Today Diane and I attended a memorial service for my good friend Jleigh. Jleigh died back in March after three long battles with cancer. She was my administrative assistant for about 5 years in the early and mid 2000’s..  She was a funny, creative and loving person with a great smile and laugh that used to brighten up my days. She loved her family, people, animals, and the outdoors .. And she loved organizing me . (and anyone who knows me how much i need that). I swear i was twice as effective when we worked together.. she always came up with the coolest systems of keeping things straight..

We spent much of the time she saved me talking about life. philosophy, kids.. she loved kids.. I will never forget that the first time i tried going back to work after Sam died.. she walked into my office with me and held on tom me as I broke down in there.. looking at all the pictures in my office. She always cared more about other folks than her self.. truly..

 

the memorial service today was really uplifting. the chapel it was held in was packed. Her uncle , who’s a cleric  officiated in a wise, funny and very personable way.. the service was short.. with most of it around family and friends  standing up to tell stories.. Like our friend Vicki stood up and told about the time I gave Jleigh some ghost peppers.. the hottest papers on the planet. Jeleigh loved spice.. especially after the cho knocked out her tastebuds.. She put those peppers in some brownies and forgot to tell her dad..  uh-oh…

her uncle told of the time I called Jleigh from Chin nd got the time zones wrong.. waking her up at 2am.. she helped me anyway..

Every story showed the same targets of sleigh.. funny creative.. caring, organized  and determined..  there were more laughter than tears.. I don’t recall being at a service that made me feel so good.. even while being really, really sad.  at the end, they hand out some wildflower seeds .. and asked us to take pictures of them when they came up.. .. i’m going to do that

After the service.. we traveled to a small church in berlin vt for a reception.. again.. you could hear more laughter than crying.. There were some great pictures and stories of sleigh

 

it was great meeting Sleighs family.. here’s her dad and her brother. both have the same cool blue eyes as she did

 

our friends vicki and greg  dixie, jen martha, kay, and mary were there.. .it was nice catching up with them 

 

all of these women have helped me over the years. .. I was once told I wasn’t the most difficult client they had..  only the second most difficult.. . .. not because i was mean.. i just generated a ton of work..

it was a very good gathering .. for a really wonderful person.. i will miss Jleigh.. and won’t forget her..

none of us will

nite all, nite sam

-me