Woman With the Strength of 10,000 Men

(cc) 2008, nycwatchdog's flickr stream: http://flickr.com/photos/nycwd/

We miss you, Lisa.

My first  interaction with Lisa was a snarky insult right to her face.

It was TequilaCon 2008 — and I had heard of her. I was one of many across the blogosphere who supported a trip for her and her family to visit Walt Disney World.  She had never heard of me before.

I introduced myself — and told her that I had featured her in my “List on the 3s” for that day: Things I shouldn’t say at TequilaCon ’08 if I want to be welcome at TequilaCon ’09.

So I told her about this.  Within 30 seconds of meeting her. And the Dude.

And her reaction to this madman coming up to her — someone she didn’t know who was throwing Chutzpah in her face about her being selfish about taking her kids to the Happiest Place on Earth? A smile. “You do know why I’m going, right?”

And I told her that I did.  And she (and Dude) refrained from punching me. In fact, it was all hugs just a moment later.

Throughout her battles with cancer (and this is a woman who certainly brought a ferocious battle), she didn’t lose her sense of humor, her wit, or her beauty.  From day one she reminded me of one of my favorite songs by a favorite artist of mine named Peter Himmelman.  He wrote it for a woman he had met who was in the late stages of ALS — but also kept her own sense of self and her sense of humor and perspective on everything.  I’ve included that song (and an intro about it) below.

It’s how I will always think of Lisa – a woman who, through this all, had amazing strength and courage.

You are loved and missed.

Direct YouTube Link — Song Intro

Direct YouTube Link – Woman With the Strength of 10,000 Men

Woman With The Strength Of 10,000 Men
From the album From Strength to Strength (1991)

From the moment I saw your face
I knew I could never take living for granted
I froze right in my place
As I became aware of the ground on which my feet were planted

And as your eyes were focused on the alphabet in your video screen
I stood there and stared in disbelief

I was speaking to you with my voice
You were speaking to me by choosing letters with your eyebrow
You didn’t have no choice
And yet you had an attitude like that’s just the way that it goes now

I started talking to you about the fish swimming in your aquarium
But all the while I wanted to take away your pain

Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10,00 men

From the moment I saw your face
I knew all my so-called troubles were nothing
You put me in my place
I knew right then I better start living for something

There ain’t nobody alive that can keep your spirit down
No one can keep you from changing what just ain’t fair

Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10,000 men

And the words come ticking out
And the words bring us together
And the words come ticking out
And the words must keep you sane

Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10,00 men