In memory of Radical Betty, 06/20/1922 – 09/02/2009
It’s been a year since Radical Betty died. I hadn’t totally connected with that anniversary until I received an email from Uber Kayak Woman today. The Twinz of Terror and The Commander and I toasted her at the Cozy Inn tonight. And I’m going to leave you with a little audio clip of Uber Kayak Woman (aka RBetty’s daughter Aimée) singing a traditional Canadian lullabye to RBetty in a kayak off Round Island, last September. Our northern correspondent Paulette is in the other kayak wielding a video cam.
And that is all. I have blahgged from cars and boats and the large suspension bridges and stolen internet connections. I think this is the first time I have blahgged beneath an umbrella. Yes, in the rain. At the Green Guy Cafe.
Sayonara,
Kayak Woman, from the moominbeach
Love you UKW, Grinchie, and Robyn!
September 2nd, 2010 at 9:11 pm
She Walks In Beauty like the night a poem by Lord Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.
Sometimes I still see Betty on the beach walking as elegantly as ever. As I walked the beach this morning I was consoled by the sand’s memory of her, of Jim, of Jack, of Don, and of Katie and all who have loved this beach. So nice to have their footprints reconfigured by the wind and waves.
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
I have always enjoyed your memories of Betty; she sounded like what, in my family, would be called a firecracker.