Linda Nash

Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thank you, Dylan Thomas. I have, like many others, loved this poem. Many people have analyzed it, lived it.

But no one lived this like Linda Nash. She fought against so many physical disabilities her entire adult life--MS and cancer just two of the many. She danced through life, teaching, loving, giving, doing.

Linda and I were so very similar and so very different. She understood me (and my moods) almost better than I did. She forgave so much. We struggled through a very difficult time, both knowing that the circumstances tore us apart, not each other. I think that we became closer because of our struggles. Linda forgave and moved on.

She had a fabulous singing voice, when we could entice her to sing. But she also listened to my "singing" at work, knowing that I couldn't carry a tune and never asking me to stop the noise. What patience!

So many memories, so many stories. So much pain in one person's life with so little complaint. Linda raged against the frailty of the human body. Her life is a joyous statement of what we can all aspire to. Her spirit burned brightly until her last day.

Rest now, my dearest friend. May peace come to you.

Linda Ione Wilkes Nash: March 20, 1949 to November 3, 2008.

No absurdities today.

Heartbrokenly,
Pat