Ship of Fools: Five years in Heaven

Thread: Five years in Heaven Board: Glory / Ship of Fools.

To visit this thread, use this URL:
http://forum.ship-of-fools.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=75;t=000003

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

Five years ago today our dear Shipmate, Miss_Molly, went to Heaven. I hope we can share some of our special memories of this compassionate and wonderful woman.

For those that did not know her, Fields of Gold is one of the threads that may help you to understand our affection for Molly. And why we miss her so. I confess that I've only been able to read some of the thread in the last year or two. And never the whole story, ever, as I dissolve in tears, even to this day.

Let me tell you a marvelous thing! Many of you participated in the Quilt Project. It was my great honor to join the two halves of the quilt, the UK/European half with the US/Australia half. I then sent it to St. Sebastian who had been faithfully caring for Molly and visiting her in our stead. He posted pictures for us to share in the joy of the giving and receiving of Molly's quilt...IIRC!

St. Sebastian was the angel who called me minutes after Molly went home. There are other angels who held me up at that time, on the phone and in the cafe. Tomb was such a comfort. And without ruining her reputation, Erin was so kind and compassionate, and I was and am grateful to her forever.

As you can tell, I hold St. Sebastian in the highest esteem!

Fast forward a few years, and the dear man ends up here in My Fair Town! Because of Molly, I have made a wonderful IRL friend (two, with his Archangel partner!) and he's brightened my life and lifted my spirits!

Truly this is a God-incidence.

Thank you, Miss_Molly for the continuing gift of friendship and love.

[ 11. May 2011, 16:11: Message edited by: Spike ]

Posted by marmot (# 479) on :

It doesn't seem possible it's been five years. In addition to Fields of Gold, the Mystery Worship of Miss Molly's funeral and a photo of the quilt is here.

Posted by Nunc Dimittis (# 848) on :

Is it five years? Surely not that long!

Dear Molly, I hope you are resting in God's peace.

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

I'm supposed to be at w*rk, but wanted to read the "Hamster Ball" posts again. There are tears all over my face from laughing and crying! [Tear]

Posted by monkeylizard (# 952) on :

5 years? It seems like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. [Frown]

Each time I read any parts of Fields of Gold I'm reminded of why I've stayed aboard so long. There really is something special about this place.

Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :

Fields of Gold is such an uplifting thread.

I joined the Ship too late to know Miss Molly in any other way than reading it.

But through it she continues to spread joy and encouragement.

Posted by Adrienne (# 2334) on :

quote:
Originally posted by monkeylizard:
Each time I read any parts of Fields of Gold I'm reminded of why I've stayed aboard so long. There really is something special about this place.

Exactly the way I feel too. It was such a privilege to share that time with Molly and with others on the Ship. [Tear]

Posted by Eutychus (# 3081) on :

Five years have gone by so fast. Glad I got to chat with her in the Old Cafe™

Posted by Hils (# 2251) on :

Whilst doing the housework yesterday I heard "Fields of Gold" in the background of a TV programme and I thought of Molly. I said to myself that it must have been about this time of year that she went to heaven but I can't believe it is 5 years.
It still brings a lump to my throat. [Tear]

Posted by jlg (# 98) on :

I'll always remember the prayer-vigil thread for Miss Molly.

Posted by Rowen (# 1194) on :

I think the whole experience taught me to tell the valued people in my life just how loved they are, whilst they are still with me.

I loved that whilst I was vacationing in the USA, I got to phone her a couple of times!

Posted by chukovsky (# 116) on :

It doesn't seem that long ago... though of course I know it was shortly after I met Mr Spouse, which was also 5 years ago.

[Votive]

Posted by Willyburger (# 658) on :

I didn't realize it's been five years either. I drifted away from SOF a while back and only signed on again a few days ago.

I remember and cherish the nights I chatted with Miss_Molly on IM, trading gross and funny nursing stories.

Posted by Amorya (# 2652) on :

Wow, five years. It seems more recent than that.

Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :

(Welcome back, Willyburger!)

I just went and reread the Collected PMs from Miss Molly... mostly about cats and a favorite park. What a good, kind soul, and what a privilege to know her.

[Votive]

May light perpetual shine upon her.

Ross [Tear]

Posted by Ian Climacus (# 944) on :

I, sadly, did not follow the threads at the time [various life things intruding], but when I got back from "real life" it proved to me what a caring community the Ship is.

May Miss Molly's memory be eternal!
[I am sure it will be.]

Posted by Gill H (# 68) on :

The prayer vigil thread really moved me - it reminded me of the hymn 'The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended' as prayer went up for Molly from various parts of the world round the clock.

Simon filmed Chukovsky and myself putting together the UK part of the quilt. Not sure if that footage ever saw the light of day?

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

Willyburger! It's wonderful to see you again!

Molly was in the hospital for a persistent "pneumonia" at the same time I had surgery on my ankle. During my recovery time, she and I spent a lot of time PMing and talking on the phone. Always gracious, she was thanking me for entertaining her during those days. Pshaw. She was the one who was keeping me from going off my rocker at that time!!

She had such a wicked and fabulous sense of humor. Many times my face and stomach hurt from laughter.

Miss_Molly Revelations is one of my favorite threads for laugh therapy.

Posted by Bronwyn (# 52) on :

Five years. Before she passed on I had a last conversation with her. She was very week. She was on MSN. I offered to ring but she just said she could not manage that.
I loved her, she reminded me of Gods promise and saw the child I was going to have. She saw me as a mother. It meant so much to me. She is as far as I know on my MSN but I can not use it on this computer. [Axe murder]

had a candle burning for her in her last days on earth.

Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :

Yeah, I still have PMs and emails from her and her address in my Hotmail contact list. She has been joined by another sweetheart I "met" in much the same way -- and an uncle of mine with whom I had renewed my childhood acquaintance via email --

I am building up quite the little gallery of email memorials. [Frown]

Time goes by, it does, and we are all on the road to each our own end, for sure, if not The End. I take a lot of comfort in that, actually, and wish the same for everyone. I know Molly wasn't scared, either, bless her.

Posted by DaisyM (# 9098) on :

I am too new to have known Miss Molly...however, when i stumbled upon the Fields of Gold thread I read it and cried, and kept reading and crying.
I felt so very privileged--there really aren't words--to be able to just read along on her journey that so many of you so faithfully shared.

Posted by Gill H (# 68) on :

I remember playing the whole Eva Cassidy Songbird album the night Miss Molly left us. It struck me then as a fitting memorial, particularly 'Wayfaring Stranger'. "I'm only goin' over Jordan, I'm only goin' over home."

This morning on the radio they played "One More Sleep Till Christmas" from The Muppet Christmas Carol. I love that movie anyway, but I associate it with her, as I remember her posting that she drew great comfort from it.

(I assume it's Brian Henson voicing Kermit? He has just that same note of wistfulness in the voice that his father gave it - always gives me a lump in the throat.)

Posted by dolphy (# 862) on :

I heard that too, Gill H.

She may longer be with us here but she is, forever in our hearts and never ceases to amaze me with the small gifts she leaves!

Posted by Bagpuss (# 2925) on :

Wow doesn't seem that long ago.

Posted by TonyK (# 35) on :

Miss Molly is still a bright and shining memory. I will always treasure the one phone call I made to her, and the conversation we had. She seemed so pleased that I had made the effort, and I was so glad I did.

So many memories - was it really 5 years ago? It doesn't seem that long..

Posted by Ham'n'Eggs (# 629) on :

No snow here yet, which is the true anniversary for me.

I still have some MSN Messenger files which reveal her her as a rather naughty lady, with one foot already in heaven, and the utmost concern for her fellow Shipmates.

It is curious how life is both the poorer and the richer in her loss.

[Votive]

Posted by Ye Olde Motherboarde (# 54) on :

I just sitting here remembering and tearing up. [Tear]

All our conversations were worth remembering. She knew that JB and I would be happily married, for example, before we even were engaged or married. (I found this out after we were married!)

That's why she is in my sig, along with Tim C. and Gambit.

Posted by Lady A (# 3126) on :

Five years I've been on the Ship because Miss Molly was the one to reach my heart and pull me onboard. I can't thank her enough. I still think of her and sometimes even cry when I hear "Fields of Gold". I hope her family is well.

Posted by Scarlett (# 1738) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:

As you can tell, I hold St. Sebastian in the highest esteem!

As do I.

Miss Molly hatched a plan to surprise me with gifts to celebrate my Chrismation into the Orthodox church in late September of 2002. She enlisted the assistance of St. Sebastian, who shopped at his Orthodox parish's bookstore for an orthodox prayer book, a beautiful prayer rope, and another little book from Greece about how to pray with a prayer rope.

They packed it up and mailed it with love and care. I'm still amazed at the selflessness of both Miss Molly, who was quite sick and yet continually thought only of others; and of St. Sebastian, who essentially gave up his life at a moment's noticO to care for Miss Molly.

He also called me on the telephone right after she had fallen asleep.

I still have PM's and emails from her and I spoke on the phone with her 2 times. She had a particular fondness for Fearless, my cat (who she somehow managed to meet online... [Confused]

), so I sent her my only picture of Fearless, who was quite small at the time.
[Tear]

Posted by ChastMastr (# 716) on :

[Votive]

Posted by Esmeralda (# 582) on :

Chastmastr, how good to see you - seems like ages!

I missed out on the Miss Molly period, as I didn't visit the Ship much in those days. But I was aware enough of it to realize how very caring and generous the shipmates were.

UBB.classic^TM 6.5.0