Remembering Elizabeth Gips
 

I was mowing my lawn earlier this week, and I heard Elizabeth’s crusty old singing voice singing the Beatles’ song "Across the Universe": "Jai Guru Deva Om/Nothing’s gonna change my world/Nothing’s gonna change my world." Then I heard her singing again, this time from the song "Paper Moon": "It’s a Barnum and Bailey world/Just as phony as it can be/But it wouldn’t be make believe/If you’d believe in me." I’ll carry that voice with me for the rest of my life, I’m sure. The thought makes my eyes well up with tears. I loved that old lady. Didn’t she have wonderful wrinkles? She got those wrinkles from smiling a lot. Paddy and Jeremy, my thoughts are with you.

Benjamin Israel

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