Larry Rader writes of his memories of Joyce

Seymour

I think about her almost daily. Not so much because I spend my days reflecting on loved ones lost, but because, as you said, her passion was so intense and so inspiring. Of course Joyce’s views and knowledge informed us all during her lifetime, and continue to do so. But that’s not primarily why I think about her so often. Because that could be said for many people we know. What it is, is that her humor and approach to the things that got her fired up was voiced in a way that just continues to resonate. In my life, and I’d venture to say in the lives of most people we know, the things that inspired Joyce to (hmmm, how to put this?) subtly voice her opinion (haha) are the things we still deal with daily. Politics and the Knicks come to mind, but it’s not just that. On the last day that Elisa and I spent with Joyce, as weak as she was, she still became impassioned about both topics! To a point that we all had to try to change the subject because you telling her ‘Joyce save your energy – it’s not worth getting this upset’ wasn’t working. The point is that now, every day, something crosses our paths which leads to a WWJS (what would joyce say) moment. And I’m informed anew, but more importantly, I’m emboldened to never compromise my opinions, just as she wouldn’t. But I’m also amused, because as serious as she was and we all are about these topics, no conversation with Joyce about any of this ever took place without a lot of laughs. Just this morning, over coffee, before I read your email, I had a Joyce moment. I was reading about NBC busting Keith Olberman down to cheerful chimp cheerleader for the left instead of smart but biased commentator which he was during the primaries and conventions. ‘Pussies’, I thought, as I became enraged at the miserable ineffectiveness of the left at advocating its positions, now and always. And then I chuckled and thought of Joyce. How angry and passionate she’d be about this if she were here. How her hair would stand on end in rage at the typical media betrayal. How much we’ll all keep fighting the good fight, because of her passion.

And that’s why I think of her so often.

Much love, Larry