Tuesday, May 23, 2017

In Memoriam... for Doctor Allison Morgan Sherman




                                                     Doctor Allison Morgan Sherman
                                                  October 29th, 1979 - April 26th, 2017    


Dear Friends,

On the sunny Spring morning of Tuesday, April 26th, 2017 at exactly 7:30 am... the spirit of our blazing comet ... sweet Allie passed peacefully and quietly beyond the light of this earth. She did so ever so reluctantly, but bravely... and with the loving presence of all of her family surrounding her - each offering offering her their permission to leave.

Death can lay claim to no victory in conducting this cruel act against one so undeserving of his malicious and contemptible actions. Neither can he be proud of his act of painful vengeance that she endured so defiantly and bravely... right up to and including her final earthly breath. She remains our undefeated and indisputable champion of life!

I am usually a man of [too] many words... but I can honestly admit that since then and right up until this moment, my voice has been absent and my thoughts... simply scattered... and "I"... detached from almost everything else in life that for the moment seems trivial in meaning to me. But that too... shall pass... perhaps... with time. But for now at least, I am still struggling to regain my direction and purpose.

Tributes for her have poured in literally from around the globe since her demise and all help to soothe our family's loss. However, Allie was the very hub of our blended families - the very heart of it really. For each of us... and in our own way, we never ever believed that she wouldn't physically defeat her enemy. Though that battle victory was not actualized... her spiritual conquest of the disease was fully won.

Her spirit and her legacy are best summed up in this favourite quotation which best describes her mantra... and her passed challenge to we who survive her:

"In the end, only three things matter: how much we loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."
                                                                  Buddha



 This wonderfully intimate Venetian "Allie" moment was captured by her colleague and friend Professor Peter Coffman. He created a series of plaque mounts so aptly titled: La Venezia di Allie which were offered at silent auction at a fundraiser to help defray the expenses of her three month medical treatment in Vienna, Austria. Deb and I brought this one home to be with us permanently.

The beautifully photographic masterpiece is Peter's... while the quotation comes directly from Allie. She did in fact get to see the actual images and finished plaques.

I will add further followup to this brief post at a later date. There are no more words ... today.Except that I wish all of you... Rich blessings of Health and Happiness!!! Hug your children and tell them how much you love them... each and every time that you must part. It may be the very last time that you have the chance to do so.

10 comments:

  1. "Like a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memories survive in times of sorrow." Robert Louis Stevenson
    I am so sorry, Bruce.

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  2. Thank you Rhonda!... A thoughtful response... and a grateful reply!
    Thank you for caring at this time of our deep family sadness.

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce and Family

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  3. Oh Bruce, I was so shocked to see this post! I can't imagine how devastated you must feel. I had always felt that the tremendous love in your family would bring about a positive outcome. Sadly that wasn't to be, but I'm sure that same love must be helping you through your grief. You must also be comforted by the many people who were touched by Allie's warmth and generosity. Truly a flame that burned brightly, shining far and wide.

    Our thoughts are with you and all of your family,
    Keith

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  4. Hi there Keith!... Thank you ever so much for your warm and soothing words..they do mean a lot to me at this terribly painful and disorienting time.

    None of us ever believed that our precious Allie wouldn't slay the dragon that she duelled so long with and so courageously and tenaciously. But in the end... she truthfully had no more to offer the beast. It basically consumed her and she simply lost the strength and will to continue. So sad to stand by helplessly... in the face of such a gallant warrior's demise... but at the same time... she kept her dignity and died with her own grace... and my deep love and admiration for her intact. Her impact upon the lives of so many has been so touching and apparent in the tributes that continue to pour in from all parts of the world daily. Death... cannot be proud Keith... not as proud as I am to call her my magnificent daughter. I will work forward to maintain her work through the use of my own gifts... she made me promise that I would. Onward...

    Thanks again for coming forward with these very uplifting words Keith. I treasure them coming from you.

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce, Deb and all Sherman Family members

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  5. My words are few but my thoughts for you and your family at this difficult time are many. Much love to you all.

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  6. Hi there Lisa!.. Your "few words" say much to help mend my broken heart and to help aleviate my current feelings of loneliness and isolation that grief and death imposes upon us all when it visits.

    Thank you for having the courage to to reach out and to respond out of caring. It touches my heart!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. "Take your broken heart, make it into art." Carrie Fisher.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you and your loved ones, Bruce.

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  8. Thank you!... from the bottom of my broken heart Wendy. Your words in fact... coincide directly with my thoughts and actions this morning.

    Thank you for caring... in such a meaningful manner!

    Stay tuned...
    Warmest regards and blessings,
    Bruce

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  9. Bruce, I think of you and the family and what you are going through often. Nothing can dim the light of those we love and have "lost". Nothing can ease the pain of their absence. I read something the other day that I keep trying to remember...We are immortal spirit, these bodies are just images and have nothing to do with What we are.

    Minds are connected eternally. Peace and love to you and the family in this time of sorrow. Hold on. She's with you always.

    Much love,
    Suzanne

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  10. Hi Suz!... The rug of what used to be my reality has literally been ripped out from under me permanently I'm afraid. Like you.. I am learning to accept the loss under my own terms of coping. The simple truth remains however... that Allie has left this sphere of being that we shared.

    Our"minds are indeed connected eternally"... but we all know that "matter" will never exist as we have physically known and enjoyed it in the past. That takes some getting used to... doesn't it Suz.

    "She" will always be with me... and with a host of others who came to know her and love her almost as much as our family did. They shall pass her gifts and presence forward. For that... I'm grateful.

    Thank you for your soothing words my Friend. Thinking of you too!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce and Family

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