A friend, colleague and community co-collaborator recently
passed away. She was just shy of her 60th birthday, and fought a
debilitating disease for two or three years before succumbing. She fought to
the end. Just like she did in many other avenues of her civic life.
She was an artist – fabric arts, crocheting and quilting
among others – a mother, a daughter of activist parents, a seeker for broader
arts programming, a civic partner as an alderman on the city council, and a
pusher of limits within the community’s life.
She was both a doer and a challenger of the status quo. She
was an idea person. But not one who easily built bridges with others for better
understanding. Hers was a difficult personality. There were many people in town
that she didn’t get along with. The feeling was mutual and very personal.
Uncomfortable really.
For some reason I saw beyond those skirmishes. I reached out
and tried to build bridges for her so her ideas and inspirations had a chance
to be heard and adopted. I don’t think I was very successful in those efforts,
but we did make some common contributions to the community as a result of our
work together. And I know she realized I made the effort.
Her death confronts my sense of social justice. Did I and we
allow her to have a positive effect? Or did we stubbornly fight her
suggestions? Or did she provide the enmity that created ill will. Or in the
final analysis was her work and methods a good thing for us? I think the latter. And here’s why.
Linda had ideas. She wondered how they would work, how they
would change things: cultural events offered in town; the community’s
celebration of itself in different seasons (Halloween, Christmas, 4th
of July, craft shows, summer art sales, etc.); how local government should
work; who to trust in civic matters; how to raise money for charities; how to
support local arts and artists.
Her ideas were many and frequent. Ask her about a topic and
she would shower you with ideas. And laugh about them! Think up new wrinkles
and approaches to handling those topics. Sit down to discuss something and the
coffee cups and fresh baked goods suddenly appeared on the table. If we were
going to talk we had to have refreshments to grease the discussion or just enjoy
a good treat! This was a social event. And Linda was all about people getting
together and enjoying a setting.
Bubbly and brimming with thoughts. Sometimes those were
historical, or memories of an event, or a reminder of a friend and how she/he
handled a situation; or maybe it was how another village made a name for itself
by following its own calling in art, or design or civic personality. She
wondered how we could adapt those ideas to our own time and place. As I said,
these ideas were plentiful and freely given; a torrent. For all the time I knew
Linda, she was a wellspring of this free association of thoughts.
For some these ideas were brilliant and refreshing. To
others these were intrusive and unwelcome. If rebuffed Linda would press for a
rehearing of the points, even demand fresh attention to them. Maybe adoption
and action? Insistent. Wanting to give, to be heard, to make a difference.
In the end she was heard and accommodations were made. Maybe
not to her satisfaction but at least things were done a little differently, a
new program came to life, a new method tried. Linda was persistent. Just like
her final struggle for health and life.
Linda Spicer was not a quitter; she was a fighter. Sometimes
others couldn’t fathom what she was fighting or fighting for. But I sensed she
fought for good. We didn’t always understand what that was. Her actions often
appeared as obstructive. She frustrated a lot of people; but they frustrated
her, too. So the playing field was level in her mind!
Linda was a person of special talents and insight. She
shared them enthusiastically and willingly. Generous and hard working, she was
a partner in her community, always making it a home. And that was what was good
in Linda. She attempted what others wouldn’t or couldn’t. Her efforts were not
always understood. But she was there whether you wanted her or not!
Indefatigable. Loyal. But true to the idea, an idea, hers or yours. And she
made us work for it, ready or not!
Difficult to know or understand, but worth the effort. Linda
will be missed.
April 20, 2012
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