18 Comments

Tommy, this is an incredible piece of writing. This is an incredible tribute to your friend, Barbara. Your whole heart and soul are in it, and so many of the things you say about her are so memorable on a level of life and language that I find myself wanting to hold on to them in perhaps the same way you want to hold on to your memories of her. I particularly like your description of her features: 'That smile, those eyes, the glittering theatre of her face.' I can see all of that so clearly! No doubt you brought a bit of theatre to her life, too. No doubt she appreciated your appreciation of her extraordinary life.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Martin, nice knowing you're out there, reading the tea leaves, and telling the fortunes.

Expand full comment

The one thing I know about fortunes comes right down to what The Beatles wrote:

'And in the end, the love you take

Is equal only to the love you make.'

Basically we make your own luck, our own feeling of being loved, by the way we are with people. I can see that clearly in what you wrote. Barbara thought highly of you.

Expand full comment

What a life. This is so beautifully written. I'm sure her family and friends will treasure it. Sorry for your loss.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Rob. She was a true original and had a beautiful run.

Expand full comment

I loved it too, Tommy. I had just written three memorial tributes to too-early-gone beloved friends who were in my former dance company in Chicago. They are on my other Substack called. Trules Rules🤩🤠

Expand full comment
author

Trules, I'm glad we be back to all this after thirty-five years. I'll look at the Trules rulebook.

Expand full comment

Ditto man. You be the New York Yiddish-Jamaican cowboy🤠🤠Here be de link, mon: https://erictrules.substack.com

Expand full comment

I read those, Eric, and I was touched by them.

Expand full comment

Thanks so much, Martin. I remember you made a comment. Losing someone is not just a loss, I believe we internalize that person in our hearts and they are there forever after.

Expand full comment

Hey Martin, did you happen to see my piece called “mother-in-law” on my Santa Fe Substack? Very personal and I hope a little funny. https://trules.substack.com/p/mothers-in-law

Expand full comment

What a beautiful tribute. Oh to have touched people in such a way. Your words are always a delicious treat.

Expand full comment
author

That makes me happy, and she did touch people Kathy, that's exactly what she did.

Expand full comment
Sep 21Liked by Tommy Swerdlow

Really nice tribute to your friend, sorry for your loss.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Kelly L. Makes me happy you're reading.

Expand full comment

Always! 👍

Expand full comment
Sep 21Liked by Tommy Swerdlow

I hope one day to be remembered half as lovingly. What a force. 🌹

Expand full comment
author

Oh, you will be and more than half, even if its just people on Substack. She was a force Patris and so are you.

Expand full comment