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“Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break." ~William Shakespeare
That quote was a
tweet from TAPS4America yesterday. I've been struggling with how to resume blogging here, battling the "what does it matter?" blues. But that quote made me think: if I don't speak about Emily's funeral here on the blog, then I won't be able to keep writing here at all. And I want to keep in honest communication with you. So . . .
a few things I have words for:
Emily was buried with treasures she loved, including a purple hot wheels car, both halves of an "I love you/I love you more" necklace, and a tattered copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
My brother ended his eulogy with this laugh-inducing tribute: when the rest of us get to heaven, Emily will greet us with a brilliant smile and sing out: "Hi, peeps! It's Emily! Heaven is so coolio!"
This was my son's first funeral. We sat together and talked about life and death and love. Emily made that conversation possible, her first of many blessings to me after her passing.
Flying Horse Farms, a "magical, transforming and fun" camp for kids with serious illnesses, will open for family campers next fall. Emily and her dad were scheduled to speak at the groundbreaking ceremony, but Emily was too weak to go, and my brother tried to stay home with her. Emily would have none of it. She insisted that he attend, and he shared her words with those gathered: "Dad, there is no best part of camp. It's ALL good."
Then, on their last drive from the hospital in Cinncinnati to her home in Cleveland, my brother pulled over the car at the groundbreaking site. Again, Emily was too weak to leave the car. But she saw where the camp would be, just as she saw how the world could be different, a world without childhood cancer, and worked to make that world come to life, just like the magic in her beloved books.
Above one of the stalls in the Flying Horse Farms stable will be the name of Emily Lewis.
Kids can change the world. Emily did. She still is.
Thank you for listening.
My niece, Emily, passed away this weekend. She was twelve years old, and in each of those years, she was dearly loved.
She also
gave love joyfully and so freely that about a month ago, the Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital paid her a visit to issue a special proclamation, which read:
University Hospitals
Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
Official Proclamation
Whereas, Emily Lewis and her Family have been energetic and passionate supporters of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital;
Whereas, Emily Lewis has been an inspiration to us all;
Whereas, it is appropriate to celebrate Emily with an award named in her honor;
It is with great pleasure that we hereby announce the creation of the
Emily Lewis Youth in Philanthropy Award At Rainbow Babies & Children’s HospitalThis award is to be given annually to a youth who demonstrates Emily’s awesome qualities of enthusiasm, spirit and zest for life in philanthropic support of Rainbow’s Children.
In witness whereof, this Proclamation is memorialized at Cleveland, Ohio this first day of July 2009.
Signed by Michael J Farrell President of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and Kim Pesses President of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation.
Emily loved animals, reading, horseback riding, skiing, music, dance, school, going to camp, volunteering at church and having lots of friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Flying Horse Farms, 225 Green Meadows Drive South, Suite A, Lewis Center, Ohio, 43035 www.flyinghorsefarms.org
As someone who ate up speculative fiction as a kid, I love this announcement from the newly designed SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) site:
AboutSF works to match donors with places that cater to young people, the future generation of science fiction readers. You can donate or receive books and magazine subscriptions. Suggest the following as a recipient if you would like to see them get books and magazines:
A school librarian.
A public librarian.
A youth center director or volunteer.
Your local school library or other youth organization.
An individual 17 or younger who would like a free SF novel or magazine subscription.
Is that not great? You can list your library or youth organization, and a SF writer or reader might send books to you, just because. And if you are such a writer or reader, DONATE to the list.
Hey, Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys! Don't you want to be on this list? (And if you run a book fair for girls, them, too, of course!)
P.S. All four of us in my family finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? We can now use kipple correctly in a sentence.
How can writing be of service?
I'm still working on answers to that question, but I love what Francisco Stork has to say about where we should begin:
Why write if not to give and to give your best? The thing about writing from a spirit of generosity that is not so obvious is that if the spirit of giving is not in your writing, your writing will not be as good as it could be. It will be superficial and you will not give the reader what he or she most desires. And the reader will not give the work his or her full devotion. There is a connection between “why” you write and “how” you write. If giving is the reason why you write you will reach a depth in your writing that will not be reached if you are motivated by anything else other than the desire to give. Writing that is born out of a desire to give is the writing that lasts.
Here is the rest of his gently provocative post,
The Six Perfections of Writing.What do you think? Is writing service? If so, you have to admit that it's not what immediately comes to mind on these sorts of occasions. How can we get better at that?
Note: Francisco Stork is the author of
Marcelo in the Real World (March 09, Arthur A. Levine Books.) I have a proof of the book beside me now that I've just begun to read. I only meant to read one chapter and then go to bed, but somehow, I'm deep into Chapter 5. More about it later, I promise.
So here's what I'm doing: starting a library of camp and horse related books for
Flying Horse Farms. Flying Horse Farms is a magical, transforming and fun camp for children with serious illnesses and their families. It's an Ohio based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and working to become a member of Hole in the Wall Camps, the world’s largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses.
I talked with the director, and he said that rather than one central library, he would love to have books available at several spots around the camp---the stables, the craft room, the main activity hall, the cabins, maybe even the dining hall.
The books would be...
For kids to read while they wait for their turn on a horse.
For kids who suddenly discover they love pottery or archery or fishing and want to know everything about it.
For kids to share and discuss a cool quote or an inspirational person during nightly reflection times.
For kids who need a fast idea for a drama skit, or a nature craft, or a easy recipe.
For kids who need to rest.
For kids who love to read.
For kids who are kids and want to be kids and must be kids even if a serious illness complicates their lives.
If you want to help, here are some suggestions:
- I've set up a wish list on Amazon. You can choose a book and donate it directly from there. The list is small now, but it will grow as the campers and counselors and the director add new requests to it.
- You can blog about your favorite camp or horse related book. I'll round up those posts here, plus forward them to the director and consult them in expanding the Wish List. (Little Willow already did this. Thanks, LW!) Feel free to copy this entire post or use the button I'm putting in my sidebar.
- If you're an author or illustrator or publisher or blogger with a camp or horse related book, you can donate directly to the camp, but please remember that the camp serves kids ages 7-15 and your donation should reflect the needs of the camp. (Please, in all cases, only NEW books.)
Questions? Email me at: [email protected]
Here's a list of activities at camp:
Arts & Crafts
Painting
Woodworking
Pottery
Boating
Fishing
Swimming
Horses
Cooking
Ropes
Adventure (teambuilding)
Nature
Sports & Games
Music
Drama
Fiction is also welcome, but at this time, we're concentrating on stories with horses in them. Once the camp is fully up and running, I'll add other fiction requests from the campers and counselors.
The address for donations:
Flying Horse Farms
225 Green Meadows Drive South, Suite A
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Thank you!
I've never re-printed an email here before, but this one is special. Scott and Katie are Air Force friends of ours, both exceptional pilots, who after serving well, left the Air Force to pursue other dreams. In Katie's case, it was getting her master's degree in philanthropy. (She's probably the only woman (or man) who flew and instructed in the F-15E and has a
Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies. Plus, she writes the world's best thank you notes.) I knew she would do great things, but this is outstanding:
Subject: Scott and Katie Taylor -- Oprah's Big Give -- Indiana
Welcome to Oprah's Big Give -- Indiana and Operation Heartland!!
www.hvaf.org HVAF of Indiana, Inc (Helping Homeless Veterans and Families)
www.theindychannel.com (RTV6 coverage of our progress)
Dear Friends and Family,
This is a quick note to share some fun and exciting news. Katie and I "won" the Oprah's Big Give -- Indiana. From over 550 entries, Katie's was one of two selected to receive $5,000.00 and three weeks of television coverage to implement her proposal. I am on her committee, but she is the "CEO." We are a week into it and our heads are spinning, but our hearts are growing!! Indiana is such a wonderful state, and we are overwhelmed by the response of support we have received.
Katie is feverishly trying to:
1. Raise at least $120,000.00 to furnish a 40 unit apartment building that will provide housing for 40 homeless, honorably discharged veterans,
2. Raise awareness that nearly 30% of our homeless across the country are veterans, and
3. plan a large Grand Finale on 10 April with Corporate Executives, politicians, and nearly 150 people. We are just thankful we won the opportunity to help those that have served us and fought for freedom.
Here's how you can help. Pray for us and for those serving and those that have served. Click on the links above to learn more about what we are doing and lend a hand if you can. Pray a little more. And, spread the word. Again, we have only two weeks left to achieve our goal.
Thanks for your time, and sorry for the mass email.
Faithfully, Scott and Katie Taylor
Well. I'm in. How about you?
More info and to donate:
Operation Heartland.
Also, see the post below.
More about the Big Give-Indiana project that my friend, Katie Taylor, is raising $120,000 for: (from the HVAF website)
By:
Danette Haworth,
on 3/2/2008
Blog:
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More than flowers at the local nursery.
By:
Danette Haworth,
on 9/17/2007
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Word choice is so important. This post is not choppy--it's stream of consciousness. Here are the bits and pieces of my weekend:
I didn't feel like making an appointment at the salon, so I hacked my own hair. When I picked up my sister for church, she said, "Wow! Your hair looks really good today."
The new TV season starts soon! Parts of it have already started. I liked it better when I was a kid and all the new seasons started the exact same week. TV Guide would have a special edition introducing the new shows and making recommendations. It was exciting. Today's new season is so staggered, you really have no idea when you favorite show is going to start again.
Shows my HDR is set to record: Saturday Night Live (new episodes and old reruns), Desperate Housewives, and an open record for anything involving Bono and U2.
An alligator lives in a pond I pass every day. I know because I've seen him. But I did not see him today.
That's all folks. I start my new WIP this week.
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Oh, Sara. Rare is the moment when I sit at the computer and cry ... my heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
I was just saying that I heard someone else describe an author he had meant as "a sun" and how much I loved that description and maybe I could use it one day, and now I think I can: Emily was a sun.
Thank you for sharing with us. My heart goes out to all of you.
This was beautiful, Sara, thank you.
That Shakespeare knew what he was talking about.
I suppose if Emily would not tolerate her father not attending the Flying Horse Farms groundbreaking, she probably wouldn't tolerate you not blogging, either. It's hard to know how to face these things, although Emily gives a good example. I aspire to be that full of grace and love.
Sending a hug.
Jules is right. Emily is a sun. Thanks for these beautiful words.
Thank you for sharing this lovely tribute. I know how hard it must have been to write, but your words show just how much Emily lives on in your heart. I'm so glad you shared her with us.
Thank you for channeling some of Emily's braveness and blogging about her. Heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time...
The Flying Horse Farms family will be forever changed as the rest of the world was my Emily. We all share in your family's sorrow, but are grateful for the courageous openness you all have shared with us. Emily's name may be above a stall, but her spirit will live on inside all of us forever.
Sara,
Emily taught me so much in the short time I knew her. She was an amazing young lady who will live forever in the hearts of all of us here at Flying Horse Farms. May God hold her in the palm of his hand.
Mark Bivenour
CEO
Flying Horse Farms
It is so hard to say farewell to a loved one, especially one so young and good. I know it is easier when we share stories, for in the telling of these treasured memories, we keep our loved ones alive.
I'm so glad you've shared Emily with us, showing us her generous spirit and love for life. She has made more difference in this world in her short life, than many of us--I know she has inspired me.
Hugs.
Thank you for sharing this very difficult time with us. My heart goes out to you.