Thoughts on an extraordinary lady . . .
. . . who, incidentally, helped me write this. And who--many, many years ago--inspired me to write my Holiday Letters.
* * * * *
When the sun goes out in the middle of bright day-when the moon disappears from a star-filled sky-we say that an eclipse has occurred, and that the sun or the moon will return.
So it is with Marilyn Fike.
Marilyn was a force of nature. Wise with experience, experienced in love, love best epitomized with her family and her friends, she was central to many things that are good and bright and lovely in our lives. Marilyn made things happen.
It can be said that a man or a woman can best be judged by the company he or she keeps. Marilyn was surrounded by those who loved.
Long ago, she made her childhood choice her love-of-a-lifetime choice, and Dick & Marilyn loved ardently, loved deeply, loved eagerly with a lifetime of passion, fun, and laughter. Together, they grew and shared their devotion and love with their children and grandchildren.
Marilyn walked through this life surrounded by passionate, loving, like-minded friends. Whether in an airplane or on a boat, on a trail or in a kitchen, she brought exuberance and confidence wherever she went. She cared passionately, cared deeply about many things, was interested and worked hard at whatever she turned her mind to. She was engaged in the process of life, and made the process uniquely her own. No one could live life better and larger than Marilyn Fike.
But Marilyn became eclipsed. Her bright sun was overshadowed, the glow of life and light dimmed-and we, left behind, are reduced to sharing memories, circumstances, and coincidences.
We shall walk around with a Marilyn-sized wound on our soul, because she is gone. There is a hole in our hearts because Marilyn isn’t there to fill it. Her voice will become a memory, her laughter a smile that we think on, her love a bright beacon in the darkness of our grief. And like most wounds, time will deal gently with us all, and give us a Marilyn-sized scar to show to each other from time to time, because we cared and were cared for by Marilyn.
But understand this: Marilyn isn’t with us for the nonce because she has gone on ahead. She’s still out there, still living, still loving. She’s only left us for a little while until we catch up to her brilliance, her exuberance, her amazing and extraordinary self. For death does not erase us. It perfects us all. For us, Marilyn will always be brave, bright, and beautiful.
At some future time, the eclipse will be done. The sun will shine down, and the moon light our night. And we will find Marilyn, welcoming and waiting for us, waiting for the best times to begin. And that, my friends, will be heaven.
With respect to all,
The Onstead Women
Loretta, Shellie, and Elizabeth
* * * * *
When the sun goes out in the middle of bright day-when the moon disappears from a star-filled sky-we say that an eclipse has occurred, and that the sun or the moon will return.
So it is with Marilyn Fike.
Marilyn was a force of nature. Wise with experience, experienced in love, love best epitomized with her family and her friends, she was central to many things that are good and bright and lovely in our lives. Marilyn made things happen.
It can be said that a man or a woman can best be judged by the company he or she keeps. Marilyn was surrounded by those who loved.
Long ago, she made her childhood choice her love-of-a-lifetime choice, and Dick & Marilyn loved ardently, loved deeply, loved eagerly with a lifetime of passion, fun, and laughter. Together, they grew and shared their devotion and love with their children and grandchildren.
Marilyn walked through this life surrounded by passionate, loving, like-minded friends. Whether in an airplane or on a boat, on a trail or in a kitchen, she brought exuberance and confidence wherever she went. She cared passionately, cared deeply about many things, was interested and worked hard at whatever she turned her mind to. She was engaged in the process of life, and made the process uniquely her own. No one could live life better and larger than Marilyn Fike.
But Marilyn became eclipsed. Her bright sun was overshadowed, the glow of life and light dimmed-and we, left behind, are reduced to sharing memories, circumstances, and coincidences.
We shall walk around with a Marilyn-sized wound on our soul, because she is gone. There is a hole in our hearts because Marilyn isn’t there to fill it. Her voice will become a memory, her laughter a smile that we think on, her love a bright beacon in the darkness of our grief. And like most wounds, time will deal gently with us all, and give us a Marilyn-sized scar to show to each other from time to time, because we cared and were cared for by Marilyn.
But understand this: Marilyn isn’t with us for the nonce because she has gone on ahead. She’s still out there, still living, still loving. She’s only left us for a little while until we catch up to her brilliance, her exuberance, her amazing and extraordinary self. For death does not erase us. It perfects us all. For us, Marilyn will always be brave, bright, and beautiful.
At some future time, the eclipse will be done. The sun will shine down, and the moon light our night. And we will find Marilyn, welcoming and waiting for us, waiting for the best times to begin. And that, my friends, will be heaven.
With respect to all,
The Onstead Women
Loretta, Shellie, and Elizabeth