hello, my lovelies:
A personal note, but one from the heart.
I am -so- happy to be in San Francisco (and lucky to get to be here through my work folks, who loved Steve and Cindy both) and get the chance to see Cindy. I am so proud of her for everything she’s gone through and still has her positivity
She and Steve have – yep, have – a love that is just so powerful that it knocks me sideways, even through all of this. For every tough time, for every crappy hour, there’s a wonderful memory – however small, however silly, however lovely, of the two of them getting to do something wonderful, interesting, amazing – but always together. Every memory for me here in this place we all lived, where we were down-the-street neighbors or far away, each corner and nook and cranny and moment I spent here has at its heart: the two of them. I feel so deeply honored to be a part of their lives, and of Cindy’s recovery process. She is hurting in every way that you can imagine and then some, but she is just so damn brave. How many of us would just give up? Not our girl. Not Steve’s girl.
Every one of you feels this loss in a different way, but she knows your thoughts are with her, and your support, and it means the world to everyone. I know Steve is here, watching over her, making sure we don’t take it all too seriously, making a joke, shaking his head (with that smile) at all of us.
Suffering and death are a part of the human contract – but so are hope, love and life. And all my love to all of you reading this.
Wonderful sentiment G. I especially appreciate what you wrote about death being part of the human contract. All of us who are lucky enough to be in love will lose that person one day. At some point they’ll be gone from our daily physical life (or vice versa) and that’s just part of the whole game. But the sweetness and wonderfulness of what C & S shared, and still share I’m sure, now that’s what it’s all about. That’s the stuff everyone wants and those two had it, they were dripping with it. They were happy — so happy — to be each other’s person.
I’m proud of Cindy but not surprised that she’s been able to remain her optimistic, thoughtful self through her pain and grief. There’s a reason C & S had such a good relationship, they share a lot of similar qualities; the ability to see the big picture, to embrace the “10% what happens to you, 90% how you react” philosophy… those are just a few of the reasons that Cindy will be OK. She’s so grateful that she was fortunate enough to spend a decade of her life — one third of her life — sharing adventures, secrets, joys, sadnesses… sharing every part of herself with such an incredible guy.
Steve was a lovely person. Everyone who knew Steve knew that to be true, but no one was more intimately acquainted with that truth than Cindy.
By: myryahs on July 24, 2008
at 10:50 pm
Thank you all for those wonderful words. Being with Cindy these past few days makes everything feel very much in the present tense. Her recovery is amazing, her spirit bouyed by the love and strength and presence of an amazing relationship. I am grateful for Cindy’s presence in my life and that Steven had the capacity to love so much and so well. That, ulimately, is what every mother wants for her child. Cindy and I have talked about the strange blending of gratitude and tragedy that is part of our grief. It is what we hold on to and somehow it makes sense.
Sandy Wolkoff
By: Sandy Wolkoff on July 25, 2008
at 9:14 pm