I didn't know Phyllis as well as I would have liked too, but I considered her a friend none-the-less.  When Ann told me of her passing I became quite emotional, as I know the rest of you did as well.  She was such a kind, generous, wonderfully humorous woman.  She touched so many of us in so many different ways.  She was truly a very special person and I feel so very priviledged to know her.  Being around the same age as Phyllis, I started thinking about life and the after-life.  Though I was very glad that Phyllis would not have to suffer any longer and that her passing was peaceful, I wondered what it was like for her now.  Then last night I remembered the movie, Neverland...if you haven't seen yet, please rent it and see if you agree with me.  I decided that I am going to believe that Phyllis' heaven is like Neverland.  Where she can always laugh and joke around, where she can always be young...where she will never have to grow up..and where she can fly with Tinkerbell and swim with the mermaids...that is what I wish for you now Phyllis.  I am clapping my hands...because I believe.

It was a very beautiful and moving service today... tears flowed freely and frequently as you can guess.  I lost it several times... especially at one point... where the Rabbi was very eloquently describing how Phyllis' collectibles had brought her such joy and how she had embraced them with the same passion that she embraced life... and then he made the analogy that he could see where all her faeries had metamorphasized into angels to help guide her soul to heaven... that's the point I broke down.

 

It was an emotional day and we could feel everyone that could not make it spirit's filling the room and surrounding us at the cemetary... Phyllis was trully and deeply loved by all who knew her and all who knew of her... her family recognized that as fact today... I spoke briefly with her mother, Charlotte, who told me that she had heard from several "collector friends" over the past several weeks and it just amazed her that her daughter could have made such an impression on so many people from so many differen tplaces... I just told her -- that didn't surprise me one single bit... and I know that it does not surprise any of you either.

 

There's not much else to say... except that if I am able to live even half the life that Phyllis lived, express even half the love that Phyllis displayed, or embrace even half the people that Phyllis openly and lovingly and selflessly embraced... then I will have lived, loved, and embraced more than enough for one person's lifetime... but I sure will keep trying.

 

Good night and god bless everyone