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Joan Walsh

Joan Walsh
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I'm Salon's editor. I'm Nora's mom. I'm Sadie's...person/slave. And I'm your friend!

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MAY 27, 2009 3:29PM

Update on Dakini Dancer

Rate: 43 Flag

I received an update from Dakini/Josie's niece, Judy Kelley, that I wanted to share here. You'll see there are no firm plans yet for a memorial, but Judy will let us know when such plans develop.

Hi Joan,
This is the info I posted on cartouche's memorial post:
Thank you, to all of Dakini Dancer's online friends, for this outpouring of love. I've been off-line... busy getting Josie's pets taken care of and her affairs settled.

The Memorial Service: Josie dear friends in her dance troupe are planning the memorial service. I will keep you posted. It will be in a few weeks.

More info:: Even tho Josie collapsed in the pool at the gym, she did not drown. She was pulled out of 4' of water right away. The autopsy could not find a cause of death. Very strange.

My feeling is that she was ready to graduate. She dropped the body and just walked out. You go girl!

Good news: My daughter called me 2 days after Dakini Dancer's sudden departure. She said she had a message for me from Dakini Dancer: "Tell your mom to be happy for me. I'm everywhere." My daughter said that the feeling around her was "blissful!".

I believe and feel this to be a true message. I intend honor her request and be happy for her. Iencourage you to do the same. I'm sad for myself. But the weight of my grief was lightened.

p.s. - the dalmation, 3 cats and 2 goldfish have all found good homes.
 

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josie ortez, dakini dance

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Thanks for the update!
cartouche
May 27, 2009 03:32 PM
thanks joan, and thanks to judy for letting us know all this.
nanatehay
May 27, 2009 03:37 PM
Thank you for the update, especially "she dropped the body and just walked out." We should all be so lucky!
BuffyW
May 27, 2009 03:40 PM
"My feeling is that she was ready to graduate. She dropped the body and just walked out. You go girl!"

What a great way to remember her. Thanks for the update Joan. Much appreciated.
JK Brady
May 27, 2009 03:40 PM
Somehow, it feels as if things are working out as they should.
OS BOOK CLUB
May 27, 2009 03:40 PM
That's the way I'd like to check out of the Hotel de Vie, myself. I'm glad Dakini Dancer's companion animals all have new homes where they'll be loved. And I'm glad to hear her family is in relatively good spirits, given the situation.
Shiral
May 27, 2009 03:44 PM
Nice... Thank you for sharing this uplifting message.
dynomyte
May 27, 2009 03:51 PM
Thanks Joan, what a special person Josie was, don´t you think? And thanks Judy for your kind words.
Marcela in English
May 27, 2009 03:52 PM
Thank you Joan for this. It is odd that no cause of death was found and I have goose bumps based on what her niece said. Dakini is truly a loving spirit and she is indeed "everywhere".
marytkelly
May 27, 2009 03:52 PM
Good to know - appreciate the update!
Owl_Says_Who
May 27, 2009 03:53 PM
Joan, thank you. Not many editors are so thoughtful.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this sensitivity disqualifies you from registering with the Republican party next election cycle. Sorry. I know you were really hoping.

Also, if you keep making Pat Buchanan look like a senile old man, MSNBC isn't going to let you play anymore.
Dana Dangerous
May 27, 2009 03:55 PM
Thanks for the update, Joan.
onecorgilover
May 27, 2009 04:00 PM
thank you so much for the update.
LuluandPhoebe
May 27, 2009 04:03 PM
Thanks for this Joan. I like to think that she was beamed up.
Ablonde
May 27, 2009 04:07 PM
Thank you, Joan, both for the update and the uplifting message of joy from Dakini through your daughter. She would have loved that and surely would be the one to channel her wishes through those she left behind.
Just Cathy
May 27, 2009 04:09 PM
Thats the first I've heard of it. I guess she's dancing with the stars now. Returning to the light.
Whoreville Bedicrocker
May 27, 2009 04:10 PM
Thank you Joan and Judy.
CoyoteOldStyle
May 27, 2009 04:23 PM
Thanks, Joan, for relaying this and to Judy for the hopeful message. I feel like I can now let go of the grief and feel joy for Josie (who will always be "Dakini" to me.)
Lisa Kern
May 27, 2009 04:25 PM
Isn't that fabulous? I am so happy for her. We should all be so lucky, and so ready.

What a gift that message was to her niece.

d
denese
May 27, 2009 04:32 PM
Was it John Lennon who said that death is like taking off a tight pair of shoes? Seems for Dakini it might have been. Her job was done. She went home.

Thanks, Joan.
havlin
May 27, 2009 04:35 PM
And thank you Joan for keeping up with this.

d
denese
May 27, 2009 05:38 PM
Thanks so much for keeping us informed, Joan.
Bill S.
May 27, 2009 05:57 PM
God bless! This news brings such joy. Thank you for sharing this, Joan. :)
screamin mama
May 27, 2009 06:12 PM
You go, Josie! That's the way I'd like to exit this world too. Just drop the body and move one.

Thanks to you both, for the update. Namaste.
gracielou
May 27, 2009 07:21 PM
What a great message to receive! Believe in it! She is meant to be near you always
Rated
junk1
May 27, 2009 08:13 PM
Smiling, with a tear at the corner of my eye....

Thanks.
Bees Tone
May 27, 2009 08:38 PM
Hurray for the pets.

I'm still sad but glad the feeling of bliss from The Dancer is there.
Tinkerertink69
May 27, 2009 08:49 PM
Thanks for keeping us posted, Joan.

Oh I'm so happy the pets found homes. I know that would mean a lot to her.

So strange, re: cause of death. I hope I decide to drop the body and go when its time. If anybody could make that kind of enlightened decision, she could, I think.
Beth Mann
May 27, 2009 09:03 PM
Thanks for the update Joan and Judy.

I'm thinking that Josie would have made provisions for her animals first if she were ready to die. She seemed responsible like that to me.
emma peel
May 27, 2009 09:08 PM
Thanks so much for this update, Joan. What a light happy feeling I had after reading it.
Silkstone
May 27, 2009 09:51 PM
Thanks, Joan. What a lovely way to remember someone.
bardgirl55
May 27, 2009 10:43 PM
Thank you for the update. :)
odetteroulette
May 27, 2009 10:59 PM
Thanks, everyone. I will keep a close eye on my PMs so I find out what's planned for a memorial. JustCathy, it was Judy's daughter who received the message from Dakini, not mine (as far as I know, maybe mine did too and didn't tell me!) And thanks to Judy if she's reading for thinking of us in this difficult time. Our grief isn't mainly about what we think/worry has become of our loved ones; it's about our tangible loss. So Judy's daughter's message is liberating and blessed, but of course those who miss Josie/Dakini need to remind themselves of it many times a day. I believe my parents are everywhere, but I still miss them in tangible ways.

Thanks again to all of you for being so generous with your love.
Joan Walsh
May 28, 2009 12:53 AM
Thank you for the update... :)
darkside
May 28, 2009 09:28 AM
Thank you Joan, for keeping us up to date. "She graduated!" Wonderful. So instead of being sad, I will be glad for her.

And I do feel her all around OS; not only in the numerous memorials but in the spirit of the place.
dcvdickens
May 28, 2009 11:48 AM
I was so glad to see this update, but to tell you the truth, my plastic heart still hurts.
Freaky Troll Stuffin'
May 29, 2009 12:18 AM
Joan, thanks so much. This helps close the circle for many of us, even as it's been closed for Josie. The message relayed by Judy means a great deal.
AJCalhoun
May 29, 2009 12:23 AM
Glad all of her babies found homes, Thanks for the update Joan!
hyblaean- Julie
May 29, 2009 02:45 AM
Perfect. The daughter's words are so uplifting! I was hesitant to use the word "graduation" in the post I did about Dakini - very happy to see that Judy seems to have the same deep spiritual knowledge as her Aunt Josie. That's heartening to see.
Umbrellakinesis
May 29, 2009 09:57 AM
Thanks Joan.

Do you think there might be a way we could honor her life once a month here on OS somehow? If not, maybe just once a year? Just a thought.
Glenn Farrington
May 31, 2009 07:14 AM
Thanks........
RonP01
May 31, 2009 11:29 AM
I am glad I read your post. I have been away and had not heard about Dakini's death...thanks.
Leonde Delmare
June 01, 2009 05:06 PM
so glad to know the animals found good homes. I'll look for the update on the service because I want to be there.
doloresflores_d
June 01, 2009 05:12 PM
Thanks for all the effort to keep us in the loop. You are special!
Ralph Tingey
June 09, 2009 12:43 PM
Thanks for sharing...yep, just up and left her body behind for us to ponder the whys of her departure from earthly form! Blessings to her and all who knew her, wish I had known her better...
deLuvCoach
deLuvDoc
June 10, 2009 10:02 AM
I am greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Dakini Dancer. She often stopped by to read what I had writtern, and was always kind to me, and my poems. If there is a heaven, she is certainly there. I offer my poem, "Your Beauty," to her, here, and will post it on her page...

Your Beauty

Your beauty is so great,
it defies words on
a piece of paper.

A pen cannot capture
what my eyes have seen.

--Mikel K
mikelkpoet
June 19, 2009 02:36 PM