To Mandy Smith

The following tribute to Mandy has appeared on Spring Haiku 2010.

To Mandy Smith,
an admirable creator and person,
and a great friend of the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy (SARM)

Text: Andrei Dorian Gheorghe (cultural counsellor of SARM)
Photo: Valentin Grigore (President of SARM)

Mandy remembered

Mandy is going into a hospice and will not be returning.

Her intention was to delete this blog but, urged not to do so, has asked me to take it over and keep the contents online.

I have been asked to say that she does not want anyone to mourn for her but thanks those who have made contact with her over recent years.

Several bloggers have left messages on their blogs:

Kris at Little Town in Hungary.

Tara Bradford at Paris Parfait.

Annie at In My Dreams.

Beatrice at Autumn

Rachel Green at Autumn

Diana at Autumn

Ashi at Ashi Words

Qualcosa di Bello at Piacere

Gerald at Ackworth born, gone West

John at Autumn

More for Mandy

Mandy has just forwarded me this email and asked me publish an edited version along with these two images:

Dear Mandy,

You are an extraordinary woman and I cannot express how much I love you as a friend. I am working to finish five new pages for the Astropetry 2009 project, and one of them will be Galilean Poetry (including your Galileo Wordle). I send you in advance the trophy of the event (with your name written on it). My only power is to think of you with love. Be strong and be blessed.
With all my best wishes,

Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

Mandy is touched by everyone's affection but will not be replying personally to anyone. I am honoured that she has allowed me to keep her blog online.

Farewell

photo: phill deason
© 2009

in response to the farewell prompt at One Single Impression

***

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who lived among us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was; his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as

• Knowing when to come in out of the rain
• Why the early bird gets the worm
• Life isn't always fair
• Maybe it was my fault

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of

• A 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate
• Teenagers suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch
• A teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student

only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. His well-being declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault and finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled a little in her lap, promptly sued and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by

• his parents, Truth and Trust
• his wife, Discretion
• his daughter, Responsibility
• his son, Reason

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers

• I Know My Rights
• I Want It Now
• Someone Else Is To Blame
• I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, tell people; if not, join the majority and do nothing.

Costica Gheorghe 1927-2007

In December I published a tribute to Costica Gheorghe by his son, Andrei.

Now Andrei has collected other reminiscences and photos and created an excellent memorial to his father, Costica the Astropoetic Dad.

It is an excellent compilation of photographs and poems and memories.