the other speakers who made it so meaningful. There has been talk through Lori’s death of the need for people to get together beyond the on-line community. The group of us who originally came together through shared values and ultimately worked towards shared goals have formed strong friendships. I saw so strongly how Lori’s friends and family worked together to create a ceremony that was a fitting tribute to Lori.
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p>Kate
…but do you know of a particular cause, or candidate, for which Lori had a strong identification, so that we could make a donation in her name?
I will be in touch with Kristina soon. As you can imagine there is a lot going on for her right now. I’m reluctant to name any cause out of deference for the family.
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p>I did talk briefly with Congressman McGovern’s office. We might try to schedule the Lori Canvass/BMG Gathering in conjunction with one of his trips to NH. Congressman McGovern was one of Lori’s favorites.
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p>Thanks!
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p>Kate
We’re awaiting word as to an appropriate charity.
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p>One thing that you could do is to help find a home for Lori’s two 4-year-old male cats. Sweet and retiring (read: shy), I would like the two them to stay together since they seem such good buddies. Several of us are looking for a home for them, but this is a tough time to place cats since all the adoption agencies seem to be flooded with cats from displaced or economically distressed families.
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p>A cash contribution to any charity having to do with animals would be appropriate, imho; just let Kristina know through the email or mailing address Kate gave in an earlier post.