So, we step over the hypothetical line into a New Year. After spending a truly wonderful New Year’s Day with my two Auntie Joans – one, unfortunately in hospital with a broken hip, the other celebrating her 87th birthday with a broken arm – and lots of the Cousins, the Sister, the Brother, the Sister-in-Law and the Nephews I was lulled into a false sense of hope and expectation for 2014, especially after having lost six special people during 2013. I say “false” because yesterday it all came crashing down with the news that my lovely friend Martine Doolan had died.
Martine was a woman who defined vibrant. She oozed life. She was a very feminine woman; not frail and delicate but earthy and sexy. She had the most amazing, throaty, infectious laugh and my last memory of her is the laugh we had on Saturday 21st December, the last day I saw her, when we sat giggling about menopause and what a rotten old bitch Mother Nature could be. However, my lasting memories of her will be of her kindness and her integrity. Martine was such a giver – she was a real carer of others who saw the good in everyone and who suffered fools gladly. She was a born teacher; her patience knew no bounds and she was an extremely talented performer and choreographer. She was an acupuncturist and herbalist and was a huge help to me a couple of months back when I was feeling very low. She was a woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up and be counted when she knew that something was wrong. She walked the walk, she didn’t just talk the talk. She had integrity because as she said to me once “I have to be able to live with my conscience.”
Martine was taken from us far too soon. I have read and re-read the last message she sent me – on New Year’s Eve, wishing me a wonderful year. Like so many people, that year will be so much emptier without her in it. My sincerest condolences to her family go without saying. Last night I had three long conversations with three young men who all knew her very well and who were in absolute shock at what had happened; the sheer raw grief was evident in their voices. Facebook has been ablaze with tributes to her.
I just hope she knew just how much everyone loved her.
Beautifully written as always Elaine
Thank you, Marion. So sad to go like that. She was in her prime, bless her. X
Dear Elaine
Beautiful words for such a genuine and lovely lady. Unusually , I find myself lost for words.
Pete
X