Leanne left us yesterday. Her bright spirit fled before the advancing pain of a cancer that grew quickly out of control. In the course of six painful weeks, her journey was over.
Leanne was a magical storyteller; she loved to share her stories and created an atmosphere of magic and expectancy when she told. Her voice, whether singing old ballads or silly children's songs, was a joy to hear--especially when she accompanied herself on her Celtic harp. Her MySpace page shows her energy and love of storytelling.
I remember when she and her husband took their boat down the Mississippi and around the East Coast. Email wasn't as easy to do back then, but Leanne posted regular reports of their journey to those of us interested in following their trip. We traveled with them via her posts, and it was so like her to want to share this wondrous adventure with her friends.
Her delight in living, appreciation of beauty, concern for the well-being of others and eagerness to take on new challenges are the traits that defined Leanne to me. When my mother passed away suddenly, Leanne offered wise words from her own experience; she was there again for me when my father died a few months later. It was just her way--to offer a listening ear to others, words of advice if asked, and love that surrounded all.
I will miss her, but not for anything would I have missed the blessing of having known her, if only for a few short years.
Safe travels, my friend. May your way now be painfree and glorious with light.
my condolances to you, her friend, all her other friends and her family. I can think of nothing as hideous as the beast called cancer. It knows no age, shows no mercy and is as terrible a thing to watch as it is to go through. It took my father in 84 and several uncles before and since. My thoughts go out to all who knew her and I wish them the same level of peace that she has found.
ReplyDeleteI would have like to have know her as well. At least sit in on a story or two.
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