Today a comment arrived on the Loom that deserves a post of its own. It concerns a death of a reader of this blog.
But first, some background:
In April, a reader named Abigail sent in this tattoo, with the following description:
My first year of college, I wanted to be an English major, and I took Intro Chemistry to fill the science requirement. The brief unit on thermodynamics made me fall totally in love. Entropy made sense to me - scientifically, philosophically. I became a Chemistry major and love every second of it. I got the tattoo to mark my rite of passage - Entropy going both ways, with its symble delta-S in the middle, all supported in the roots of Yggdrasil, the world-tree of Norse mythology (harking back to my English-lit days).
Today, Abigail’s mother sent in this sad note:
Abigail is my daughter. I was with her when she got this tattoo last March, several months after she turned 18, while she was attending Reed College in Portland. It was an adventure for both of us. She came home for the summer in May, and four days later was in a fatal car accident.
I will be getting this same tattoo next week - Abigail’s personal design - from the same artist. It will memorialize both my daughter and her intellect and passion for science and philosophy.
The world has lost an incredible mind. Thank you Mr. Zimmer for displaying this artwork and sharing it with visitors to this site.
All great human passions have the same thing in common: a possibility to live on, in the minds of others after their original mind has passed. A tattoo is an outward sign of that inward connection. We will remember Abigail, and we will give her mother our deepest condolences. May Yggdrasil’s branches continue to grow within us all.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:24 am
My condolences to Abigail’s family =[
August 19th, 2008 at 4:01 am
Goodbye Abigail.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:09 am
The Rotary Club of Wickenburg and Tamara Thomas, mother of Abigail Garcia, have partnered to create and manage the Abigail Garcia Memorial Scholarship fund. Contributions can be made to the Abigail Garcia Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Wickenburg Rotary and sent to P.O. Box 1018, Wickenburg, AZ 85358, or contact Thomas at 231-1415.
Donations have poured in from many sources, both to the account that Thomas set up for the scholarship and directly to Rotary. The fund has grown significantly; the annual scholarship amount could reach $3000 or more. Combined with the strength of the existing scholarship program of the Wickenburg Rotary, the Abigail Garcia Memorial Scholarship should provide assistance to deserving students for many years.
See more of the story at: http://www.wickenburgsun.com/articles/2008/08/13/news/news09.txt
All our best Abigail and Ms Thomas, you remind us to always strive to our own.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
My thoughts are with Abigale’s family. She sounds like an amazing person and I would have been honored to know her. She also wins kudos with me for combining the beautiful Norse Mythos with her love of science. May her example inspire many others.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:08 am
[…] The Loom Excerpt: In April, a reader named Abigail sent in this tattoo, with the following description: My first year of college, I wanted to be an English major, and I took Intro Chemistry to fill the science requirement. The brief unit on thermodynamics made me fall totally in love. Entropy made sense to me - scientifically, philosophically. I became a Chemistry major and love every second of it. I got the tattoo to mark my rite of passage - Entropy going both ways, with its symble delta-S in the middle, all supported in the roots of Yggdrasil, the world-tree of Norse mythology (harking back to my English-lit days). […]
August 19th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Thank you all for your caring words. I loved her beyond measure…
August 19th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
How incredibly wonderful of her mother to take into permanence that which her daughter cared for enough to do the same.
My best wishes to her family and friends.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I didn’t know Abigail, but I read about her passing in my Reed Alumni magazine a few days ago. It’s great to know a little more about her, and her great family. Thank you.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
How sad, this was probably one of my very favorite tattoos on this website. My thoughts are with her family.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:18 am
How very sad to lose such a young person whose intellect was starting to open to the world like a rosebud. My condolences to her family and friends.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Intelligent, imaginative and creative. And that’s just from looking at the simple photo of her tattoo. I’m sure there was so much more. I’m sad for the world’s loss of this bright young woman. My condolences to her family and friends.