Marci Swoveland (Mrs. Aethelred) Memorial Fund

ajaan

As most of you are aware, Michael’s wife Marci passed away unexpectedly this week. Michael is a long time member of this forum and I consider him to be a good personal friend and know that he has become friends with many of you, too.

A couple of us have decided to set up a memorial fund in Marci’s name with all funds contributed being sent to Michael. I already have a couple donations to the fund and if you wish to contribute you may do so by PayPal or by sending your donation to me directly. Once all donations have been received I’ll send a check to Michael for the total amount raised.

If you wish to donate, please PM me for the PayPal address or my home address where donations can be sent.

If you wish to remain anonymous that is no problem, just let me know. Periodically, I’ll update this thread with the amount raised. I’ll let this run until April 17th so we can get the total amount collected to Michael as quickly as possible.

Thank you,
Don

danglen

Don, great idea! Let's all get behind this

FilthyBroke

ttt

ajaan

I have received $230 in donations to the memorial fund so far.

danglen

<< <i>I have received $230 in donations to the memorial fund so far >>



I know we can do a lot better than $230!

ormandh

TTT

ajaan

Just a quick update. So far we have raised $517 for the memorial fund. Thanks to all who have contributed. As stated, we'll accept contribution until Sunday April 17th so that we can get a check to Michael quickly.

Hussulo

TTT

ajaan

As of today we have raised $622 for the memorial fund. Thanks to all who have contributed. As stated, we'll accept contribution until Sunday April 17th so that we can get a check to Michael quickly.

lordmarcovan

It's time I said something. I got the news Saturday and have been in a shocked state of silence since.

Any words or material gesture will fall pathetically short at a time like this. Especially considering I knew Marcie for about 18 years. I met her not long after I met Michael, which is to say in about 1993 when I still lived up there in NC. My friendship with the Swovelands predates my internet involvement, my moving to Georgia, their marriage, my remarriage, and the births of our younger children. They even came down to visit me here during their honeymoon.

We go way back, in other words.

We here on the forums have lost some fine friends in the past year. But this one hits me closer to home than that.

This was not just a cyberfriend- not some electronic entity who's just an idea in my head. This is a person whose face comes to my memory with ease- whose voice I can still hear in my head. What I remember most was her wit, and her sometimes-sharp tongue. She was a smart lady and a tough cookie. But there was never any doubt that her heart was in the right place. As I sit here, fumbling for the right words to type, there's an old blind dog licking my foot. He's gone silvery grey and his eyes are milky with cataracts now. But I still remember him as a tiny puppy... when Marcie Swoveland gave him to us, eleven years ago.

Michael- I got the news Saturday. Greg had called Lenee. And Tim called on Sunday. I know it's likely to be a while before you read this, but I want you to know y'all have been in my thoughts practically every hour of every day since I heard. To be honest, I've been so gobsmacked by the whole thing, I haven't tried calling up there yet. I also thought I would respect your privacy and not intrude for a little while. I'll give it a little bit longer and give you a call when things have settled a bit. Naturally, you can feel free to call me at ANY time. Not that there's much to be said, I guess. Where does one begin? I only hope you can sort of psychically pick up on everything I haven't said yet- everything that hopefully doesn't need to be said.

All in due time, I'd like to invite you and Taylor (and Blake, too, if he wants) to come on down here for a couple of days, if you need to get out of town for a little while. I'll try to get you a comp at the hotel. Just let me know. When the time is right, and only if you feel like it, of course.

Regarding this fund- I've pledged a piddling, pathetic sum. A buck for every year of her life plus a buck for every year I knew her. Just as a metaphor, really, since no amount of money or material stuff really would ever make that much of a difference, I fear.

You know the parable about the poor widow's mite. Like the widow in the story, I haven't got a whole lot to give, materially. But what I've got is yours, man. As a matter of fact, just as a tiny diversion sometime, go on over to VCoins and pick out the nicest widow's mite you can find, and let me buy it for you as a symbolic gesture. Even if we leave aside the pain-laden word "widow", it sort of fits, since it's biblical and I know you and Marcie had been more active in the church in recent years. (And I know it's up your alley, numismatically.) Besides, it's symbolic of how a modest material offering can hopefully stand for a lot more, spiritually.

Speaking of which, at the risk of spewing a terrible cliché, let me say I'm with you in spirit, though I cannot begin to imagine what you're having to live through at the moment (and I hope I never have to).

I'll call in a little while. Until then, I pray the Lord will ease your sorrows and bring you and your family peace.

canadacolornut

Beautifully written, Lord.

Just. Beautiful.

And I'm sure Michael and Marci's family will treasure the words more than the gift.....

ajaan

Just another quick update. So far we have raised $703 for the memorial fund. Thanks to all who have contributed. As stated, we'll accept contribution until Sunday April 17th so that we can get a check to Michael quickly

FilthyBroke

A big "thank you" to Don for setting this up and handling it.

ajaan

Fund is now up to $879.85

ajaan

Current amount raised: $979.85 Thanks to all. I'll accept donations until tonight. I want to get the check out to Michael in the morning.

SYRACUSIAN

Bravo.


When this forum gets together for a serious cause, it can be very helpful. I'm glad you're about to cross the $1000 limit.

ajaan

Final total: $1011.85 I'll be sending a check to Michael for this amount in the morning. Thank you to all who donated.

If anyone still wishes to donate, you can send the donation to Michael directly. I can provide his address.

Thanks again.

--Don

BillyKingsley

I just saw this. What horrible, horrible news.

You and your family are in my thoughts & prayers, Michael.

1jester

I just saw this thread today, so I'm too late to contribute in this fashion.

However, I would like to take the opportunity to convey my extreme sadness at this shocking event. I cannot begin to express my shock and grief. Though I didn't know Marci personally, I have been friends with Michael for a decade here on the boards. We have seen the passing of a number of our friends over the years, but somehow this seems to come very hard for me. I can't imagine how it must be for Michael and his sons. Michael, you and your family are in my prayers as always, and we trust you will come through this impossibly difficult time a stronger person. Take care, my friend.

Mike

ormandh

Thank you, Don for your time and effort to give support on behalf of the CU forums. -Dan

ajaan

New total: $1061.85

Askari

Aww, this is such sad news! It's not what made me come back to the boards, but I'm glad I caught it. Michael, you're in my prayers. She was a lovely lass and Heaven is an Angel richer now. Mark

ajaan

Total now $1161.85

Aethelred

I am sorry that I am so late in responding to this post, but that is no way reflects the deep appreciation that I have for each and every one of you and for all that you have done for me during what is without question the darkest hour of my life. Every day that God gave me with Marcie was a blessing and I loved her more each day than the one that went before, the last words we spoke to each other were "I love you." As grieved as I am I have found comfort in knowing that you folks are thinking about me and praying for me and my family right now.