Loose Strife

A few weeks ago a dear neighbor of ours lost his eldest daughter in a tragic car accident. The young woman was truly remarkable and it was a huge shock to the family and her many friends.
We made some chile for them soon afterwards and received a thank you letter yesterday. I’ve often said that great loss is harder to manage when it happens unexpectedly. There’s no anticipatory grief and no preparation. Instead there’s shock and disbelief. So I was particularly impressed to receive a thoughtfully written note.
It’s the Day of the Dead today. We’ve made an ofrenda as we do every year. Now there are photos and memorabilia of many family displayed on the table. Tamara’s mom. My father — who died two years ago. My stepson’s grandfather who died last year. My brother-in-law’s father died recently and his memorial service is Saturday.
It’s good to recognize the losses that we all share. But the thank you card from my friend also reminded me of how little I wrote in reply to the outpouring of cards, flowers, and so much help and sympathy that I received when Laura was ill and after she died. I regret that I expressed my gratitude so little, particularly because I was and still am so very grateful.
So five years hence, thank you all.

This copy of the campus “literary” magazine, Jump, contained a write up about famous cafeteria matron Ernestine and included two of Laura’s photographs.

That’s the last in this short series.

Music zine from W&M. Eric Didul, WCWM station manager, died in 1990.

In Santa Cruz Laura took a job at the paint-your-own pottery shop. This bowl contains the Flying Nun logo — a New Zealand record label that carried some of the country’s great bands during the heyday of kiwi indie pop music, which was happening while we were in New Zealand in the early 90s.

One of our early road trips was a tour of odd sites in Pennsylvania and Virginia probably around 1990 using the Roadside America book. Stops including such noteworthy destinations as Centralia. But during that trip we stopped at the Roadside America namesake — a miniature, idealized American town where the national anthem played as Jesus Christ was projected on the american flag every half hour.

A promotional piece for WCWM, William and Mary’s college radio station.

A jacket Laura decorated in high school. Reference is to friends’ band Bas Bleu.

Laura bought this lighter in Xian, China. It played a patriotic tune when you opened it.

Laura treasured this poster, which I remember she posted proudly in the window of our apartment in Santa Cruz to the delight of our neighbor, Lisa, who was immediately determined to meet Laura. They remained good friends.

Collector’s glass. We have a full set.