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M
MRO posted a condolence
Saturday, May 29, 2021
For Shelley "Genevieve" Laffal... You were the very definition of 'special'...
Shelley sat behind me in Anne Soloviev's French class at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (...way back in the distant 20th century). ...I guess it might be a little more accurate to say that she _hid_ behind me in French class! My recollection was that we were a little closer in age but, upon reflection, I must have been only a sophomore when she was a senior. I liked the name "Genevieve" very much, at the time, and thought that her French-name, "Genevieve", fit her perfectly. She in turn would address me as, "Robert". I can still 'hear' the distinctive melody of her voice. So, over the subsequent years, whenever I saw or heard the name, "Genevieve", the next thought that would pop into my mind was "Shelley Laffal" - - and I would wonder where she was.
A couple of years ago, I got an iPAD. It was great for having at my fingertips to do quick research whenever a question popped into my head instead of me waiting until I could get my fingers on a keyboard by which time, I would surely forget the 'question'. I often thought of Shelley during my life since I frequently would come across the name "Genevieve", spoken or read, but I never heard any news of her after she graduated from high school. Then, a couple of days ago, I saw the name "Genevieve" in something I was researching and I wondered how hard it would be to find Shelley. I've looked for more than a few people from my past without any result but I had immediate success with Shelley on account of her continued professional use of her birth name. I saw a web site that had originals and reproductions of her art and I eagerly perused it for what I could find to put in a house I'm planning to build. I thought I would try to contact her, in time, and talk about her art and of 'temps perdu'. She was a beautiful girl and I'm sure I had some passion for her when we were teenagers but it never rose to the level of a "crush" or an infatuation. I always wondered, 'why not' - - considering how special I considered her to be. She had a beautiful smile and figure and I can't recall her ever being unkind to anyone. More than anything else, if I could have gone back in time to the teenage Shelley, it would have been my top priority to make sure she _knew_ that I thought she was _special_. But, better late than never so I intended to tell her when I was able to contact her by email...
A couple of days later, it occurred to me that I'm something of a medical train wreck, myself, and that neither Shelley nor I were getting any younger. So, rather than tempt fate, I looked to see if I could come up with an email address for Shelley, as soon as I had some time. Unfortunately, this time, my 'research' revealed her funeral home's death announcement. ...It seems I was nine months too late. ...Life is hard. It's full of pain and emptiness. ...And then we die.
Perhaps my impulse to 'research' her when I did was not an accident. Maybe Shelley wanted me to communicate something she thought had been left unsaid? Shelley left behind a daughter and it was obvious to _me_ that Shelley thought this daughter was the pinnacle of her achievements in life. When I was able to contact Shelley, I had intended to confirm to her that _I_ also thought her daughter was the most important creation in her oeuvre. I read a quote where Shelley referred to her daughter as "beautiful". I also noticed that her daughter's middle name might be 'Bel' - - French for 'beautiful'. Although, I would argue that if Shelley had been paying attention to grammar in French class, she might have named her, 'Belle', instead (shrug). ...None of us are perfect. ...Life isn't meant to be a proverbial bowl of cherries. ...It is meant to be _endured_.
If there is any justice in the universe, then perhaps Shelley now has a perfect knowledge and understanding of the universe and everything in it. If not, then perhaps the practical lesson for the rest of us is to communicate our truths to the living while we can.
So, ...goodbye, 'minette' (French for 'kid'). ..."When 'she' shall die, Take 'her' and cut 'her' out in little stars, And 'she' will make the face of heaven so fine, That all the world will be in love with the night, And pay no worship to the garish sun."
MRO croissant@comcast.net
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