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I did not know your mom. I just went to her twitter page to follow her because I liked a lot of her posts from last fall. From those posts, I know I would have loved to have known her. Please accept my condolences on your loss of such an accomplished lady and my congratulations on having the privilege of knowing and having her in your lives.
I was recently informed of Linda's passing. I was one of her classmates at Rutgers Medical School, back in '66 - '68 and again at Mt Sinai '68 - '70. Linda was one of the brightest students in the class. Although we lost contact with each other after graduation, I understand she was successful in both her professional and personal life and left meaningful and loving memories to all who knew her. That is all one could ask for. She will be missed.
I am so honored to have known Linda through cat rescue and also through FB. I was also so thrilled that she lived nearby and to learned that she had had such a full and accomplished life. What an inspiring woman.
I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom. I only just learned of Linda's passing. It seems like I had just "talked" to her about a rescue kitty and a transport and now she is gone it is so hard to believe. She touched the lives of so many both human and fur. She will be deeply missed in the rescue community.
The Rescuer's Quilt
As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the animals that had gone there
before me. Before each of us go to the Bridge, we live our lives like the
squares of a quilt in many piles, mirrored in the eyes of the animals
awaiting us. An animal Angel sits before each of us sewing our quilt squares
together in a tapestry that is our life. But as my animal Angel took each
piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my
squares was. They were filled with giant holes.
Each square was labeled with a part of my life as a rescuer that had been
difficult, the challenges I was faced with in my quest to save lives and the
times I had been tempted to take the easy way out and avoid the controversy
rather than speak for the animals who could not speak for themselves. I saw
hardships that I had endured for the sake of the animals, which were the
largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole
here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the
bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was
disheartened. My animal Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together
threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally, the time came when each
life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The
others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their
lives had been with the riches of the Earth.
My animal Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped
to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in
my life, and laughter and the sweet kisses of the precious animals who
honored my life with their presence. But there had also been the trials of
illness, and death, and false accusations that took me from their world as I
knew it. I had to start over many times.
I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the
strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights crying and praying
that somehow the strength would come to go on, asking for help and guidance
as I tried to help the helpless. I had often been held up to ridicule, which
I endured painfully, each time enduring it for the sake of the animals who
looked at me with trust and love in their eyes.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to
accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of
my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at
the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image of an animal who had depended on me. All the animals at
the Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their eyes. They said,
"Every time you gave over your life to help us, it gave us life. Each point
of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let us shine through,
until there was more of us than there was of you."
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the animals to shine
through.
Author Unknown
Cheryl
Roads of Hope Animal Rescue Transport
I met Linda through Facebook. We played a game together and became quick friends. She was a very beautiful and giving woman and actually purchased Girl Scout cookies from my daughter last year even though we lived states apart. (We live in Florida.) RIP dear friend.