Some of you will remember her from your visits to Eugene. She was certainly unforgettable. Emily was one of a kind. She had a childlike spirit that was contagious. She had a magic about her that never stopped. She loved to play. Emily gave the best hugs. She squeezed you tight, and released you covered in body glitter, her wonderful trademark scent on your clothes for days to come. Emily devoted a huge part of herself to her work with children with special needs. She was a great teacher. She loved children. A friendship with Emily was like falling in love.Some of my favorite memories are trips to the hot springs, trips to the Oregon coast. Hours spent primping for nights out on the town. Rearranging furniture and redecorating our apartments. She lived in our garage for a time, covered it in tapestries and her sister’s artwork, images of the goddess everywhere. Sharing nachos in the Santa Fe Burrito parking lot. Her garden. Her friendship with Shawn. Her love for Brody. Riding bikes through Eugene. Spending days together simply talking. Laughing, laughing, laughing.
Her friendship supported me through my pregnancy. She loved to rub my pregnant belly and talk to “the Sea Monkey”. She was at the hospital after Nova was born. Nova went home with a fleck of body glitter embedded in her bald head that stayed there for months, (maybe it's still there) baptized by an Emily embrace.
I will never forget that smile, or that laugh, or her voice singing out songs of the earth, the goddess and everlasting friendship over and over until I too knew them by heart.We miss you like crazy Emily, you are always with us.
