Loose Strife

10 responses so far ↓

• 1 Laura Leaverton (Berkeley CA) // Oct 6, 2008 at 1:00 am

  I know the loss of Laura is felt by so many. Thank you David, for sharing so much of your thoughts and day-to-day life. My heart goes out to you and all of the family. May Naomi and Lily hold strong memories of their joyful, funny, creative Mom who was loved by so many.

• 2 Kate Farnady (Berkeley, CA) // Oct 6, 2008 at 1:13 am

  You know Laura made a big and wonderful impact in this word and touched many lives. Even though we knew her for only a short time in Berkeley when our babies were little and we were all starting out as mothers … her spark, her humor, her creativity made a lasting impression on so many of us. I can’t imagine losing a child. But losing your love and losing your mother … I don’t know what to say to that. Except that you, David, are a wonderful, thoughtful and strong man and Lily and Naomi and lucky to have you to help them hold the their beautiful mother in their hearts.

• 3 Julia Flannery // Oct 6, 2008 at 6:28 am

  These songs are beautiful and wistful. Music was always playing at Casa Kulp, streaming through the computer, and her taste in music was obscure and fun. Up from my childhood popped this one: (sorry, lyrics only. Not very tech-savvy…probably better that way, as it’s Christopher Cross)
  “Think of Laura”
  Every once in a while I’d see her smile
  And she’d turn my day around
  A girl with those eyes
  Could stare through the lies
  And see what your heart was saying
  Think of Laura but laugh don’t cry
  I know she’d want it that way
  When you think of Laura laugh don’t cry
  I know she’d want it that way
  A friend of a friend
  A friend to the end
  That’s the kind of girl she was
  Taken away so young
  Taken away without a warning
  I know you and you’re here
  In every day we live
  I know her and she’s here
  I can feel her when I sing
  Hey Laura, where are you now
  Are you far away from here
  I don’t think so
  I think you’re here
  Taking our tears away

• 4 Rev James Hudgins // Oct 6, 2008 at 8:36 am

  David
  I knew Laura in high school. We had a few classes together. I am sorry to hear the news. I will say mass for you and for your family, and for her, tomorrow afternoon. God bless you.

• 5 Carl // Oct 6, 2008 at 11:08 am

  It’s strange and wonderful how music can connect us. Seeing you and Laura at the Fountains of Wayne show in Northampton was a welcome reaffirmation that our good friends have good taste. But September Song is not only one of one of Weill’s best and easily one of my favorites, I was just singing the very same song to Jackson on Sunday. (He asked me to stop, of course.)
  David, I wish there were a tear to cry or a scream to make that could take some of the enormity of this away from you and your family – – but there isn’t. You’re certainly tired of hearing people say that they don’t know what to say, but I hope there’s at least some comfort in knowing that so many people are thinking about you and the girls.
  There’s not one of us who hasn’t learned enormous lessons in love and strength from you, though. I’ve learned a lot of things from a lot of people and I’ve always respected you, but it’s rare for a man to offer me such an example of grace that it obliges me to step back and reassess myself. Your grace was in your ability to maintain a balanced comportment in facing the worst so that the ones you love could draw from your strength. I know you must feel deep wells of rage and despair – – that you’ve been able to remain fearless in service to that love has been a tremendous gift to Laura, to Lily and to Naomi.
  You’ve also given an incredibly precious gift to a number of us as well. For those of us who already had great affection for Laura, you let us fall just a bit in love with her ourselves by letting us see her through your eyes. That gift will strengthen the relationships of so many people you know, there are simply no words of thanks that can express it enough.
  With much love back to you,
  Carl

• 6 Patricia Donohue // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:01 pm

  Dear David, Natalie, Joe, Lily and Naomi:
  Please know just how very much you are all being surrounded by the love from this little preschool community and our deepest wish that everything could have magically been different. Maybe that is why some of us stay teaching preschoolers because here we get to go on experiencing magic. I am so with Naomi counting 123.
  I have been amazed to see how much of Laura is in Naomi’s face and then today, to see another Laura in your face, Natalie.
  Naomi spent most of her lunch hour standing up, very gently swaying to some very sweet music I am going to pass on to you. She is so well loved here, by even the child who wants to be the toughest. He is always wanting to sit next to her, play with her outside. Today he stood and tried to rock his body back and forth, just like Naomi. When she fell outside after lunch, all of the kids came to her, put her in the wagon and brought her to Christine to get an ice pack. You would think that they knew today was a day to take extra good care of our beloved Naomi.
  David, you write beautifully. And my heart breaks for you because in your words, you so colourfully reveal the depth of your love for Laura.
  We send you all our very best,
  Patricia

• 7 Kate O'Shea // Oct 6, 2008 at 3:08 pm

  Hi David,
  I met Lily and Naomi through the preschool a couple of years ago (and again, at Harry Levine’s birthday party in July). I have been following your blog, and admire your courage and honesty, as you reach out in our community. I send my thoughts, prayers, and support, and offer any assistance I can with your children at any time in the future. Please let us know. I’ve enclosed a poem I wrote for a friend who died of cancer in 2003. I hope it will be of some comfort.
  Sending light and prayers,
  Kate, Joanie, and Liam (of Conway)
  The Way Home
  It began months ago
  but is eminent now, waters parting
  unstoppable and unyielding
  a birth in reverse
  Outside, the leaves, the rain
  the world’s constant hum
  details, routines, minutia
  as the way opens slowly
  Words, sound, thirst, touch
  Midwives comfort and attend
  Your own dear one cradles
  your reluctance in parting
  Transition comes, finally
  Anchored no longer
  You shed your earthbound body
  As you slip into the night sky
  Giving birth to your soul
  August, 2003

• 8 Norm // Oct 6, 2008 at 6:30 pm

  We see once again the power of Laura and her family. The power to bring so many – friends, family, and total strangers – together. It is painful that we are being brought together in tragedy and loss, but so beautiful to see the impact this beautiful woman and beautiful family has had on us all, not only these past few months but throughout her life. The better people she has made all of us into…the silliness she enjoyed, the beauty she saw and helped us all realize was there in our lives, the artistic creativity she possessed and used to bring smiles and wonder to us all, the beauty of Lily and Naomi brought out the child in us all…and we owe all this to Laura, her Coleman-ness, and the entire world of Laura, David, Lily, and Naomi Kulp.
  So, thank you Laura. And thank you David for sharing so beautifully with us. You have shared your pain and heartbreak, but also your joys and wonders throughout this ordeal in a way that truly has shown the hand of Christ. We can never know the reason for such losses, but perhaps we can find some comfort in knowing that few people have the gift in their lives that we had.

• 9 cristina // Oct 6, 2008 at 8:48 pm

  Heather, what a beautiful song. A lot of my memories of Laura include music. As Casey had mentioned on another thread, compilation tapes were very much Laura’s specialty, sort of mini-soundtracks to her life. She introduced me to so much… Cocteau Twins, Emo Philips (hee! hee!), lots of alternative, crooned classics, 50’s, 60’s. Serendipitously, tonight, Jonathan reminded me that Laura taught him the “Down by the Bay” song, when she & Naomi came to visit us in Savannah.
  I cried all day today but was so grateful for the feeling that Laura was trying to cheer me up: a beautiful Savannah sunrise, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida on the radio (sounding much sweeter for some reason… I imagined her on an escalator to Heaven with that song in the back ground), the fact that I was late getting Jonathan to school & not being stressed out about it (Laura telling me to slow my life down a bit), images of us as ridiculous high schoolers laughing hysterically in the car, cruising good ol’ Annandale popping in my head every now & then AND a perfectly beautiful day.
  David, I know you will keep so much of Laura alive in Lily & Naomi, just in the little songs you all sing together. Know you all are very much in our thoughts & prayers. I so miss Laura… but I know she is now dancing to a fabulous compilation tape, joyously happy.

• 10 Mary Beth // Oct 6, 2008 at 10:38 pm

  This song, written by Warren Zevon, makes me think of Laura…
  Keep Me in Your Heart
  Shadows are falling and I’m running out of breath
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  There’s a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  Sometimes when you’re doing simple things around the house
  Maybe you will think of me and smile
  You know I’m tied to you like the buttons on your blouse
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  Hold me in your thoughts
  Take me to your dreams
  Touch me as I’m falling for you
  When the winter comes
  Keep the fires lit and I will be right next to you
  Engine drivers heading north to Pleasant Street
  Keep me in your heart for awhile
  These wheels are turning but they’re running out of steam
  Keep me in your heart for awhile