I’m in Grand Rapids. The pain of this funeral cannot be overstated. I’ll be back tomorrow, and I will do my best to put this behind me.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
…original piece that put you in Grand Rapids because I didn’t see it before. My condolences to you and your friend and his family.
You can never really put it completely behind you.
You can only deal with it as best as possible and try to make the experience a part of your ongoing life. If you are as caring a person as your “Booman-alter-ego” seems to betray… That will be a positive in some way.
I don’t expect these words to help you, or your friend, but I do wish you, and especially WW’s family, the best.
It’s horrible..and you should not put it behind you at all. As a matter of fact..I think we should raise some money here and at Dkos to start a scholarship or something in her name. It is a horrible thing to lose a child. I can’t imagine. I don’t know you or her or your friend and her tragic death has popped into my mind many times since I first read your dairy about the accident. You will never be the same. You will be changed forever. How could anyone ever been the same after losing a child this close to you. Just remember the good times, her spirit and joy for life and the great things and happy times she had while she was with you all for the short time that you were blessed to have had her in your life. Peace and don’t try and get over it. Carry on her spirit forever. One day soon we will all meet up in the same place and all the pain will be gone. Peace my friend. All thoughts are with you and the other friends and family members. Like I said..I can’t imagine..losing a child.
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and statement of grief has been expressed in BooMan’s diary.
I wanted to make the following contribution to illustrate the fondness there exists within BooMan’s Place and the political community can also be a place for friends to meet and debate :: KUDOS to you BooMan and all readers and members!
* wow *
.
Did we quietly pass the UID#2500 mark?
Where is the BIG celebration – or was I asleep while the number was baked.
User ID #: 2526
Country: United States of America
Homepage: http://scoop.epluribusmedia.com
remember Under 500 Club – UID1000 – UID1500 – UID2000
BooTribbers still partying from the best month’s performance ever – even surpassing the June glitch!
What’s Booman Tribune About? ◊ by BooMan
Sun Jul 3rd, 2005 at 02:18:19 AM PST
BooTrib Etiquette ◊ by BooMan
Thu Jun 23rd, 2005 at 01:09:55 PM PST
The 3000/1000 Club ◊ by BooMan
Tue May 3rd, 2005 at 03:47:33 PM PST
The Under 500 Club ◊ by Mindmouth
Tue Mar 29th, 2005 at 10:09:54 AM PST
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
Marvin, I know the pain. It is not easy and I assure you there will be somedays it is harder to deal with than others.
Life surely will go on, but the memories are what will matter more and more to those involved. Cherish those memories and just never ever forget the wonderful person she was. That is the gift she gave to you and all she came in contact with. Remember the smiles, the tears and mostly of all remember the sense of love she gave to those she touched with her life.
My sincerest sympathy to you and her family and friends. HUGS
and cry together….we’ll be here thinking of you and WW’s family.
Holding you all in our hearts today.
We’ll be there with you in spirit, to support you and Wolverine. Please imagine yourselves surrounded by invisible friends. May you survive this day through the love of all the people who care about you.
We are all here today thinking of you and WW and everyone else who knew and loved Nicole. It won’t be easy, but you will get through this.
How is the other young woman who was in the crash doing?
I don’t think that we can ever put a loss like that behind us. It remains within us, becomes part of who we are, in the same way that the loved one, during their life, became part of who we are.
Listen to your own heart, and to the hearts of others who loved her. There you will find her spirit.
Hey Booman.
Up late I see. I know how hard sleep comes sometimes when our minds race around trying to make sense of senseless things. Every time something like this happens I remember the first time I was confronted with death as a child and how from that moment on the world changed for me and became much scarier and uncertain. In all these years since, I have not come to an easier way to deal with it. It is simply heartwrenching.
The best any of us can do for each other is to offer a hand, an ear, or a shoulder to cry on.
I am with you all in heart and spirit.
I am so sorry.
Just allow yourself to feel what you need to feel.
(((((((((Boo))))))))))
((((((((((WW))))))))))
We’re thinking of you.
You are all in my thoughts.
WW, Boo, take care and be well. Nicole lives on through those who knew and loved her.
Don’t you dare try to put it behind you! The pain you feel is a testament to the power of Nicole’s life, and she deserves to be remembered for all that she brought to those who loved her. And as you feel that pain, I know that all of us would want to hear about it. I hope you will find ways to weave it in to the good work you do here. That would surely be the best memorial to Nicole.
Oh Martin, I’m so sorry for you and for WW. When someone that young and full of life is taken away so suddenly, it reminds us all to live in the moment and take each day as the gift it truely is. Sounds to me like Nicole touched the people around her in a wonderful way and that is her lasting gift to those she left behind.
Life seldom accomodates our plans, and we end up having to deal with it, accept it, and move on. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Seems to be off-line. There’s a big story at the Washington Post about secret prisons in eastern Europe, and I went to see what he had to say. Can anyone else see it? I’m getting so paranoid. Hope they haven’t taken him away.
This is not a new story, but I’m surprised to see it in US corporate media, I can’t remember the names of any Eastern European countries who are reported NOT to house these “facilities” in exchange for a benefit, but it may be possible that one or more have refused.
It was the lead on the Today Show this morning – now thats MSM big time. Wonder who’s pushing the story? The CIA or Cheney?
reduce the effectiveness.
It is essential that every person on earth understand that they and/or their family members can be seized and thrown into any of a number of Us “stress relief facilities” at any time.
Meteor Blades has committed a diary on this story now.
Secret Prisons in Secret Places
this morning? Is that why his blog is gone? Too much attention? I do hope he’s OK.
OHHH! That’s why I couldn’t link to it!
I’m sorry – I was not clear in my comment. I was trying to get too much reading and commenting in before I left for work. What was on the Today Show was a story about the secret detention camps – not Larry Johnson. I’ll try to slow down from now on. Don’t know why his blog was/is down.
BooMan, we are all here for you.
from from “LOVE, simply” diary:
Let the tears flow, friends Scott and Martin. We are with you, like a loving child, silent, but caring and comforting you as best we can.
On this horrible tragedy.
Wolverine and Booman, all your family and friends…hold each other in the light and Nicloe will live on through your memories. I would love to contribute to a scholorship fund in Nicole’s name. There will be time for that but now just honor your grief and know that we care deeply. I am so sorry for your loss. Take good care.
For anyone who is interested in crows, or has been raised to hate crows, this show is a must-listen:
Weekday at 9:00am
Crow Culture
Arthur Cleveland Bent, a chronicler of bird lore, once said “If a person knows only three birds, one of them will be the crow.” Love them or hate them, crows and ravens are an extremely prevalent part of our world. We find them in so many mediums; Native American folklore, crowbars, Poe’s The Raven, Brandon Lee’s movie, The Crow. All around us, as the crow flies. But how well do you really know these birds? What are their social rituals, dialects and behaviors? How do crows impact human culture? And how are we changing theirs?
http://www.kuow.org/
— listen live at 9am PT or listen to the archived show
Bless you Booman for being with Wolverine Writer and his family at this most painful time. Bless Wolverine Writer and the family. We are mourning with you.
Boo, and WW, so very very sorry for your loss. Words are totally inadequate, and the tears won’t stop.
Time will smooth some of the rough edges, and you’ll be able to remember and smile and laugh. But for now, let yourself have your grief–rage, shout, scream, break things, whatever works. Even though she’s physically no longer present, Nicole will live on in your memories, and now in ours.
Take your time. There is no need to rush through the grief process.
One simply learns to integrate it and deal with it.
This may sound simplistic, but it’s something like having your body build a little wall around an embedded piece of sand or splinter. It’s still there, but the harm is minimized. You get to the point that it’s still there, but the emotions don’t overwhelm you most of the time (as they do at first).
No easy road.
What you learn from this will be with you the rest of your life.
Excuse me, I said, “One simply learns…”
There’s nothing simple about it. It’s very complex, it’s very hard.