I was shocked to read this email from Doina about Lena! Guy and I had just come back from a nice outing to Jefferson's Estate at Monticello in Virginia and my spirit was good. Then came this very sad news. So abrupt! I knew Lena had some health problem but had not been in touch with the Book Project as I had hoped...
Upon reading this tragic news, I had to go to my pictures on the computer and fortunately found this very nice one of some of us with Lena at the Annual Dinner of WBFN in 2008. Oh, I remember! Lena as well as Pushpa were wearing their beautiful national dress and that image had stayed in my mind. A nice evening together at the Book Project table. Then, several souvenirs came to my mind. Working with Lena who had taken on "small shipments" (me as treasurer), we walked the walk together when we had no clue of how this or that was done; weight requirements, prices, WB shipping department, currencies, wires etc. Quite a few small shipments were realized thanks to her good management.
It is nice to look at some pictures that we now have in our archives. Is it like a drop of comfort? Only a tiny bit though. But it is a reflexion of the very good and quality time spent there together volunteering. Lena, with her Scandinavian personality, was one of us at the Book Project. And then, I remember, there was also that beautiful day at the Swedish House on the Potomac when the new Embassy of Sweden was inaugurated. There was an reenactment of the first Swedes who came to America, costumes and all. There was singing and Lena was part of the choir. How about Santa Lucia, this beautiful Holiday celebration at the House of Sweden again with Lena. Lena was very proud of her heritage and shared some of it with us. On December 13, I will go on youtube and listen again to the melody sang by the blond swedish girls celebrating the Holiday and will remember Lena.
With my deepest sympathy to Lena’s husband, children and family.
Lena, forever in my heard!
Martine de Lusignan
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar