07.12.18

PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS
•LETTERS •
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
Gina Zamparelli
have time. She would
make the time. She
would see the good
side of things and offer
her good thoughts
and prayers when
things looked dire.
She would spend
countless hours talking
over problems
and offering whatever
advice or counsel
she could. She really
cared about all of
us. And she LOVED
us all. She truly did
love us all. Reading
over the thousands
of posts on her
Facebook page, in
response to her being
gravely ill, and also
after she passed, as
well as her friend’s
posts and shares on
Facebook, everyone felt like they had the same connection, even if they
didn’t know her in person, and everyone feels a deep sense of loss.
When I think about how senseless all this is, I also think about how
we can continue on, and let a little piece of her live on within us. We can
love people more. What does that mean? I can say I love you, but maybe
it means taking an extra 10 or 15 minutes or an hour or a couple of hours,
and really listening to the other person and finding out what is in their
head and their heart. And hugging them. Hugging them hello and hugging
them goodbye. That’s what Gina would have done. And, as one of her
closest friends said to me the other day, we can find comfort in connecting
with each other. We can share our memories of her.
Late last year, I attended a memorial service for someone I considered
a really great man, who was in his 90s. He was quite well known in our
community. About 1,000 people attended his public memorial. A couple
of things were said that day, as they related to the man that passed away,
that struck me as such great thoughts, I scribbled notes on his program.
When I was writing this, I went back and found that program. They relate
to Gina, too. The first one was that happiness is giving to others; that
we’re put here on this Earth to help others. The second was that in talking
to other people you never know who you will get to know, and how
you will connect. You should be open to talking to everyone, regardless of
race, age, or status, and really get to know the other person. These ideas
so strongly relate to what made Gina special. In that regard, Gina was
one of the richest people that I will ever know, because she had so many
people that loved her. She embodied the idea that we are put on this Earth
to take care of each other. I would suggest that one way we can continue
to honor Gina’s memory is to take care of each other. To be kind, despite
all the craziness and chaos. Kindness is an easy gift to share.
And the last note was one thought I carry with me, or try to carry with
me, although it’s hard sometimes in my grief. And that is, we shouldn’t be
sad that this time of Gina’s life is over. We should be glad that we were
here to experience it, and all the richness we have felt because of her.
Don’t be sorry it’s over; be glad that it happened.
Gina, I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart.
~ TRACY WALLACE
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07.12.18 | PASADENA WEEKLY 15