eidolon

snake pliskin made this. i agree wholeheartedly.

richard strauss' composition 'four last songs' is a tremendous work and if you've ever had the pleasure of hearing renee fleming sing it, you've borne witness to true, heart-wrenching beauty. one of the songs carries the title (translated) 'going to sleep.' the words are those of hermann hesse. they remind me of her. i think she would have understood.

Going to Sleep
Now that day wearies me,
my yearning desire
will receive more kindly,
like a tired child, the starry night.

Hands, leave off your deeds,
mind, forget all thoughts;
all of my forces
yearn only to sink into sleep.

And my soul, unguarded,
would soar on widespread wings,
to live in night's magical sphere
more profoundly, more variously.

benni was my first friend on sg some 3 years ago, and she was a good one.
her IMs and journals and her voice, the handful of times i was fortunate enough to pick-up to find her on the other end of the phone, held an intimate knowledge of human falability and the caged terror that understanding can bring. her wit was fierce and amazingly quick. her outlook was crystal clear and functionally skewed. perspective: it's the kind of thing that can get a person through their worst moments. it can also turn on a dime - showing you, in graphic detail, all the things you hoped you'd never have to see. perspective, in and of itself, can consume you. i suspect erika knew this better than most.
i liked her from the word 'go' and i'll miss her more than a little.

vaya con dios, benni.