Tag: loss

Magic and Loss – Grandpa

“There’s a bit of magic in everything, and then some loss to even things out.” Lou Reed

My grandfather passed away a couple days ago at the age of 92, a remarkable man and a long time Cubs fan.We gathered together this morning for his funeral and it was fascinating to me how everyone characterized him so similarly. Yes, they were all wonderful things, his sense of humor, kindness,patience. But more than the traits, it occurred to me that he was that same person with everyone he met and interacted with. There were no pretenses, no acts, the genuineness that he conveyed to everyone was in fact real and genuine.

We always hoped he would have a chance to see a winning Cubs team but in the truest sense he was a fan regardless which I think says quite a bit about him.

I have never been to a funeral for a veteran before so I want to thank the 2 soldiers who attended and presented the flag. It was an honor to have you there and I cannot express how moving it was to watch you treat him and his service and the flag so respectfully.

This is for him via Steve Goodman.

Magic and Loss – Goodbye Lis

“There’s a bit of magic in everything, and then some loss to even things out.” Lou Reed

 

Earlier this week I lost a friend. Words on a screen telling me news that took my breath away, Lis had passed away. A few years back Lis and I worked together to build a web site for a baking group that she had co-founded called The Daring Bakers. Each month people from all over the world would get a recipe and they would all bake the same thing and post pictures and stories of how it had gone. It sounded remarkable to me, and it was. They wanted it to grow, wanted to add a cooking group as well ,and a few months later The Daring Kitchen was born.

It was a big project, the largest site I had ever done, and over the course of the time and we eventually became friends and would chat and talk often. Lis was a woman I never met in person but I don’t think one could really interact with her without becoming a friend. If you spent time with her, or talked to her, got to know her, it just happened.

Lots of things have changed since then, my life, her life, the group, the site, and while we eventually didn’t interact as often, as unfortunately happens, hearing of her passing has affected me deeply. She had big dreams, a sharp wit, a fantastic laugh, and she left us far too early. My most sincere condolences go out to her husband and her family, and the amazing number of people whose lives she touched.

I think about the wonderful things that were created all around the world because of her, wonderful desserts and other food that was then shared with friends and family, new memories created, lives improved, all because of the virtual kitchen that she created and loved so much.