a song from George Manupelli

For Cindy: A Song


When I was a young man
they shuffled the deck,
they dealt me a hand,
said, “That’s all you get.”

So I played my hand
one card at a time,
but never could figure
why the cards never rhymed.

              (chorus)

We’ll glide and we’ll swirl
till the band says we’re through,
still I will have had
my last dance with you.

Now if anyone knows
what it’s all about,
please tell me now
so I’ll have no doubt.

When they draw the dark curtain
and close the big door,
I won’t be wonderin’
if there’s anything more.

              (chorus)



Now I’m an old man,

hobbled and gray,

blind as a stone

with nothing to say



except to give you

these words of advice:

“Never look back,

never think twice.”



             (chorus)













Now there’s no light

at the end of the hall,

my memory’s all shot.

I’ve hit the brick wall.



But one cigarette

and one whiskey more,

and I’ll leave it all

on that empty dance floor.



            (chorus)



When the ashes are spread

and the last kind word said,

the committee agreed,

he made his own bed.



     (chorus variation)



We hugged and we kissed

till the music was o’er,

if I can I’ll be back

for one two-step more.



If I can I’ll be back

for one two-step more.



George Manupelli

from Pat Oleszko

she was truly a force of nature.

from Renee Baxter in Ann Arbor

Wow. I have been thinking of you non-stop since we last talked but especially yesterday. You seemed to be with me in every thought and move. I was at the studio and pulled down the box of items you gave me. I called and tried to reach you to see what glazes I should use to finish the few pieces up with. Never reached you but glazed them......as you had done others. Still I kept thinking of you....as if you were there.
I finally took a moment and looked you up on line finding that you have left that failing body (because your mind and spirit were not failing at all!) and moved on.

I feel cheated and so very lucky. I feel cheated because I didn't get more time with you. That I didn't get to hear more stories or tails of adventure. That we didn't get to work on that wall piece together. I feel lucky and fortunate to have spent time with you, playing in clay, listening to your lifes adventures, getting advice and tips. Adventures from golf, art, U of M, Ann Arobr Art Fair, California, Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico. My what a full life because I am sure those were only the tips of a major iceberg!

Cindy for such a small lady you were larger then life, you lived it to the fullest and shared so much. I know there were times when you were so tired and your lungs just won't cooperate the way you wanted yet you worked on your pieces for your sisters caregivers making sure you had something for each of them.

I will cherish the things you left me and I have displayed them proudly.

Thank you Cindy for your kindness, humor and for just being you. I will try to live up to just some of your spirit in giving and humor!

To Yoko....Thank you for caring for such a fabulous lady.

Renee
Ann Arbor, Michigan

golf w/ Cindy - in spirit

I took some of Cindy's golf balls out for 18 holes at Sharp Park in Pacifica, CA.  Jan 22, 65 degrees, beautiful day on the course.  I was hoping that some of Cindy's phenom golfer spirit (at 15 yrs)  would come to my aid but sadly, I struggled, even lost some of her balls - but I thought of her all day and had a great time!

a message from Steve Paxton

Dear Cindy, it was good.  The humor, the daring, the confidence, the strength, the style, the intelligence, the warmth, the faithfulness, and you your face your hair, indelible proportions, voice, work, depth. Good-bye, farewell, kisses, hugs, sayonara, and so long (but could it have been a little longer)
Miss You.

steve

nice pictures from Allan Schrieber

a letter from Betty to Cindy 12/1/10

Dear Cindy,

Poor communicator that I am, I am writing now because I realize that at our age and with our various disabilities, we may not have the opportunity to meet in person again, though I surely hope I am wrong.

You have been strongly on my mind, of course, since I have been witness to all your worldly possessions now in Paula’s garage. It was difficult to witness and reminds me that I don’t want to leave some things unsaid.

Your generosity to us throughout the years and to Aune and Ingrid when they were young, is much appreciated. You have always been generous, not just with things and time, but you have an incredible generosity of spirit… so thanks for that.

You have been an example to us all, and though I will never live up to your example, I have seen you live the fullest of lives and face difficulties with the greatest resiliency and good humor. I have always described you as someone who could be kicked out of the car alone in the desert and would make a life.

Not only that, but you are beautiful, vivacious, creative and a kind and dutiful caretaker of family and friends.

Some time ago, I started a poem about you that (though I have completed over a hundred) remains unfinished. I have not abandoned it, however and hope someday to be up to the task. If I live to do it, I’ll send you a copy.

Love and miss you,

Betty

a letter from Joe Wehrer

Knowing the state of Cindy’s health, I wrote her a letter (how dated you say?) in late December and mailed it promptly. When we were told by Yoko that she hadn’t received that letter or one written even earlier by Betty we were perplexed and disappointed to have failed to reach her. We now surmise that we affixed US first class stamps rather than the amount for International mail. Someday those letters may find their way back marked returned for insufficient postage.

Dec 20 2010

Dear Cindy,

After spending hours rummaging thru your collected works in Paula’s garage and making off with some of your plaques, I realized that it might be the closest I will come to my dear old friend.

My tight little garden already has a connection with your mirrored apartment and roof from Toronto days in that the surrounding walls are hung with discarded mirrors and shards of mirrors found in the free boxes on our SF streets. They will be joined by your plaques on the first pleasant day after our winter storms give up the ghost. We get pleasure from seeing bits of our garden foliage, Bougainvillea, Meyer Lemon, Bamboo, Succulents, Lilies and weed infested ground cover reflected from large and small fragments of mirror. Rising from near the path is an eight-foot tall replica of an old farm wind pump that is there because George, you remember George, insisted that it was just what we needed. The two house walls that enclose the space have been recently painted to show green hills below blue skies with floating clouds more or less like what we might see if the buildings didn’t exist. The neighbors have no idea what their walls look like. When the plaques go up, it will be our Cindy Shrine. Oh yes, there will be a NO SMOKING  sign.

You have always been one of the dear few that I both love and admire. There are few who are so generous in giving of themselves wholeheartedly, and non judgmentally.

Few who are as resourceful and ready to tackle new situations whether by intent or by  

trick of fate. I love your infectious good humor and readiness to add pleasure upon pleasure. I have often told stories of your adventures to new friends and invariably they are told to illustrate the ways of a well-spent life

I take pleasure in recalling good times together on the golf course playing for beer and Jim Beam, in museum and university gyms and auditoriums dispensing art education, at the Falcon listening to Bob James, dancing with Robert Sheff, and mostly just hanging out and talk, talk, talking. It has been great knowing you. You have always given more than you have been given and you deserve all the best.

a letter from Betty Johnson

Hello to all,

Yesterday I received a call from Yoko, Cindy's dear friend for many years, dating back to Toronto days. As you may know, Cindy had moved to Victoria, B.C. with Yoko who became her caretaker. Sadly, or happily, considering Cindy's considerable suffering, she died peacefully in her sleep between midnight (when Yoko last checked on her) and early morning Tues. Jan. 4th. Yoko said she looked peaceful. Yoko asked me to inform her friends of her passing.

I had sent her a letter in an attempt to say goodbye and express my appreciation for her life. Joe followed up with one of his own a couple of weeks later but Yoko thought she had not received them. I hope she will find them when she goes through Cindy's papers, but Yoko was pretty sure Cindy would have mentioned that she had received a letter from me.

Cindy had made all the necessary arrangements for cremation and everything else. There will be no memorial since her entire family was wiped out in the year previous to her illness. We will have to memorialize her individually. I have struggled with a poem about Cindy for several years off and on. I intend to have another go at it.

Cindy was a remarkable person and will remain vivid to all of us who knew her.

In sadness,
Betty

Plaster of Paris

I was in awe of Cindy's style - she was the queen of accessories! She had an amazing collection of bracelets, rings and necklaces.  I guess the cigarette was her most constant accessory. She always seemed so feminine and confident.

Loved her store "Plaster of Paris" where I got my shimmery, purple, bell bottoms that were a constant for me for a long time.

I'll miss her spirit - she rose to every challenge.

S'long Cindy

Photo from Allan Schreiber

Via Buster

Toronto 1980

New to town, It was Cindy who showed me to the VFW Hall and the ONCE Jello Man, I have not been the same since

depart yet still part.

buster

Bigger than life

I grew up with Cindy in my life.

She always seemed bigger than life.

More glamourous

More alive

More engaged

More engaging

More happy

More social

More generous

More willing

She is bigger than life.

Paula Jean

Remembering Cynthia Liddell Ebaugh

This is a place to share your memories of Cindy.  You can contribute stories, photos, poems or any thing else you can think of. You can become an author of the blog and contribute directly or you can email your contribution to mb@marthabruce.com and I will post it for you.

To become an author, email me at mb@marthabruce.com.  I will send you an invitation that involves setting up a google account - you may already have one.