I think that's a great idea, honestly. It gives Polgara and Burrell and Kristen and Allyson a time to rest and grieve, and it gives time for people to plan around it.

Yes!

JZ, I think that's an excellent idea provided ita's family agrees.

This, too.

JZ, that is a great idea, if her family agrees. If it helps, I know someone who's pretty well-known in health journalism, and I could ask for ideas on what we should do with the information.

Oh, and if help is needed with collecting all the posts, that is something I can do.

Pix, I think that's an excellent idea, too.

As for Kristin's suggestion, I would be interested in attending and helping plan a memorial. I'm happy to be the minion for the LA folks who know what we need (making phone calls, setting up locations, etc.)

Pix, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this summer, but I love the idea of a bunch of buffistas getting together to remember ita.

I like many of the things posted, but I want them to go to someone for whom they have greater meaning than "something owned by someone I loved".

What Vortex said.

Allyson, Burrell, Polgara and all: you are all possessed of fabulous hair. You have done so much, in such straits, it honors me to know you. And the obituary is fabulous, just perfect.

And what Consuela said.

I couldn't say it any better so I won't even try.

Hil, that would be awesome.

And yes, Pix, absolutely. I think that's definitely something some of the non-localistas had been thinking, too. You guys have done all of the heavy lifting - planning, physical logistics, and bearing all those emotional burdens alone and for each other and with her family - and you absolutely deserve a break.

(The same goes for my thoughts about doing something concrete to raise awareness for other migraineurs/euses and chronic pain sufferers -- whoever has the spoons can start gathering info, but no way does her family need to be approached now or anytime soon; that step can and should wait.)

ION, I was just lurking on the o-deck, and the culture there is so different from ours -- one poster linked to John Moore's beautiful piece and was absolutely excoriated by most of the others for violating her privacy. Since she hadn't shared all that information with them already, it was not kosher to post that link, or to do anything but acknowledge that it existed somewhere. Some people don't even want a link to her obituary.

Not that it's a bad board culture, but it's definitely such a different one.

I can't do anything more complex than sleeping.

Sleep Allyson. You have lovely hair and you have more than earned a chance to rest and recover. So far beyond. And tell your demons who keep lying about you to you to go to hell. You were the best friend anyone could have had to ita and you did wonders in handling the aftermath.