Hundreds mourn Rose Simmons at the Santa Fe Mountain Center
By Maassive on July 4th, 2009
I don’t want to write about this. Even a reporter needs a moment for sorrow, so I wasn’t covering today’s memorial for Rose Simmons at the Santa Fe Mountain Center. I was just there.
Nevertheless, I’ve got to blog something. Hundreds turned up to pay respects under the rumbling sky, beside the trickling creek. Dan Koffman, the father of Avree, was smiling. John Simmons, father of Rose, told a story of monkeys washing sweet potatoes. It was beautiful.
Bianca from Youth Allies read the entire text of Dr Seuss’ The Lorax. All I can recommend is that those of you who couldn’t make it do the same. Finish it, and you’ll understand what’s been lost and what remains to be saved.
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July 8th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
I, also, attended Rose’s memorial service, and mourned for a friend who I “met” almost sixteen years ago when her mother, my friend, was pregnant with her.
After crying my eyes out all week, going to memorials, and visiting the roadside shrine, I am heartsick and exhausted. It is beyond comprehension.. beyond what human hearts should have to bear.
The gathering was profoundly sad, and beautiful, and tears mixed with vivid fond memories .. the short-circuitry of greif.
I appreciated reading your blog, but one comment you made has been bothering me all week, and I need to ask you about it.
You point out that you saw Mr. Koffman smiling.
What does that mean? It sounds a bit judgmental, and i can’t imagine that was your intent.
My nerves are shot, and I really hope I’m just misinterpreting your comment. ..
Sincerely,
Fran Nicholson
July 9th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Hey Fran,
Dan Koffman is one of my coworkers at the Reporter and one of the people I’ve known longest in Santa Fe.
He’s such a positive guy and that week was the only I’ve ever seen him anything but optimistic and happy. Seeing him smile at the outpouring of support was a real uplifting moment for me.
I hope that answers your question.
Dave Maass
July 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Hi, Dave,
Thanks for getting back to me. I’m so glad to have misinterpreted you!
Best wishes as we all try to get through this.
Fran
August 1st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
my favorite memory of rosie…would have to be when she slept over at my house when we had a huge snow storm. and we were sooo excited because she got to stay an extra night. the snow touched her hips…she is super short which is why she wore heels. and then we decided to get surup to make snow cones. well we only had maple surup. and it tasted awful . we chucked the bottle of surup in this random yard and were laughing for like 10 minutes about how awful that really tasted. itwas great. =] i miss her.