When you think about our shared history in Piedmont, sooner or later an image or recollection of Leslie Bowman is going to enter that space. Whether it’s at Camp, Dr. Laird’s French class, or “The Highlander,” Leslie’s presence – then as it is now -- is always memorable! Remember Leslie in a full leg cast resolutely trudging up and down the ramps at PHS getting from class to class? Waving a crutch, laughing, saying ‘hi’ to people, clearing away incoming traffic. Now there’s a classic “Leslie visual”!
Her recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer is by no means the only battle she has faced. As a 56-year diabetic, she learned early and well to fight fiercely to live her life with passion, laughter, and purpose.
Now, in the throes of her fiercest fight, despite pain, fatigue, and the gamut of emotions, she is in a state of grace, a grace that comes from a very real and personal relationship with her Creator. She continues to exhort, advocate, minister to, and enrich the lives of everyone lucky enough to be in her world. We can honor and delight her by ‘getting on her page’ – living our lives with passion, generosity, gratitude, and now, as the bitter specter of pancreatic cancer looms, urgency.
In July, Leslie and I celebrated our 60th birthdays together with her parents at their home on Monte Ave. What did Leslie bring to the party? A ridiculously silly portable bubble machine, which spewed out a barrage of big, juicy bubbles as we laughed our heads off and sang Happy Birthday. Is that so Leslie or what?
-Sylvia (Cartwright) Simpson, Sept. 16, 2011
-Sylvia (Cartwright) Simpson, Sept. 16, 2011
Well, this blog spot is one of my favorites (of course!) -- thank you to the friends who conceived of the idea and have already populated the site with lovely imaginings about me -- truly, some of these folks are hallucinating! Keep loving me, and keep praying for God to give me the grace to handle whatever comes next. Pray for my family, my husband, my parents, sister, brothers, and so many many wonderful members of my extended family. I love you all. And I am not hallucinating this!
ReplyDeleteLeslie
This site is a great idea...thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I'm glad you liked the Bowmans movie I made, facebook really helped to get the pics!
I think it's safe to tell you now that I had a crush on you back when we were 10 or so. Madonna Inn? Family reunion? Remember?
BTW, did you see Barrack on Leno tonite? He was great. I still like his style and how he can weather all the "storms" and still be centered and upbeat. He'll be here in 2 weeks for the APEC summit. Big time politics!
All for now. Love to you, cuz!