OldTroubador's blog post - An Amazing Soul

I just read Lilll’s blog – the one about Love’nMyBug. It was a sad night when we got the word of her passing, and it is a sad day now that her profile is gone for good.
For those who never knew her, you missed out on one of the brightest stars in the NN galaxy. For those of us who did, we knew her to be sassy, irreverent, hilarious, warm, and caring – a wonderful friend. And, she rarely met anyone who wasn’t a friend.
It is near ten months since we heard of her passing. We followed her battles daily, trading with each other any snippets of information we had. We cheered and laughed as we heard of her telling her doctors and nurses exactly what she thought. We wept tears of joy when she was at last able to dictate her blogs to us through her husband. We shamelessly wept when we heard that the battles had become too much for her.
The fact though, is that she is still alive in each of us – she resides in our hearts and our souls. And that my friends, is what is known as immortality.
What follows is the dedication I was finally able to write for her. A tribute to a wild, warm, wonderful woman – Love’nMyBug.

An Amazing Soul

About a month ago, I was sitting in my lonely writer's garret in front of my computer, staring at a blank screen. I was trying to write something meaningful and beautiful for a friend of ours who had passed, and failing miserably. Just today, I realized that I had, unknowingly at the time, posted the perfect tribute to LoveBug, Erin, just a few days before.
Erin, though small in stature, walked large through our lives. Her devastating "wiener punches" were delivered with such a sweet smile that one never minded being emasculated - after catching one's breath of course. She would publicly chide us for our human frailities and weaknesses and tease us about our shortcomings. Yet in private, she would tenderly, or with a swift kick in the rear, coax, goad, or console us, convinced of our value and worth as human beings and not quitting until we ourselves were convinced too. One never had to 'check six' because she was always there, watching our backs for us. And if anybody could, Erin would be able to convince that ant that he could knock down that rubber tree plant.
I am sure that Erin would have made a helluva Marine - she was dedicated, courageous, a fighter, and a peacemaker. She was a beloved mother and wife, and a damned fine friend to all of us here.
For an amazing lady, full of grace, yet with a rock and roll soul: