It's one thing when you get older, you realize that you're going to lose some people along the way. That's hard enough. When someone is lost before "their time," the pain can be unbearable.
I didn't know Helen, but I do know you, and you don't hang with unkind people. I know she'll be missed.
At best, I'd say we were acquaintances. I don't think I've seen her since a year after that Ottawa trip. And it's not like we were even in each other's email address books, but I've got warm and fuzzy memories. She makes an impression.
I got to know her through sharing time in the animation classroom/studio at school for several overnights with a dozen other people, all working on their films. A lot of it was, like, rotary club collaboration, where people would take a break from their film to help draw or paint or x-acto or shoot segments for others'. It was a really great sleep-deprived creative mob experience, often messy. Throughout the chaos, she was a consistent motivator and eternal optimist (animators will hit some dark times in the process).
The reading that I keep being drawn back to is about the amazing life she went on to lead after that time. I'm really just getting to know her now. She is courageously good, and I think everyone would benefit from finding out more about her and her husband, Dr. Paul. Read about them if you've got some downtime online (I think that "articles" collects links to blog and other online remembrances). If they'd had a chance to meet you, they'd make you their friend in a jif.
2 comments:
It's one thing when you get older, you realize that you're going to lose some people along the way. That's hard enough. When someone is lost before "their time," the pain can be unbearable.
I didn't know Helen, but I do know you, and you don't hang with unkind people. I know she'll be missed.
Thanks, Z.
At best, I'd say we were acquaintances. I don't think I've seen her since a year after that Ottawa trip. And it's not like we were even in each other's email address books, but I've got warm and fuzzy memories. She makes an impression.
I got to know her through sharing time in the animation classroom/studio at school for several overnights with a dozen other people, all working on their films. A lot of it was, like, rotary club collaboration, where people would take a break from their film to help draw or paint or x-acto or shoot segments for others'. It was a really great sleep-deprived creative mob experience, often messy. Throughout the chaos, she was a consistent motivator and eternal optimist (animators will hit some dark times in the process).
The reading that I keep being drawn back to is about the amazing life she went on to lead after that time. I'm really just getting to know her now. She is courageously good, and I think everyone would benefit from finding out more about her and her husband, Dr. Paul. Read about them if you've got some downtime online (I think that "articles" collects links to blog and other online remembrances). If they'd had a chance to meet you, they'd make you their friend in a jif.
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