Once I realized what Dawn DeMarco was, I did not think we would get along. She was a nobleborn child of Camelot. I was a human being from Earth. I was young and stupid back then, and fully expected we would clash. I was wrong. Yes, she was royalty, but she consistently failed to trigger even my prejudices against that kind of people. Using the term “people” generously of course. I was used to them acting as if others were less worthy or worthwhile than they are. Us normal people were “the help” who should respect them and nod and do as told. She never acted like that. It was amazing to me that she never broadcast that feeling, and more amazing that she truly did not believe it. I asked. She told me. She even let me look into her eyes to verify her words. They are the windows to the soul, you know. She bared that soul for me. That is when I realized I was wrong about her. That is when I realized I really wanted her on my team.
I first met Dawn DeMarco on Alpha Centauri when we were recruiting new members to replace our battle losses. The first thing I thought when I saw her is that she was a knock out. I’m serious. She is drop dead gorgeous from head to toe, and she knows it. She grew up in a noble family on a rich colony world that had access to all the best body sculpting. But more than that, she was raised to act important, and to broadcast a feeling of worth. She was royalty on Camelot, trained to radiate her importance, her value, from every fiber of her being. That was the second thing I realized when I met her. I recognized her act, because I had seen it in hundreds of wellborn vacationers to Northern Minnesota. I expected to be as annoyed by her as I was by them. I was wrong. So very, very wrong.
The funeral is over and mom’s ashes are in the ground near family. And thanks to my uncle, I now where a necklace with some of her ashes in it. Some of her ashes are sprinkled where she asked, and some of her ashes are back in her house. Here they are atop her mom’s china hutch, next to her mom’s grandfather clock, in a beautiful ceramic container obtained at Hobby Lobby. Across from her is Simba in his less beautiful metal container. Surrounding numerous other people and things she loved and collected over the years. Yes, those are beanie babies below her. She has her spaces, and she will be remembered in them.
I’ve been talking to friends and family about time lately. Family said they saw her a month before she died and she was still there. Friends said she died so fast. It didn’t feel fast to me, so I went and checked a calendar. Mom was at home on Mother’s Day, when we took that beautiful picture of her. She died on June 22, a month and a half later. And it’s now a month after that. Mom was at home less than three months ago. And six months ago, the cancer treatments were working and pushing the cancer back. That’s the blink of an eye usually. But it feels like a lot longer ago. Going through it, this all felt like it took so much longer.
It is amazing the difference a day makes. I finally managed to get my long awaited meeting with a Wells Fargo banker, and it went smoothly. I gave him my mom’s death certificate, we talked about options, he gave me his card, and told me to call him any time I needed help. We’ve finally a game plan for what we are going to do with mom’s accounts there, and we are moving forward. It is amazing how much a little half-hour meeting can help to improve matters.



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