It hurts to post about the loss of two incredible women in a row. And it especially hurts to post about the loss of Molly Ivins, who was 62, and who has been and will continue to be an inspiration to me, my mother (who first introduced me to her work), and many of my good friends for many years.
Molly’s loss to the world, and to her community, is devastating. She was an incredible, amazing, generous, kick-ass and right-on woman. Her fierce words, her hilarious gift for storytelling, and her laser-sharp wit, will be sorely, sorely missed.
In one of her last columns, she said:
We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we’re for them and trying to get them out of there….We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, “Stop it, now!”
Hell yes.
It was my complete and utter privilege to meet her – she had a smile and a laugh that encompassed everything I knew about her.
From a tribute article to Molly in The Nation:
Speaking truth to power is the best job in any democracy, she explained. It took her to towns across this great yet battered land to say: “So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.”
Wherever Molly is, and I’m betting it’s somewhere with great music, great art, lots and lots of great conversation, and some kick-ass fabulous food, I have no doubt that she is telling everyone how much fun it was, and her listeners are crying with laughter and loving her in every minute.
May we all raise hell in loving memory of Molly Ivins.
Pants said,
February 1, 2007 at 8:04 pm
This is truly a loss for all of us in this country, but also an opportunity to reflect on the gifts Molly gave us and the things she said that we need to try to remember…… do you know how she died? I didn’t know she was ill, if indeed she was….
gospelpagan said,
February 1, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Molly died of inflammatory breast cancer – she had been fighting cancer for several years.
-S