This is the first time I've been able to visit Mudcat since Vaughn's death. And here, as everywhere else I turn, I find the ripples of Vaughn's living spreading farther than I think she would have imagined (and she had a powerful imagination). I do pray that her soul is taking it all in.

I'm too fried right now to do more than thank dear Jeri for doing what I couldn't bring myself to do in a timely way, and to let you all know I've read every post. I'll be showing them to Pete and 'Than later today (kytrad: thanks to your alter-ego, whose name we borrowed early on, Nathaniel has never been "Nate").

Vaughn's death, when it came, was peaceful and relatively pain-free. She was in the hospital the last round for less than twenty-four hours. We had a chance - she and I - for all the necessary last things, somehow without being crushed by them. The boys, their partners and I gathered in her room her last night, and we had a final family gathering - Indian carryout and all, not a bit morbid (far from it!) - expecting we had a few more days.

Probably a blessing we didn't, really, as she had a very aggressive form of liver cancer which no available chemotherapy could touch. We had the best of doctors, and she was on a rigorous complimentary medicine program that had her - in many ways - in better health than she'd been in years. Despite a horrific medical crisis in February and another major surgery in early November, we managed - and she managed - to have a wonderfully positive(even adventurous) last year. Along with all the insight, wit and creativity, my love had extraordinary courage and focus.

For some who will wonder, yes, her passing leaves a hole in my life that will never be filled. I don't want or need it to be. I'd rather remember. She left us all, and me in particular, with so much that is good. Not least a remarkable network of family, friends and colleagues. As she did, I treasure you all.

A brief elaboration on Sandy's note: The Glenridge Grange is really not in Rexford, NY. It is in neighboring Glenville. And it is not on Glenridge Road, either, as its name would imply, but on Pashley Rd., which is four lights north of Glenridge Rd. on NYS Rt. 50. If anyone is seriously planning to come Sunday (I should have rented an airplane hangar, I'm afraid, not a grange...and I should have known that), call us if you're confused by this, or post something like "huh ?" here, and I'll check in later today and clarify.

Love to all, -George ::-.--O