Read out loud for my family, Fall 2009:
We’ll all remember Mimi for many reasons, and I’m sure we all have our own. Whether what sticks with you is her humor, or her spirit, or the admirable hard-headedness she maintained like a full-time job, or the unparalleled devotion to her family that in fact was her life’s work, you have to admit: This is a whole lot of woman to fit into a few words, into a few hours of communal remembrance.
So let me quickly tell you a little of what I’ll remember. I’ll remember a strong-willed woman who never uttered a coarse word about anyone in her life. I’ll remember a parish celebrity who’d be waved down by dozens of admirers in the vestibule. I’ll remember a world traveler who took more pictures of food than buildings. I’ll remember a moviegoer who shamelessly shouted at characters on the screen and always ordered her popcorn with extra butter. I’ll remember the warm embrace that only a grandmother can provide.
