Thank you Zenkitty.

god dammit.

She dealt with such a difficult situation, both regarding how she felt physically as well as in facing inefficient treatment and bureaucracy, and the combination of it all, and when skimming to try to read how she is doing, it always struck me how matter—of—fact she made it all read: "This needed to be done. It wasn't done right. I managed to make it fixed. It was done properly". As if anybody could do it, as if she wasn't a very real unbelievably amazing person.

Going to pretend I'm only having a bad cold (which right now I'm strangely thankful for actually having) in front of students.

My heart and thoughts are right here with you. Sleep well. Thank you for being here.

So I bought the woman dinner and a bottled water and gave it to her as I left. And it was nothing, something I should have done anyway. But tonight I did it because of Ginger, and I've made a promise to myself to do it far more often. Just help when I can.

Thanks, Pix. Both for sharing this, and for doing it.

Tough way to duck back into the thread. I have a very shiny memory of Ginger in my head, her standing next to a window with a huge smile and a drink of some nature in her hand. She is such a vibrant person, and I learned so much from her just by being in her presence.

I am pretty numb, but I am wearing my tiara and raising my whiskey in honor of her.

I love all ya'll and think of you daily.

I was thinking earlier how unfair it is that the brightest lights always seem to be taken from us too soon, and then realized that regardless of the actual timing it's always too soon because they're the brightest lights.

Rest in peace, Ginger.

I never met Ginger, never even saw a picture. But she was a voice of reason, and the way she dealt with her health issues was inspiring.

So sorry her story has ended way too soon.

Ginger I will miss you.

I realized during my drive back to Pasadena from Irvine tonight that I'm pretty sure the last time I saw Ginger in person was in Madison right after I got the news about my Dad being sick.

The world is less without her.

Tonight is a sad night.

At work, with socks and everything. So cannot cry, and have to try and focus.

But this morning I was reading here before I left home for work, sobbing. Every word you wrote here is true. The way Ginger reached out was... grace is the word comes to mind. Grace and reason. To quote Nilly, as if anybody is capable of it.

Darlings, I am here for those of you who will not be able to sleep. Much love to all. Please take care. I once again offer the "I'm in Jerusalem, let me know if any faith-based thingies are needed", for both this family and Ginger's friends and family in the U.S. - Zen, please feel free to pass my offer to them.

WindSparrow - it's a children's song title "We have come to banish the darkness". You can listen to it here: [link] We have come to banish the darkness/in our hands light and fire/each and everyone is a small light/together we are a strong light/move away, darkness, begone dark/move away from the light

Sigh.

I didn't know Ginger very well, and I thought I hadn't met her, but if she was at the SF2F, then I must have, though I was new then. I don't have Ginger memories to share, except for that time JZ suggested I get Seanan to send her an advance copy of Blackout back when she first got her diagnosis. I'm glad I got to do a nice thing for someone who's done such nice things for so many.

This year isn't fair.