Momwriters Memorial for KD

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To KD...we know you must be looking down on us with smiles. I remember also being welcomed by you. I remember how you took time to answer questions, and to soothe hurt feelings. I also remember the emails when you were sick. I remember praying for you. And then the email that told us there was no more hope. There was nothing more the doctor could do for you. I didn't want to believe it. None of us did. You went away to a hostel where you were cared for by a church group. We cried when we were notified that you died. And we cry again when we remember you because you were too special to ever forget.

Bea Sheftel

You've asked a very good question and I'm the worst person to answer it. But I'm going to try.

Kd Macintosh was a wonderful writer who joined this group in 1999. As Mary said, you can read a good bit about her at the Memorial. I say I am not the best person to write this because I went on staff at the paper in June of 1999 and was far less active on the list for the 9 months I was there . . . . which happened to coincide with the time Kd was here. She died 3 days before I took her advice and left the paper.

For all practical purposes, she was just a member of this group. She was not Saint Kd and I don't think she would have been comfortable with the way we've lionized her just because she was a humble person. She was just folks. You know? She was a fantastic writer with a wealth of knowledge but she would take as much time to answer a rank newbie's questions as she would to talk shop with someone with experience.

She came here, and joined in the discussions. She greeted nearly every new member who came after her so far as I can tell. She was always positive, level headed and professional, no matter what the discussion or her own troubles. She offered advice, GOOD advice, on and off list in every way she could. She sent words of encouragement to members who'd had a bad day or a rejection or who were stuck.

At some point, she was diagnosed with cancer, it took it's toll quickly and then she was gone. Her good friend, Chas, was thoughtful enough to let us know her condition and when the end finally, blessedly came.

But, Traci, I think the thing that always impressed me most was that you would not have known she was ill from anything. She continued to give advice and greet people and encourage people, almost to the day she went to the hospital the final time.

She came on after our first mention or maybe our second mention in WD. Our list was growing so fast and we were afraid of losing the thing that made MomWriters unique and safe and helpful and special. She helped us all to see that yes, we were growing and changing . . . but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. She exemplified the best of a MW member. She was the Gold Standard.

I encourage all of you . . . . everyone . . . to go to MomWriters List site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/momwriters/ and use the archive function to search for her posts. I know many of the long-time members have some of these notes bookmarked. You will find wisdom there. They are as helpful and relevant now as they were when she posted them. Simply type her name into the Search Archives window and sit back and read.

I hope that helps in a small way. Someone else? Someone who knew her better?

Kate Rauhauser-Smith

Hear, hear, Barb. That was well said.

Since I joined nearly six months or so later, I was somewhat lost to the goings on, yet on the word of a friend, I decided to try the group for a while....and I've been a pain in everyone's patooty since.

I remember reading the Memorial to Kd when I first visited the site, and how special it felt to know I joined a group that held someone so dear. Not long before, I'd been in a group who lost a member to illness, and that loss ripped through the hearts of everyone onlist.

One day, each of us will also be gone. As we remember the legacy of this member who went before, let us consider what legacy we will leave behind. As much as I'd love you to remember the laughs, hugs, and wingnutted wisdom, I hope I will have bequeathed much more to those who follow: a dream recognized, a writer remembered, and above all--someone who never stepped down from what she believed.

I leave along my walk today, a stream of rose petals, for the aroma they leave will remind me to be sweet as was the spirit of Kd.

hugs and prayers,
Wanda the Wingnut, MW

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