Leena, on our trip to Mexico. What a fun time!
“I have had so much fun…”
Pauline Buck - or Leena as we all called her - lived for fun. She looked for the joy in every day life. Sometimes we didn’t realize that the fun she loved to have lied directly within each of us. For her, fun was in the gathering of family. Fun came with togetherness. It didn’t have to be a party. Just time shared. Maybe a meal. Definitely some wine. And good conversation. That is all she needed to have fun.
These words came from an evening just like the one described - family being together. We had all been out for her birthday that day celebrating her 80 years on this planet. Late into the evening after he got home, her “favorite son-in-law” was recording a video of her. She was laughing…drinking wine…playful…joyful. She had an evening with family - an evening of fun. It was exactly as she wanted it…celebrating the good parts, enjoying her family and being together. As simple as that.
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Leena left us too early. She snuck away in the early hours of the morning on May 27th. While we knew it was coming, I don’t think any of us were quite finished with her. But she was. She told us all so for the months leading up to that day, gathering her pieces…telling us stories…making requests. The solitude of COVID, the reality of aging, the loneliness of loss was all too much for her soul and she let us know. These past months were spent dotting her I’s and crossing her T's. While we knew it was impending, I resisted. I fought the notion tooth and nail. I guess I just wasn’t done. Just one more dance…one more laugh…one more glass of champagne together…one more trip. And so many more stories and gaps I wanted to fill
But those words are enough. She left us with a hidden treasure uncovered by her son-in-law days after she left. Those words will resonate with every part of me. “I have had so much fun…”
Leena lived a life she enjoyed. She found joy and humor and tried most days to focus on that. She laughed at herself and made us soften our edges just a little in doing so. She showed us all how to live joyfully and fully in herself. She celebrated life as much as she could and loved us all where we as we showed up…imperfect and messy. But we were us and that’s all she needed.
Leena taught me that life is about having fun. Its about joy and family and love. All of it, together, in one big sloppy mess. Slurp it up. Make a mess. Find the fun. Stop fighting joy. Because like a butterfly, joy and fun will move on playfully to the next open flower if it doesn’t have a spot to land. So wait for it and be open to it. Fun may be right where you least expect it.
So just remember…have SO.MUCH.FUN.
In memory
PAULINE BUCK
December 10, 1935 - May 27, 2021
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