Mrs. Peel Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Holy shit. I was on vacation last week and for some reason I just noticed this pinned thread tonight. I didn't even want to open the damn thing. Using her given name in the post was an ominous hint as to what I would find inside. I don't even know how to react this. I'm gutted and I've never even met Nat in person. But, like so many of you wonderful people, I feel as if I've known her forever. She had the most amazing sense of humor and never ceased to make me laugh. I cheered every time I saw one of her tin foil sculptures draped across a musician's neck. We gushed incessantly over The Decemberists and have matching posters that are too long to actually hang anywhere. When my grandfather passed away a few years ago she sent me the most wonderfully uplifting message. I just always assumed I'd meet her for real one day. Life is a fleeting moment, and we all tend to forget how fragile it is while we live our day to day lives. We often say "someday", when we should really focus more on "I think I'm going to do it NOW". Nat was obviously one of those rare people who said "I think I'm going to do it NOW" throughout her life. She is going to be eternally remembered by so many people, whether it's for a lifetime friendship, the coach during a child's birth, or for a Sentient Action Figure story from years ago. We will all remember. I hope to someday be admitted through the gates of Natopia (I am Official Historian, y'know) so I can finally meet you.Rest in peace, Nat. You're a tin foil superstar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wilco Worshipper Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I heard someone talking about Cadbury Creme Eggs at the grocery store tonight...I thought of Natalie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I was standing beside my album shelf tonight, beside Natalie's tinfoil gods and goddesses, and was struck all over again at how much I miss her. I could picture her hands shaping the tinfoil folds of my beautiful little sculptures. It left me reflecting again on how surprising it is, what lives on beyond us to capture our personal energy. Natalie, you left so much behind. I love you and miss you, and will always remember you through these silly but gorgeous little sculptures. I'll remember you in so many other ways as well. I hope I live half as intense and intentional a life. You made a lot of people happy from knowing you....that's a terrific legacy, sweetie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mighty Mel Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 hello all, natalie's family has asked that i share this information with her friends. in lieu of flowers, her parents would prefer that her friends donate to whichever charity they like that is medical/health/birth related that would honor natalie's life. they plan to make their own donation to planned parenthood. they are grateful to anyone who wants to do this. if you would like to leave her family a message, you can do so at the guest book that is available online where her obituary is posted: http://obits.mlive.com/AnnArbor/DeathNotic...sonID=101292222 for those who are still wondering about cause of death, we are still waiting to hear from the medical examiner. hopefully we'll know soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Thank you so much for passing this on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamin' Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Yes, thanks for keeping us in the loop. The link is much appreciated. I will post a comment when I'm able to collect my thoughts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 http://obits.mlive.com/AnnArbor/DeathNotic...sonID=101292222Thanks so much for the link. I especially like seeing the comments and pictures from women whose babies she caught. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ms. yvon Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 the thread about the pending jim o'rourke album just had me crying again. dammit. honestly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedy's Gurl Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 i just remembered something...we were talking about the sentient action figure stories being lost...nat said something a while back about having compiled them all into one document on her computer. perhaps someday, for future generations, they will resurface. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 One of her friends actually has her computer. I should try and contact this person and see if she can find the file and we can make it available to those of you who would like to have it. I was reading a book the other day and there was a segment about how when someone we know dies, and they live far away, it's hard to not imagine them continuing with their life. Their death doesn't seem as "real" somehow. For me, this has been a very real concept. It has been in the last couple weeks where I come across things I really want to talk Natalie about that her absence really sinks in. The last week has been harder than most. I really miss Natalie. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I know exactly what you mean, Kate. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edie Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I keep thinking "I wonder how Nat would have reacted to this" or "Nat would have had some wicked comeback to that" and the like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WilcoFan Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Just logged on for the first time in a long time. This is really sad. She was a really nice person. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 wow, that is excellent. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I forget who that is - Thoth? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I don't know....I so admired Nat's knowledge of the various gods. She made me a Bast. Does this help? Thoth: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/thoth.html Bast: http://www.crystalinks.com/bast.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 She told me - but I can not recall. It's one of those. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mighty Mel Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 after a month of wondering how our friend passed away, her parents finally received the death certificate and medical records this week. natalie's official cause of death was viral myocarditis, a virus triggered by the flu that she had. it basically attacks the lining of the heart. if you google the term, there is more information on the internet about viral myocarditis. it is now clear and apparent that the hospital did not give natalie the proper care while she was there. many of us suspected this, but to have it confirmed is very painful and sad . her family will be looking into this further for more answers. sorry to be the bearer of sad news. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 How sad. Damn. Thanks for letting us know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Thanks for the news on this. I had been wondering about this in recent days, since there seems no logical reason (there are plenty of illogical ones of course) for someone so young to have passed away after receiving medical attention. I know this is tacky, but someone needs to sue. If she had that serious an illness and was not admitted for long term care, that is really dreadful. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 This breaks my heart all over again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 devastating - just devastating. Thank you for the update. I am disgusted that she did not get the treatment she needed. I have been wearing this medallion everyday since Robin and I had our memorial. Natalie will never be forgotten. I miss her so much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poppydawn Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Thanks for the update, Mel. This news is just sickening. So completely and utterly senseless. Ever since Natalie passed, I have seen more Flying Spaghetti Monsters than I've ever seen in my life. They seem to be everywhere all of a sudden. Makes me miss her a lot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clouds of Fluff Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 This is truly heartbreaking. More vibes and comforting thoughts going out to everyone...Mel, thank you so much for keeping Nat's VC family in the know too...it means a lot. I hope those closest to Nat can find some peace (and justice) very soon. We miss you, St. Genevieve. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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