The youngest of my maternal grandfather's sisters, known to me as Aunt Eunice, passed away in the early hours of this morning at home. Her daughter and a friend were with her. She was just shy of 103 and much loved. Though Parkinson's robbed her of much in her later life. my memories of her include laughter, good times and our now treasured conversations about books, the world and life once she retired. I wish there had been more. Graceful and elegant, she was the soul of kindness.
Australia and the world lost a wonderful singer and song writer on Friday. An international star known as the Golden Voice. Judith Durham grew up in a household of music and knew she wanted to sing from an early age. Though a bout of childhood measles left her with lifelong chronic lung issues, she achieved her dream. first with The Seekers, and then as a solo artist. Known for her kindness, Durham was never motivated by fame or fortune and faced complications and recuperation from a head on collision, the loss of her husband to motor neuron disease, also known as ALS, and the after effects of a brain aneurysm, among other things, with grace and grit. She appeared in concert a few years ago in a wheelchair following a hip injury and brought the house down. Nothing it seemed, stopped Durham, until one last lung infection stilled her voice forever. She was seventy-nine and had last appeared in concert four years ago. Durham will receive a state funeral.
I recall the first time I heard Durham sing with The Seekers. The song was Georgy Girl, the pop theme to the 1965 film starring Lynn Redgrave. Far too young to see the film at the time, I heard it on our car radio as my mother wove her Corvair in and out of traffic en route to visit friends and relatives that summer. My mother heard me clapping along to the music and turned it up. Soon, both of us were happily humming along, something Durham felt was important for people to be able to do, according to various interviews.
Her music and that of The Seekers is available online. Though I rarely follow the lives or careers of "Stars," I will always enjoy her music, both solo and with her bandmates with whom she was still close. She always left me cheering, especially when she sang on stage from a wheelchair and sounded so wonderful.
Lukas tried hiding beneath the settee today as a way to prevent his transport to the vet. As it was Tuesday, and not a visit day, I left him to his own devices for an hour or so. When he was slow to emerge, I did shift that piece of furniture. His head was hidden but his tail was obvious. I laughed and gave him a pet. He spent most of the day in his favorite chair and did not eat as much as normal. We've had a run of really good days in the last two weeks. I hope that hiding does not become a habit. I will see later today.
Cheers...
