I just wanted to put up a reminder post, before it gets driven from my mind again with everything going on, for Schlemazel’s memorial, which is tomorrow.
From his niece Laura:
Mark’s memorial will be on Saturday September 28th, 12:00 at the Skyview shelter at French Park in Plymouth, MN. Anyone who knew him is welcome to come, and anyone who wants to write a memorial to him I will print out like I did for him at the hospital and put in a form for his family. Thanks for making such a wonderful family!
You all know what you need to do!
Open thread!
Mary G
I so wish he was here this week to see the wheels come off the Twitlerbus.
Sister Golden Bear
RIP Schlemazel. I also wish he was here to see Lord of the Flies: White House edition.
Watching my namesakes play Arizona State tonight, after almost setting the house on fire. I’d brought home a pizza and popped in the countertop over. Unfortunately, I somehow didn’t get the settings changed to reduce the temperature. Thankfully the pizza box didn’t actually catch fire until I got it out of the oven.
If you’re up and like college football, it should be a good game. Cal has probably the best linebacker in the country, who’s been racking up absurd numbers. Our offense has been pretty weak, but our sophomore QB had his “matrix moment” last week where the game slowed down, so hopefully he’ll have an equally good performance tonight.
ETA, Evan Weaver, the aforementioned linebacker, researches his opponents on social media so he can really get personal with the on-field trash talk. That’s dedication to the craft.
#GoBears #EarnIt #BearsIn4
chopper
@Mary G:
i know. he would have loved it.
zhena gogolia
I’ve been thinking of Schlemazel, Scotian, and efgoldman all today and yesterday.
laura
He expressed a deep concern for our country, and a wryness. Reading along on a conversation, great times, and so missed.
How I wish he were still here, and able to share in what we’d hoped for.
An irreplaceable man, gone too soon, and deeply missed.
CaseyL
I doubt I could say anything about Schlemazel that hasn’t been said, better, by many other people.
I loved his nym. Yiddish is a wonderful language for mockery (of others and of self), full of irony and nuance. The classic joke for telling the difference between a schlemiel and a schlemazel is: The schlemiel is the one who spills the soup; the schlemazel is the one in whose lap it lands.
I miss him, and send love and sympathy to his family, who were fortunate to know him in RL.
Fair Economist
Schlemazel aka Mark was funny and insightful and a delight to have around. We were lucky to have him here and we miss him. My condolences to his family.
Yarrow
Such a nice guy. His fortitude as he dealt with his ever-challenging health problems was impressive to observe. Wish he could see the events of this week. Condolence to his family and those who love him.
MisterForkbeard
Sad I can’t be there in person and will have to attend in spirit. I don’t think we can say enough about how much he was loved here.
I am somewhat tickled that his memorial is happening the same weekend Trump is asploding. I think Mark would like that.
Ruckus
@CaseyL:
Schlemazel and I are on the same wavelength. Not soup but when I was 18 I had a waitress reach across my lap to put down my buddies plate. Of course the large salad she had sitting on her forearm plopped salad and blue cheese dressing side down in said lap. She offered to clean it up but being the buddies that these guys were……. I had to say no thanks.
It’s nice to know that you have something in common with such a good man. Being the brunt of life’s foibles.
I hope that the service goes well and everyone gets a chance to say goodbye.
Rest in peace, soup bowl target.
prostratedragon
Just heard of the passing of whistleblower Amb. Joseph C. Wilson. For him, and for Schlemazel, efgoldman, Scotian and others who had faith that we might get at least this far:
Mary G
FTFNYT not covering itself with glory today – they took the quid pro quo out of Maggie’s NRA story:
debbie
Mark will be in my thoughts tomorrow at noon.
Kattails
Dear Laura, I am so very sorry that you and your family are having to say your last goodbyes to Mark aka Schlemazel. His passing was a great loss to all of us, his humor is missed, and he certainly would have been reveling in the current happenings. “The Lark Ascending” just came on the radio, it seems a beautiful tune for me to meditate on him for a few moments. All the best to you and your family.
Mnemosyne
We all miss Mark/Schlemazel very much around here. We were here together long enough that I remember when he picked that particular pseudonym in response to yet another round of bad news about his health — and yet we were still lucky enough to have him around for years longer even after that particular bad turn.
He was not always optimistic about his future (for good reason), but he was always hopeful that we would be rid of Trump one way or another. There seems to be a pretty good meetup happening based on the folks we’ve lost from our little family just in the last couple of years. Hopefully they’ll all keep some spots saved for us as time goes on.
J R in WV
We will all miss Mark — Schlemazel — going forward … I am mostly sorry he doesn’t get to be the pungent pundit he loved to be talking about the Trump failures, and the staff failures surrounding Trump and his administration. Mark was really witty, and turned that very pointed wit on Trump with such glee. We will miss that pungent wit aimed at Trump.
We were lucky to get to know him, even if it was all a virtual friendship on this wonderful place John has helped us create~!!
Laura Too
Thank you all! I took Thursday and Friday off with the intent of putting a booklet together of all the wishes (names redacted in some cases if using real) and sharing with the family. Wednesday night I was called to a local hospital. My aunt from California, Mark’s sister in law, had a heart attack and died on her way here. I have been wrapped up in the logistics of cremation (same place as Mark) and memorial for her. We are having a two for one day. It is a good thing they got along or I don’t know what the hell we’d do! We all share the black sense of humor that Mark had so there will be as much laughter as tears. And when it is all over I will collapse. I have lost 2 of my closest friends as well as relatives.
chopper
@Laura Too:
oh jesus that’s rough. when it rains it pours. definitely take some time to yourself afterwords, you need it. holding you and yours in the light.
Elizabelle
@Laura Too: Sorry to hear of your aunt’s passing, too. These relationships are irreplaceable.
Will be thinking of you and your family today. All the best. Come hang out with us when you can.
Aleta
@Laura Too: I came here to tell you that you and Schlemazel are in my heart right now. I’m so sorry to hear of your second loss. My heart goes out to you as I imagine handling the suddenness and grief at the same time as the arrangements for both and the gathering. I hope you have some nourishment and time for whatever comes most easily to you now. (I think those two things are also a kind of ceremony that honors a loved one’s life.)
Ruckus
@Laura Too:
The laughter and the tears.
The remembrance and the loss.
Lives well lived, now gone. Remember the fun, the laughter and yet don’t forget the other parts, that made them who they were. It’s all part of living.
Someone once said the three best parts of life, the beginning, the middle, the memories.
Take care of yourself, Mark would want that.
tybee
@Mary G:
amen.