Gabriella's Memorial Book
For Gabriella's memorial (April 23, 2005), our friend Debra put together a
blank book that people could do more than just sign their names in when they
arrived. Debra pasted a picture of Gabriella on the inside of each of the
first twelve pages. On the cover of the book was a Post-It note that said,
"Please share your special thoughts and memories here." People did just that.
Some people wrote very simple phrases such as "our thoughts and prayers are
with you," but others took quite a bit of time to write down what they were
thinking about, what they felt.
Included here, in the order that they were written in the book, are the
writings that said anything but "our prayers are with you," followed by a name:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Miss you and wish you were alive. Thanks for being Mom.
Dominic Lowhar
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hang in there, Adam and Dominic. Gabi: I'll miss our talks till five in the
morning, whenever I came and visited you guys. Thanks for having put up with
me; and for letting me visit so often. Sorry you weren't around to see my
script get to a polished stage. (The smart women in it, as you know, you
inspired.) I thank you, again, for having introduced me to some cool novel
authors: Neal Stephenson among them. Means a lot to me. Thanks for being a
friend.
Ward Shrake
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's been so good knowing Gabriella since she was friends with our son, Paul
Baptiste, during their high school days. Then onto the present when Gabriella,
Adam and Dominic were part of the book of the month club where we still cherish
sharing our ideas and thoughts with the members of the group. May Gabriella
rest in peace. And may Adam, Dominic and their extended families live fully
and joyously throughout your lives.
George and Ginny Baca
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's a walk, sometimes a short one, sometimes a long one. Each step is a
measure of the time that we're allotted. Each step of the walk is the picking
up of the foot... and of course... laying back down.
Gabriella always charmed us with her unique view of events, people, and things.
She was a bright, witty & kind person. As in the picture below [where she is
smiling and holding a "cat"], when she had your attention she paid attention.
God bless her and you and yours, Adam
Ruben
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When we first met Gabriella she was pregnant and she started in our book club.
Nobody but Paul really knew her and she was getting chubbier every month. She
was funny and opinionated and a real asset to the book club. One month she
wasn't there and Paul said she was in the hospital having her baby. We were
really surprised because we didn't know she was pregnant. She was getting
bigger but none of us knew her well enough to ask if she was pregnant!! We
will miss her and hope to see Adam and Dominic at our monthly meetings. We
will pray for both of you.
Love Linda and Bill McCollam
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Gabi was an amazing woman- I will miss her. I knew her many years before I
found out she knew Paul and later Adam. I was very happy when I found out they
ended up together. Gabi was online w/ the name SeleneCeline & I spent a lot of
hours talking with her. I am sorry she's gone, but I won't forget her...
Eric Finch
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
What can I write about Gabriella? So much of my life was touched by her in so
many ways. Memories of growing up are sprinkled with her influence. To say
she was important would be superfluous, yet I find I am at a loss for words.
We went from being crazy kids to crazy adults together- although secretly I
always thought she was much better at growing up than I was. Into adulthood we
shared that secret joy of youth & had a friendship which lasted through moves
from East Coast to West Coast & to Europe & back. I never minded the midnight
phone calls. I looked forward to them. I was and am still awed at Dominic.
It is an honor to be part of his life. I see that magical, wonderful spark of
Gabriella in his eyes. I loved Gabriella more then I can communicate through
words. But I miss her. I miss her so much it hurts. God be with you,
Gabriella, and may God bless Adam & Dominic.
With all my love,
Paul Baptiste &
Eveliina &
Kaisa-Tinúviel
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Adam and Dominic,
I've known you guys for many years and Gabriella will be missed greatly. Hang
in there. You have my deepest sympathy.
Adam Barrera
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You guys all rock!
Seriously, Gabriella had the most generous heart and I'll miss her dearly, but
I'm glad to have the chance to become so close to all three of you. I love you
guys!
Jove
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It's always the things that she has done that occur to me, friends she has
helped, advice she has given. I'm at a loss to think of anything that she has
asked for, except for time, the one thing that I never have a supply of... I
am so sorry, and I wish that I had said more to her than to a damn piece of
paper.
Nikki
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I was so young when I first met Gabi, my eyes are tearing now that I have a
second alone with this silly paper. I am going to miss your shoot from the hip
advice that was dead on. I have learned to speak better because of you. I
love you Gabi and will miss you.
Justin
P.S. I know you will be proud of me, I did well on this day.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Adam and Dominic,
I choose this page to express my thoughts & feelings to you because I love this
picture of Gabriella [where she is holding flowers as a child]. No matter how
much Gabriella surprised (shocked?) me with her body piercings, unusual ideas,
her manner of dress and her actions, I have always loved her because I always
felt her innocent, gentle, childlike nature. In spite of her vast intelligence
& perhaps because of my lack of it, we connected at the heart, a very important
place of feeling and acceptance. Adam and Dominic, I love you both so much and
I know that Gabriella's life was a great gift to both of you. But I would not
be abiding in my love for Gabriella if I did not tell you that I sense her
death is also a great gift to you. In that same place of the heart where
Gabriella & I connected in her life, that place of feeling & acceptance, I
sense that Gabriella is in a Great Shining place that we can hardly imagine.
That Shining Place surrounds us & fills us & sustains us to the extent we keep
ourselves open to LOVE.
With much love,
Mom and Granny Linda
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When I think about Gabriella, I always remember how smart she was. I always
learned something new whenever we hung out. She has a very open mind and was
one of the few people who listened to my weird ideas and could appreciate me
for who I was.
Love,
Dustin
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I miss her. I want her brown eyes back.
Robert
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Getting to know Gabriella over the past eight years has been a high point in my
life. Although, I was never as close to her as I wanted... I regret not taking
the time to be there more. She was a beautiful person & I will miss her
dearly. I will miss spending countless hours waiting for Tina with Gabriella!
She'd be... unsurprised to know that Tina was about five hours late today!
Angela
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Gabriella was a force to be reckoned with. She was smart and beautiful and
kind. I remember when we first met we had an engaging conversation about the
occult: ESP, spirits, and whatnot. Sometimes we would see movies together, and
then discuss them for hours afterwards. Her charm and grace was evident by her
demeanor. She always knew how to make people feel comfortable and accepted.
We both used to love reading science fiction, especially Star Wars books. I
will miss her; she was just a wonderful person.
Quinn
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I will and do and have missed coffee with you- you "recessive gene."
Laters,
Greg
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Gabriella,
I've not a clue what to write even though there are a million thoughts &
memories in my head. I specifically chose this page because it's your senior
photo- I remember it being one of your favorites, especially the one printed in
the yearbook. I was all of 14 & you 15 when we met, I never imagined how much
our friendship would change and enrich my life. That we managed to stay
friends & confidants for 17- eep! years, that even if weeks, months- several in
fact- [passed], one of us would seek the other out. Like, when you moved out
to LA after high school & we hadn't really talked or written- neither one of us
was very good at that, huh?- you sent me the coolest Christmas parcel, it had
the freaky bunny-type character, Binky from Life in Hell card, pothole tights &
something else- a necklace, maybe?- bah, damn memory fails me again. You said
you missed me & just wanted to stay in touch, that meant so much to me. I hope
that I provided you with the same type of memories. I think I could fill this
whole book with all of our exploits. We met because of Bryce Tappan, you
wanted to hook up with him & I told you what a bad bad bad idea that was. Your
endless supply of black riding boots with the buckle type flaps at the top,
they we sooo tiny, but of course they'd be tiny, you had tiny feet. Do you
remember when I told you that your toes looked like peanut butter M&Ms & I had
one of those weird impulse control moments & wanted to bite one? You wouldn't
let me. Then there was Josh Gibson. Or when you hit Dave Clark & Aidvian
Apodact in my front yard because Dave & you were breaking up & he was being a
complete putz. I still have the razor blade. Dressing you up like a Christmas
tree on acid. Acid. Seeing Bauhaus in LA. Too many boyfriends & breakups to
mention. Rocky Horror Picture Show. Touch-a-touch-a-touch me... The
Frontier- the corner shop in Corrales, plus the restaurant. When you & Scott
move from LA & lived in front of my house in a VW van. The first time Carmen
let you drive my car. Walking around the hospital wing you were in labor with
Dominic. That dance you do when you're happy or excited, while singing boinka
boinka boinka. You were Obtuse & I was Obvious. :-) Or when you said we were
"OG," Original Goth. You were always there for me. I can't remember what
exactly was happening in my life at the time but you had a dream about me, that
I needed help & you called me to check on me & I did need a friend. You never
judged me or my choices. Ever. And I will love you always for that. I'm
honored that I was the one female friend in your life for the long haul. I
will miss you every day of my life. Who am I going to talk to about stupid
boys & their thoughtless actions? I know there's the other girls, but our
conversations were different, I can't explain it but I know you understand.
You weren't supposed to leave me this soon, far too soon. You always scolded
me when I killed a spider. What odd things I remember. She Sells Sanctuary.
So much more to say but not enough words to say them. I know Dominic will
realize how really very truly special he was to you- you hated kids- ALL kids-
except Dominic. Hell, you learned to sew for his cow costume. Super Cow! All
we ever wanted was everything...
I love you,
Tina
P.S. London, Paris- best birthday escape ever ever ever.
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