January 9th will mark 2 years since Kathy’s passing. Wish as I might this isn’t a bad dream from which I’ll awake.
Kathy loved visiting New York and I loved roaming the streets with her. The pic was taken during the customary trek to the Lily Pulitzer shop as I recall. We always booked a hotel miles away it seemed. While no fan of shopping the journey was always worth the pleasure of Kathy’s company. And yes I enjoyed being seated in the comfy chair while she modelled possible purchases and we argued about making a selection an early Christmas gift.
So many good memories.
Just before Christmas last year I began to sort through a batch of papers belonging to Kathy’s family.
Birth certificates, citizenship papers, marriage licenses, funeral arrangements, wills & death certificates. A history of her family. Kathy’s signature was on documents and correspondence many of us are sadly, wearily all too familiar.
Happily I came across a couple of treasures, early Christmas gifts I prefer to call them.
Among the items belonging to Kathy’s Grandmother were two articles she had saved. As promised I am sharing them with you today.
Kathy wrote this for the December 1984 issue of Seventeen Magazine. She was 20 years old.
Christmas Lists of a feminist Past & present . In Pdf format … Kathy Shaidle – Christmas Lists Of A Feminist Past and Present
And… Kathy Shaidle – How to be sick, unemployed and insane – for Catholic New Times in the unmistakable voice of the woman we loved.
Her grandmother’s hand written comments are a treat. I met Mae. No filters is as polite as I can describe her, Kathy will vouch for that but with much more colour.
Kathy Shaidle – How to be sick, unemployed and insane
I am custodian of my wife’s life and also that of her family.
I have Kathy’s Mom’s photos I have yet to organize and Kathy’s childhood toys that her Mom saved.
I still have Kathy’s large music collection all on CD, not sure what I can do with these as CD’s are practically an antique technology.
Her films, also on CD, I will keep.
What will happen to all this when I am gone?
Little things do mean a lot and there are lots of them that need attention.
I miss Kathy every day and am grateful to all of you, her fans and friends for your love for her.
PS. I just came across this review of Kathy’s book “Confessions of a Failed Slut.” It warmed my heart.
