[PAA-Discuss] FW: [codepinkhouston] Molly Ivins Memorial Service- family remember Ivins' humor, relentlessness

[Lee Loe]

Cathy Courtney reports on her experience at Molly Ivins funeral celebration.
Moving.

  _____  

From: ckorrf at earthlink.net [mailto:ckorrf at earthlink.net] 
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 10:02 PM
To: Lee Loe; 'Code Pink'; shariloe at att.net; 'leslie loe'; 'Gene St. John';
'George Broze'; adrienne.lee.benson at mycingular.blackberry.net;
chbenson at vassar.edu; cheshirecat at houston.rr.com; Ccdember at aol.com; 'Ann
Broze'; annbrag at prodigy.net
Cc: thevorels; Carol Downer; ztkidd at charter.net; zappa2004 at earthlink.net
Subject: [codepinkhouston] Molly Ivins Memorial Service- family remember
Ivins' humor, relentlessness



 

The next time I tell you someone from Texas should not be president of the
United States, please, pay attention."  --- Molly Ivins
THIS Molly line quoted by Linda Lewis brought us jumping to stand and
clapping & shouting Amens!! 
More than any other Molly-ism, and different sad stories and rembrances, it
was GREAT to feel the enmass energy! We needed that "pots & pans banging
relief!"  
Other personal notes~
I'm glad I made it after my church choir volunteer early this morning, I
drove up to Austin to the United Methodist Church downtown to be with
friends at the Memorial Service. Molly our-Texas treasure, indeed a national
treasure, I wanted to be part of this Americana history. 
Quite a few Houstonians attended, Sissy F., Joanne E., Austin's politicians
& writers, most all the previous alive & current Texas Observer writers, Jim
Hightower... Talked with Bob Eckhardt's daughter, (Sarah) all grown up & a
Travis County commissioner.  
The church was packed! Some couldn't get in. Prob'ly 2,000+ folks, entire
first floor sanctuary & against the walls, balcony, the childcare & Mom's
room, the stairwells (I'm sure against the fire code)+ lobby. Dubya and
Crook boys will never have such a nice farewell!
The Gospel Stars offered dynamic praise & gospel music in the prelude time
and we enjoyed singing along to Amazing Grace. 
Her niece told good stories about their GREAT AUNT Molly like Auntie Mame:) 
Lou Dubose said he was sure that if Molly were standing up front, she'd look
out over the crowds and quip, 
" Gawd, y'all look old"! 
Molly in her 12 step program (where we are suppose to recognize a "Higher
Power") called him FRED!
Marcia Ball wrote a new song for Molly just in the last week during her
dying. ..."In the trenches, there will be better days for the brave"...
The pastor, Rev. Kathleen Jones has been a fan of Molly's for years and did
a nice job of summarizing all the offerings & Molly's characteristics and
relevant spiritual references.
Besides Great Balls of Fire!, we also sang along to Kitty Well's classic, It
Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.. 

The reception at Scholtz Garten was also packed and even more joyous &
raucus with Texas blue grass & rockabilly music. 
A group of women, looked like CodePinkers, started ducktaping armbands with
magic markers on anybody who wanted one with "WWMD"! Could stand for "Where
are those Weapons of Mass Destruction"? But a better  acronym, hell, why
not, now is  "WHAT WOULD MOLLY DO?"
The photo montage/slide show of Molly's life was especially moving. I
whooped when I saw Molly & some of us at the DC March for Women's Lives! 
People may write memorials on the Texas Observer website. 
On Wednesday night as news of her death spread, the server crashed with
750,000+ hits to their website! It's OK now. TX Observer folks are going to
compile remembrances in a special issue. 
Still feeling very sad about her passing, I was cryin' & talkin' with my
sister. Anna had the idea to use a Molly message on a billboard. Remember
when Molly first announced she had breast cancer? She wrote: "I don't need
get-well cards, but I would like the beloved women readers to do something
for me.....  I wrote Texas ACS, talked it up with women at the reception and
urge breast CA awareness orgs to place the photo of Molly with glorious
thick red long hair next to the photo with her fine thin short hair and
dying in January.  Molly's death is saddening but she would OK her photos to
encourage LIVING. At least somebody should get permission to use her photos
with the last 6 words of that column. Very simple billboard: Molly's photos+
"Go. Get. The. Damn. Mammogram. Done."  

We need more Molly Ivins in our world! 

Fare-thee-well dear MollyI.
in remembrance,
Courtney

 

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