*waves*

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

Hi, everyone. I used to be Aratlithiel/Daffodil Bolger once upon a time. I haven't seen a lot of you for a while, but I wanted to first thank baranduin and cali_se for starting this community and allowing us a place where we can be with others who loved our mews1945.

Second, I wanted to let you know that the service was lovely. It was, not surprisingly, full of smiles through tears, and Julia's family was as loving and welcoming as she was. It was comforting, but it also made everything so real, so it was also... hard.

I want to thank aprilkat and lavendertook for hugging me and letting me awkward at them for a while. You'll probably hear more from them about the service later, and they'll likely be a bit more eloquent about it. Julia's brother, Bob, officiated and spoke with such great fondness of Julia's life and the people and things she loved, among them, all of you here. She didn't differentiate between her "fandom life" and her "real life". To her, it was all part of her life, and she loved every one of you--of us--with no conditions.

She loved you. On the day we officially tell her goodbye, that's the one thing I wanted to say, to make sure you know. She loved you.

And thanks to all of you here for... just for being here.

Comments

[shirebound]

Oh Carole, thank you so much for sharing this! I was hoping hoping hoping *one* of our fandom family would be at the service, and knowing that three of you were able to make it, and be with one another, makes my heart happy. I hope Julia was able to take as much love with her as she left with us.

♥

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

For someone with the amount of love Julia had in her enormously generous heart, I have no doubt whatsoever she took with her everything we all had to give.

(Also, lavendertook hugs just like Julia, which made me cry, but in a really good way.)

<3

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

OMG, thank you!!! Wow. That just made my heart full. *hugs you again*

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

It's true! *hugs you back*

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

I'm soo glad you stopped by and that you were able to make the service. A number of us were able to attend lorie945's memorial in Chicago, it was such a special memory to make.

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back* And thank you again for providing the community. It helps. <3

[addie71.livejournal.com]

I’m happy you were able to make the service and share the experience with us. It’s good to know Aprilkat and Lavender were there and had hugs for you. Knowing the three of you were there eases my heart.

*hugs you so tight*

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

*hugs you back really hard*

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

She loved you. On the day we officially tell her goodbye, that's the one thing I wanted to say, to make sure you know. She loved you.

I only have a minute to stop by the community at this moment, but this brought me to tears. Thank you for this. ♥

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

Well, my eyeliner's been a mess all day, so.... ;)

It was only the truth. It's just who she was. <3

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful to meet you! i'm an awkward introvert, so I'm warmed knowing you feel that way too! OK--I think I have seen your LJ names before--I didn't really come into this group of people I call my hobbit posse until about 2009. I didn't know you lived in this area, too. Gosh, isn't it like Julia to be bringing us all together.! What an amazing service that was and what a lovely family. If only she was there with us. *teary smile*

I will post tomorrow all about the things Bob told us about Julia that I can remember and the pics of her they had there--I got home late today.

You were very special to Julia--that was clear when she mentioned you wth love in her voice. *hugs*

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

It was so lovely to meet you, too. And yes, it was exactly like Julia to pull people in and together, and it's fitting that it happened this way.

Thank you. Thank you. I want more hugs. *sniffle*

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I remember you as Aratlithiel and I remember your lovely stories. I'm so glad you were able to attend her service today. It's nice to know her fan fiction family was well represented there. It was so good that the three of you could attend. Thank you for sharing with all of us who could not be there today.

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

I remember you too! It's lovely to "see" you again.

The service was lovely and quiet and happy and sad, and I'm glad I was able to be there too. But everyone here was there in spirit, and I know Julia felt it. I know it. *hugs*

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Thank you for letting us know that the service was lovely. It means so much to those of us who wanted to attend but couldn't. I'm so glad that you and Aprilkat and Carole were able to be there for it, even if it was hard.

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

[verangel.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this. It's comforting and sounds like how I would think her send off would be. I made sure she knew I loved her all the time and she did me just as she did everyone she connected with. I am grateful she knew she was so loved as she passed. Hugs you!! V

[carolecummings.livejournal.com]

It really was very "Julia". Full of love and warmth.

It's so important to make sure those we love know we love them. It's a small bit of comfort when the inevitable parting comes. Julia left us as someone who loved and was loved enormously. <3

[suzy-74.livejournal.com]

Oh, hi. Yes, I remember you.

I'm glad you were able to attend the service. Thank you for sharing. *hugs*