I just heard the news of Muff's passing, and I am struggling to deal with this catastrophic news.

Muff cared for me dearly at her home in Seydisfjordur several years ago. I was preparing for an important oral examination, and spending a week in Iceland was restorative and, yes, I made it through the exam with flying colors.

We sang together for years and years in Boston. Muff's persoanl politics were far from the radical lefty politics embraced by my theater company, Little Flags, but Muff was always there fully supporting the musical and theatrical (and human!) moments that we created together. We both sang in the Boston Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) choir, and Muff accompanied me many times in my own solo singing work. Muff did a wonderful one-woman evening at a coffeehouse in Central Square, Cambridge where she shared songs and stories from Scotland, Appalachia and Australia. What range!

I have been looking at Iceland Air special deals in the past two weeks considering when I might be able to get to Iceland in the next few months. And now to hear this news! I am so shocked, and wonder how the whole network of her friends is coping with the loss of such a significant human being.

I have two consolations, just now: that I will hear Muff in all the folk music that surrounds me; and that hundreds of others will, as well.

Sadly, sadly,

Rev. David Carl Olson
Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint, Michigan
minister@uuflint.org