Kristi's Memorial in California
Jul. 27th, 2003 12:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snarkymanWell, I've put this off long enough. I flew out to San Jose for Kristi's memorial on Thursday July 10th after working a half day. It was approaching 1 AM EDT by the time I landed. George's brother and sister-in-law met me at the airport.
I stayed at George's mom's house in Mountain View along with Kristi's father and brother Ken. George's mom is a wonderful person - I enjoyed my stay with her immensely. She is very personable and made me feel at home. It's too bad we had to meet under such unfortunate circumstances.
Kristi's dad, Ken and I went to San Francisco for the day Friday and made it back just in time for the memorial which was held at Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, just across from the main Stanford campus. I was amazed at how polished the service was. George, Cassie and friends must have put a great deal of time, effort and money into making this a beautiful memorial. The West Kingdom Choir sang three beautiful pieces, the third of which, (surprise surprise) was a 15th century drinking song filk of an 11th century religious work. Kristi loved this kind of humor.
The most touching thing I saw that night was the collection of items displayed that represented things Kristi liked to do in her non-professional life. Among the items displayed were a pair of Kristi's ski boots, one of her Franciscan axes, her cross-bow, her violin, her Harvard graduation cap and gown and many, many pictures of George and Kristi.
This has been very, very emotionally draining for everyone involved. George is much better than when he came to Boston at the end of May - but all of this is beginning to take it's toll. There's still more to do. There are at least two more memorial gatherings in August at Pennsic. The first will be the gathering at House Quacheri between the Carolingians and West Kingdom people who knew Kristi. The second will be the Viking ship ritual on the last Saturday. If anyone is curious, George is coming to Pennsic this year. I don't have to explain to anybody his feelings of tremendous loss. I hope that he will one day he will find some peace.
I stayed at George's mom's house in Mountain View along with Kristi's father and brother Ken. George's mom is a wonderful person - I enjoyed my stay with her immensely. She is very personable and made me feel at home. It's too bad we had to meet under such unfortunate circumstances.
Kristi's dad, Ken and I went to San Francisco for the day Friday and made it back just in time for the memorial which was held at Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto, just across from the main Stanford campus. I was amazed at how polished the service was. George, Cassie and friends must have put a great deal of time, effort and money into making this a beautiful memorial. The West Kingdom Choir sang three beautiful pieces, the third of which, (surprise surprise) was a 15th century drinking song filk of an 11th century religious work. Kristi loved this kind of humor.
The most touching thing I saw that night was the collection of items displayed that represented things Kristi liked to do in her non-professional life. Among the items displayed were a pair of Kristi's ski boots, one of her Franciscan axes, her cross-bow, her violin, her Harvard graduation cap and gown and many, many pictures of George and Kristi.
This has been very, very emotionally draining for everyone involved. George is much better than when he came to Boston at the end of May - but all of this is beginning to take it's toll. There's still more to do. There are at least two more memorial gatherings in August at Pennsic. The first will be the gathering at House Quacheri between the Carolingians and West Kingdom people who knew Kristi. The second will be the Viking ship ritual on the last Saturday. If anyone is curious, George is coming to Pennsic this year. I don't have to explain to anybody his feelings of tremendous loss. I hope that he will one day he will find some peace.
