Note: Cedwyn has passed away. 'Thank you' to Gooserock, in comments, who provided the link to Jotter's diary of the news.
"You're a butterfly,
And Butterflies
are free to fly
Fly away, high away,
Bye-bye"
- Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Cedwyn the Chaosfaerie has touched many lives within this community - both online as well as in meatspace. When the word went out that she was ill - and the serious, time-constrained nature of the illness became known - our community quilters
sprang into action, quickly creating and sending a beautiful incarnation of community spirit & love to our comrade. Onomastic
gently prodded us with a reminder, so that we could help ensure that the dKos Extreme Quilters were properly supported, and those fantastic masters of the art followed up
with a status shortly afterward.
Jill Richardson gave us a Cedwyn update, and more recently shared some thoughts on Cedwyn that included a sad update:
Cedwyn's now unconscious she and the hospice nurse thinks she won't wake up again. They estimate she will last about a week.
I've only met Cedwyn in person once. It was at NN12, in Providence. I've known her - mostly indirectly - for years, through both ePluribus Media and Daily Kos, and she provided some invaluable assistance with the editing and proofing of one of the books I co-authored.
I don't know her anywhere nearly as well as many others here, and yet the collective sense of love and concern by so many for her amplify what I'm feeling, sweeping me up into it and the palpable realization that she is dearly loved by so many within this community.
When she passes on, her spirit free to fly, there will be tears of both joy and sadness. To put it into well-known Daily Kos terms, there'll be tears, as well as Cheers and Jeers:
Cheers! - no more pain, no more suffering!
Jeers! - We've lost Cedwyn's light, love, and laughter in the physical realm!
Cheers! - Cedwyn's spirit is flying among the butterflies and flutter-bys, and occasionally buzz-bombing various assorted venues, Kossack watering holes, and political gatherings
Jeers! - Cancer sucks! #fuckcancer
Cheers! - We knew & loved Cedwyn, and she's alive within our hearts, minds, and memories forever!
I suspect there's so much more people can say...I'm done. I primarily wanted to post this for two reasons - first, to share the opening and closing images in honor of Cedwyn, hopefully comforting her as well as those who know her; and second, to give more people an opportunity to catch up on how she's doing, and - more importantly - to share their Cedwyn tales with each other, so as to allow more of us to share her life in honor of the spirit with which she shared it with us.
Good night. And goodbye, Cedwyn...