Tomorrow is my birthday.
This evening I found a large, thick envelope in my post. Obviously a birthday present, yes?
No. It's "Sins and Virtues", a M*A*S*H slash zine from
Susan died on June 15th this year. She was 39.
When Sam, Susan's brother, asked me for some words to include in her obituary, I wrote "She often encouraged others into trying to write, and was always pleased to help them improve their work." When I later reported the exchage on my LiveJournal, I said "That's not a particularly eloquent sentence. Other people could say it better, I thought."
Some of Jane's work, as represented in the book I received today, is a far more eloquent expression of Susan's ability to inspire than I could possibly offer. Jane closes by quoting what I write here, when I encourage people to help local charities in aid of cancer research, cancer treatment, palliative care and the hospice movement.
I thank Jane for this wonderful gift, and I thank Susan for all she did and all she was, to me and to other people. I cant find better closing words for this post than the four that Jane uses to close her book.
Remember Susan. I will.