Nothing presentable to post for the past month or so. Just a bunch of notes. Don’t know if it will appear at a later time or not since it isn’t really readable in its current format and there is no time for editing now.
It is with a very heavy heart that this day’s events unfolded. On Tuesday cousin Amy Leavitt died from injuries rec in a fall down a stairwell at her Lincoln NE home. Age 43 & BD 10-31-64. There are no more details that we know.
She grew up near NYC at Great Neck, NY on Long Island & spent many summers at her mother’s childhood home just a mile from where I now live. Amy spent a lot of time in our home during these summer vacations with my sister Elizabeth & myself, as well as her younger sister Sarah.
One memory when we were very small was bouncing down the stairs at Great Grandma’s house, also a mile from my current home. She was known for saying ‘Florida Orange Juice’ with her NYC accent and that was mentioned today. Also mentioned that no one could ever forget an Amy hug!
Drove to Lincoln for her 1PM service at her home and the gray skies matched my mood. Made my way to the 6100 Vine address to find the Chateau LeFleur apartment/townhouse complex with perhaps hundreds of living units. Had to call my father for directions & then later realized that the red/black balloons tied at various locations were in her memory & for directions. I didn’t even notice them until they were pointed out to me. (red was her favorite color).
Her wishes were that there be no funeral, just a party in her memory…and that is just what happened. She was active with local musical talent and she & her husband had a web site featuring these bands, etc. Lots of wine, music and such. Mike & Nancy, Amy’s parents, kindly and graciously provided soft drinks for those of us so inclined. A very elegant meal featuring ethnic Jewish foods. My favorite: kugel which looked like a potato casserole with corn flakes, but was actually special noodles with a sweet vanilla flavoring. It was mentioned by her parents that she was not a religious person, but I do remember Amy telling about seder’s and appreciating her Jewish heritage.
I esp enjoyed the many maps of New England displayed which dated back to the 1600’s and in particular, a map of Jerusalem from a Jewish point of view.
It was good to see Mike & Nancy who have always been very kind to me when I visited NYC & Sarah and her husband Liam & their 2 small children. It was Sarah & Liam’s wedding I attended the last time I was in NYC just after 9-11.
Sarah is an anesthesioligist at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan and heard some about her exciting life. Good to see so many family members again, and look at pictures of Amy at different stages of her life. It just doesn’t seem possible that you are gone, Amy. Will miss you greatly.
I did see a new ethanol plant just S of Fairmont NE & later looked for Little Boy Blue’s grave at Chester, but couldn’t find it. Wonder if his family had his remains moved to Ohio??
Went to MP to see Jim & tell him all about the day & also about Little Boy Blue as he was interested in that as well. My parents travelled on to Omaha to see Jon & Rachael. I needed to get back to continue income tax prep.
Oh what a day. God bless you Mike & Nancy & Sarah & Liam!
mikey
