In Loving Memory of Cherie McArthur & Cathleen Carter

As I sit with tonight's full moon I am reminded that from the full moon to the new moon is a time for completion. And completion seems to be the task at hand.

This past weekend we were blessed with the presence of family members from both Cherie's and Kathy's families. How fortunate we are to have been touched by Fran's courage and sweetness, by Michael and Val's deep caring and strong resolve, by Vickie's desire to create fairness to all and by Brandi's unending helpfulness. The jobs our friends came to Melrose to do are as difficult as any of us could ever have to. They came to begin the most difficult task of opening the door for completion of the physical part of the journey our beloved Cherie and beloved Cathleen created in Melrose. We do not envy the work at hand.

As boxes of personal items are packed and closed we must accept other closures as well. Saturday, March 26 is the last day that Take Me Places Coffee Shop will be open for business.

A valiant and diligent effort on the part of Dale, Terri and a few others has kept the doors open for the past three months. The coffee shop was the land of Oz and Cherie was the wizard. It was a magic act that none of us or even all of us could recreate. Those of us who have been involved in the inner workings of TMP from early on have known this all along. We are most grateful to everyone who has walked through the doors of TMP. All of our lives are richer for someone we met there! All of our lives are richer for having been there.

Last but not least, this memorial site has also come to a place of completion. I understand that it will continue to be posted as a memorial and that no more postings will be added. We are so grateful to Tara for her loving kindness and generosity that allowed this site to happen. How fortunate we are to have shared so much of ourselves, our love for C and C, our grief, with the world. Thank you all for this holding of hands.

If you would like to continue communications with family members:

Fran McArthur
28 Oak tree Drive
Johnston RI 02919
cards and letters to Mike and Val McArthur can be sent to the same address

Vickie and Brandi Carter
21236 State Hwy 3
Grafton IL 62037

There is a bumper sticker I am reminded of - 'Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.' As the full moon wanes into the new moon let us take this time of completion to reflect on the many ways we have been gifted in our lives and to appreciate that as we move through one cycle of completion we create yet another cycle of new beginnings.

In the greatest degree of love and with the highest regard for each of you I remain-

Harimandir Khalsa

I never met Cathy or Cherie, until I went to BADD site and came across their obituary. After just seeing their many pictures together, their joy for life and for each other became clear to me. My chest is tight with sorrow, even though I never met them. To those who share time with them, you were lucky to have these special people in your life. They are now together for ever.

Michael Cherie spoke of you often with such love and admiration you were so special to her. She did feel like she could count on you and treasured the time althoiugh short , that she could spend with you. I miss them every day and a day does not go by that i do not feel the immediacy of that loss in my life. I do know though that they are well and at Peace and it is we who must deal w/ the pain and the loss as we can and that they are still with us in our hearts and even closer sometimes if we but open our hearts and minds just a little bigger to receive them from this new place on the other side of the Veil. Blessings and Love Flash

Today, I unexpectedly met for the first time someone in my workplace, who knew Cherie and Cathy. When she said she was from Melrose, I asked if she knew Cherie and Cathy. I didn't expect to get choked up when I asked or got the answer to that question, but there it was again, my pain.

They had a mutual friend, and would go out to eat together fairly often. She just got film back from being developed that had photos of the Christmas parade. She talked about how last year, Cherie used a 5-gallon bucket turned upside down for a drum. This year, she had a real, snare drum. Seeing the photos was painful for this woman. It had all come back for her, too.

Love,
Elizabeth

Dear Michael ~

Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. Your words speak so deeply to your excruciating pain, in your loss of Cherie.

"If you were one of the lucky ones and she spoke to you, usually what was said was never forgotten." You are so right.

"She was my rock on this planet" ~ Nothing could be easier to imagine, Michael. Nothing.

Thank you for coming here and sharing your poignant, and painful, words of feeling and heart. Your love for your big sister, for Cherie, shows in every word you've written.

I pray for time to help both you and your mother. I know it's so hard. I feel better knowing that you are still there for [both of] your most prized possession; and I can see why the trust Cherie had in you was solid.

Please know how much people care about how you are feeling today. I am so sorry for your cataclysmic loss, Michael. Your heavy heart and your sadness are so understandable. It still feels like yesterday.

Love,
Elizabeth

3/09/05

It has taken me sometime before I could even look at this website. I am writing to tell everyone of the relationship I had with my big sister Cherie. It was one of fun, sadness, joy, laughter and knowledge, and those little things that only you would talk to your big sister about. I know she had two other brothers besides me, but she called me her favorite. Every conversation we had ended up with the words I LOVE YOU
I know she is looking down on us and saying dont be sad. I for one will always be sad. Cherie was so far away but when we spoke it was as if she was sitting right beside me. She told me that if it wasnt for me that it would be hard for her to be so far from home and mom. She thought of me as the care taker to our most prized possession our mother.

I would just like to take this chance to thank the many friends of my sister Cherie. (from coast to coast), for being there in our families time of need. I dont even think she realized that she changed your life to the better just being in her company. She had a way of taking you under her wing till you could fly on your own. If you were one of the lucky ones and she spoke to you, usually what was said was never forgotten.

She was my rock on this planet.

There are so many things I could say. I will try to come back to this site one day when it doesnt hurt so much and share more of the great memories that I have of my big sister Cherie.

Signed
Heavy Heart
Brother Michael

Bookend/Old Friends

Old friends,
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends.
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends

Old friends,
Winter Companions,
The Old Women
Lost in their overcoats
Waiting for the sunset.
The sounds of the city,
Sifting through the trees,
Settle like dust
On the shoulders
Of the old friends.

Can you imagine us
Years from today,
Sharing a park bench queitly?
How terribly strange
To be seventy.
Old friends,
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears.

-Paul Simon 1968

I heard this song the other day and it made me cry.
You both will never grow old. Shall be forever young.
But love lives on forever.

ACM

It has been over two months since the death of Cherie and Cathleen and there have been many opinions as to how the Coffee Shop is to remain open with the approval of Cherie's family. Through it all there has been one person (prior to and after) the death of both that has worked steadily to keep the shop open and with plenty of coffee and goodies to eat. That Person (Dale) has decided to leave at the end of this month. So, I feel that it would be wonderful in the spirit of Cherie and Cathleen to give her a hug and many thanks for all that she has done during this very difficult time. Hopefully, as she takes a little time off she will be able to address the loss of her two close friends. I wish you the best and hope that others will express the same.

Over two months have passed since your untimely deaths and it seems like only yesterday... The undisputable truth is that life will never be the same without your bright eyes, cheerful smiles, and sage words of wisdom.

Went to another Horsesisters event yesterday. The first one since we all drove to the beach that day and saw some of the folks that had met CnC and me there. I was teaching Animal Communication and reminding them how trusting those gut instincts kept me alive that night. They loved Cherie and Cath even though they had only spent a few hours with them that day but they made an impression for sure as they did with all whose lives they touched. Coming home was hard for me and I am still reliving some of the trauma of coming home and fearing someone has died. I know it will change with time. It pains me deeply that TMP may not survive but I will try to speak with the Spirits on this and see if there is more guidance. BB Flash

it is such a shame the world lost two beautiful womyn. Blessed be to family and friends of the dearly departed.

Cathy just loved my mother and Dian. My mother, Carol, Dian, Cathy and I took a dear friend (Kate)to Dog Town Bistro for her 84th birthday. We had a waiter take a picture of all five of us. My mother framed that picture and gave it to Kate. When Kate passed away at 93 yrs, I took the picture. When Cathy was here in November.....I tried to give her the picture, it is in a lovely frame, but she would not have it. She said her short dark hair looked horrid. She had on black and white polka dot(sp?) shorts. I love the picture and now I am glad she refused it. I miss them. I miss them so very very much. Cathy would be so comforting for me now. Gosh, I miss them.

Stumbling across searches I found this website; needless to say, I am humbled. They both seem like
time worshipped loving individuals; in a time when
possessing these qualities seems futile; love certainly runs its course and wins; above all else-
Love survives.

I just stumbled across this website from a link on another website. After reading the memorial pages, I am realizing what wonderful people these girls were. Being a mother myself, I can't imagine how terrible it would feel to lose a child, especially one that lived so far away. Losing a sibling so prematurely isn't easy either; siblings are people you should be able to grow old with, people who are there for all of the major events in your life. (i.e. marriage, babies, etc) Having lost a sibling myself, I understand the feeling you get, no matter how wonderful the day is, of something missing, something that can never be attained. My heart goes out to the families of Cherie and Cathleen, as well as their friends in this trying time.

Cathy was my cousin that I have not seen for many years, but her sister Brandi & her parents Vicki and Bill kept the family informed. She was a sweet and kind lady.

Just spoke with Lori and she is still so emotional about the loss of Cathy and Cherie..so many things to remind her of never being able to see them again here
Elizabeth, sweet, dear Elizabeth sent both Lori and I a beautiful calendar by Harimandir...and when Lori saw the one painting
for the month of December it just broke her up...and it is uncanny but that is the one that moved me most too. And the quote we love the most is "Love is the ultimate human behavior where compassion prevails and kindness rules."
Harimandir is such a talented and beautiful person artistically and spiritually...LOVE THAT ART WORK IN THE CALENDAR.
Lori was in tears and telling me that Dawn does not have access to the internet at home and cannot express for herself here how much she was impressed with both the folks and the gathering..the whole experience...I plan to print this memorial site and mail it to her. What a BLESSING it was that both Cherie and Cathy had time to spend a few days and nights with Lori here in St.Louis near Thanksgiving.
That visit they made is sustaining Lori now...the closeness they felt and the fun and laughs they had..and the Thai dinner out that they enjoyed together is now a very treasured memory. One of the saddest memories for Lori will always be when she came home from work and saw Greg's (her husb)face and knew something earth shattering had happened and she at first thought it was me, her mother, then he hurriedly told her it was Cherie and Cathy...they are GONE.....she relives that time too often..It is getting easier, at times, to remember and to endure the pain of grief.
We talk and remember the good times with Cathy..and then with Cherie.

Love, peace, and light. Though gone to us, Cathy and Cherie now know pleasures only we can dream of. Such a comforting thought...

Elizabeth,
Thanks so much for sharing those newsletters. They made me cry. Cherie and I communicated via email often even though we saw each other all the time. We discussed serious issues, politics, the personal politics of work, money, sharing, community, sisterhood, sexism, all that stuff and we sent each other things we had found here and there that we knew the other would either like or flip out over. We needled each other in a loving way, something which is so special in a friendship. I miss having someone to needle like I did with her.

She would have loved the dancing and playing around we all did Saturday night, the poetry, the singing, sharing and coming together once again, as community.

I have been reading this web site since January 6th or 7th when I heard the news of Cherie's death. I have read so many feelings and thoughts and I am truly amazed by all the lives she has touched. I met Cherie the summer of 1998. She was the sales manager at Harbor Hill women's resort in P-Town. First of all she gave me a chance to move to P-town she opened up her home to me while I visited to to see the resort and the town. When I moved to Pt-town she gave me an opportunity to become a sales person with no sales experience. It was the best summer of my life. Not only did I meet some of the coolest people ever, I learned to take a risk and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Cherie would always tell me "It's all about fun & pleasure".
Every morning during our sales meetings Cherie would hand out some type of positive thinking stories or quotes that would help motivate the sales team. I will always remember her Love Of Life, Her Laugh, and Playing scrabble when times were slow.
Thanks Cherie for giving me the greatest opportunity ever. I'm sorry your time here was cut short. But I'm sure where ever you are your Having Fun and Pleasure. Miss you Buddy!!!!

Dear Everyone ~

I was looking through one of my e-mail addresses over the weekend, trying to locate a mailing address for a friend. As I was doing so, I came across an e-mail from "Cherie McArthur" ~ it was the last one of the four I've cop-and-pasted below. I continued to look back for others, and found three. I've placed them here in chronological order for you to see, in Cherie's own words, her vibrant spirit and thought processes about people, community, artist support, and the Coffee Shop as a place to come and be embraced. Even so, Cherie's words don't hold a candle to how she was in person. At least, however, you can get a sense of her through these e-mails. She had a mailing list for the Coffee Shop and would notify us by e-mail of upcoming events and get-togethers. I wish I had more of them to share. If there was anything more recent than these [which I believe there were ~ with the holidays], they were unfortunately deleted.

In the spirit of Cherie's ongoing intentions, we held our very successful "Open Mike" on Saturday night. It is in this same spirit that we will continue to have them on monthly basis. Our intent is to expand and extend invitations into the communities of and surrounding Melrose, so that more people will feel free to come and join us and add to the spirit of celebration of all that Cherie and Cathleen brought to our area.

If you were there on Saturday, please come back. You are welcome. If you weren't there on Saturday, please come to one of our next ones. You are welcome. As we had hoped and sought, our gathering honorably represented Cherie and Cathleen's loving spirits. We will continue with our quest each month.

Love,
Elizabeth

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"Fri, 17 Sep 2004 04:13:39 -0700 (PDT)

Take Me Places is hosting photographer Mary Thomson, on October 3rd from 1-4...Come out and take a look at some wonderful photography and enjoy meeting her....We appreciate her work so much that we own a beautiful hillside carved garden piece photographed in Japan....We look forward to seeing you......

October brings other blessings also...It is the anniversary of Take Me Places...FOUR Years of serving you...Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and coffee cups for your kind generous support...'Keep coming back...it works if you work it'......Come out and add your special flavor to the spirit of celebration....."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wed, 29 Sep 2004 11:16:32 -0700 (PDT)

IT'S TIME FOR THE MONTHLY TAILGATE SALE AGAIN!!! GET THERE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30 AM FOR THE FRESHEST SELECTIONS AND BROWSE THROUGH NOON!

BUT WAIT! DON'T GO YET BECAUSE......................

A MELROSE MUSIC JAM AND ART SHOW IS ON FOR SUNDAY FROM 1-4 PM!!!!!!!

CATCH THE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT BY MARY THOMSON: "THE VIEW AS SEEN THROUGH MY LENS--FROM MELROSE TO JAPAN"..............

.............WHILE YOU ARE CHECKING OUT THE ART, SIP ON SOME COFFEE (HOT OR COLD, YOUR CHOICE!), ENJOY SOME TASTY TREATS, AND LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OF MULLET RUN, FRESH FROM PERFORMING AT THE RAVINE GARDENS.......IT'LL BE HOT, HOT, HOT!!!

TAKE A FEW HOURS TO RELAX FROM THE POST-HURRICANE CLEAN-UP AND JOIN US AT THE COFFEE SHOP FOR A CELEBRATION.....YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HANG OUT & CATCH UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT TAKE ME PLACES!

CALL 475-3737 FOR MORE INFO................"

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"Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:43:49 -0700 (PDT)

Take Me Places is celebrating its Fourth Birthday (WOW!!!) this next month with two great events..The first will be THE Party on November 13th from 11am until 3pm with music by the blues wiggling mama Flash Silvermoon and the Blues Sisters!! Of course there will be great hot drink delights, delicacies and------- the infamous free raffle...please let me or Cathleen know anything that you would like to donate to the raffle (either by e or phone @475-3737), it's always fun and each year everyone goes home with a present of their choosing...And later in the month (TBA) Take Me Places will host Harimandir Khalsa for the Winter Solstice Art Show...Come, prepare to be inspired by the everflowing spirit that paints through her heart and hands...Harimandir will also present her 2005 Calendar! Each month depicts selections from Harimandir's collection and words of wisdom...you can preview her work at Harimandir@aol.com

It has been a pleasure and a privilege serving you, knowing you and loving you. Our unfolding time together learning one another's thoughtfulness, appreciation, and acceptance of the differences and the similarities that make us a "family"....Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with us..I look forward to more adventures with you in the next year.....Thank you, Cherie"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tue, 2 Nov 2004 07:37:08 -0800 (PST)

Take Me Places coffee is pleased to invite you to our 4th Anniversary Celebration!

We have been honored to know you and so enjoy serving you the best coffee, bagels, breakfast, pastries and now wonderful lunches, too.

Please come, bring something to percuss with on Saturday, November 13th from 11-3. Live music by Flash Silvermoon and the Blues sisters and of course the infamous raffle.

Also peruse the shop inside and out for great local art for sale: Patricia Greer's Magical Whimsical Gardens will have incredible arrangements, Mary Thomson's photography graces the walls, Shirly Chelmo's beautiful suncatchers hang in the windows, Bill Ahrano's folk metal bird and animals sculptures hover around, Karen Newman's charming switch covers and mirrors adorn the walls and much more to delight your palate, your eyes and your soul.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, November 13th from 11-3

300 State Road 26 behind the amazon sculpture pouring a pot of flowers.

( Look forward to Harimandir Khalsa's Winter Art Opening on December 5th, 1-4)"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Love,
Elizabeth

Thanks to all who participated in the open mike evening Saturday at the coffee shop. It was a credit to Cherie and Cathleen and the thing called community they encouraged.

Always in our hearts!

Dear Friends,
The Melrose Business Association encouraged us to open a Take Me Places Memorial savings account because they wanted to give a donation to the shop but needed an "official" place to submit it. So Terri and I opened one at M & S and the association generously made a donation. If you go to the bank one can identify the account by saying "Take Me Places-Kirsten special savings account number 329233". Kirsten's name is on the account simply because the account needed two signers (Terri and Kirsten) and one of their namers on the ID. Any donations will be used to keep the shop going and pay off some of the shop's outstanding bills
Thanks.

Likewise some of those who wrote here, I didnt know Cherie and Cathleen. I learnt about this site from my friend, found it, and spent quite a long time looking at the photos of these amazing women and reading the messages full of deep sorrow and true, genuine love. I was reading and, thanks to the memories of their friends, both Cherie and Cathleen were completely alive for me; I felt as if Id be carried away into far-away Melrose, and visit Take Me Places, and meet them in person. I was reading and it became clearer and clearer for me how much love, openness, cordiality and care these women brought into the world, brought to everyone they met. Then, wishing to share my feelings, Ive been thinking over the words I could say. But no words seem to be adequate to express my deep respect towards these women. But, perhaps, theres no need in these words. Those who knew them can say and have said much more then I could. And the only thing Id like to write now.

I understand, really understand the grief the relatives and friends feel now. Its so hard and painful to lose close friends and relations. Its so hard to lose people of such a kind people whose hearts were so generous in favouring everyone with sincere interest, support, concern and warmth And its so hard to lose them so untimely As far as Im concerned, Ive never been inclined to look for any highest meaning in tragedies and accidents. No, a tragedy is a tragedy, and, in itself, it cannot be fraught with anything highest. And, yet, each of us, reflecting upon it, can imbue it with meaning so that no death will ever be vain.

Cherie and Cathleen met each other, loved each other, and showed to everyone who knew them that love still can be found under the Sun. Together, they brought the warmth and light of love into the world, and, together, hand in hand, they passed away so impetuously. It was a tragedy. And, yet, if we recall the stories of great lovers and great heroes both real and invented ones well see these stories often have tragic ends... Human mind is imperfect; its rather sad but sometimes we arent able to begin to think about our own lives, their real values and real purposes till the tragedy occurs, or, at least, till we hear of these stories. They tear us out from the habitual course of life; they wound our hearts and make us realize so painfully distinctly what exactly we have lost all the qualities, all the capacities those lovers and heroes demonstrated to us, everything they gave us and to the world. Our hearts cannot accept their going away, our hearts need the continuation. And we understand the continuation, from this point onwards, depends only upon us. We have no choice now; we, ourselves, must strengthen those qualities, values and purposes in and by our own lives if we want them to exist. The strongest wish of our heart and our memory demand that from us. And thats how the humankind derives the inspiration from those tragic stories.

So may the pain transform, in the course of time, into the light of love, and may beautiful lives of these women become a source of inspiration for all of us inspiration which would make us bring as much love and warmth into the world as we can, bring them to everyone we meet here just as Cherie and Cathleen did. Lets commemorate those who arent with us any more, and lets care for those who are alive. Life is short, and the Earth is full of pain and suffering, unfortunately. It really needs our love.

TM

To Everyone ~

I don't recall this having been posted on this site, previously; however, I'm placing it here now, in hopes that some who read here ~ and not the secondary site ~ will be able to join us on Saturday evening at the Coffee Shop. Rather than trying to rephrase it all, I'm copying and pasting what was already placed on the other site [by the coordinator of the event], in response to a request for clarification on the date/time of the event ~ which is being called "Open Mike".

Everyone is VERY welcome to come, and contribute in whatever way you choose ~ even if you simply feel led to speak a few words. If you don't care to participate, yet still willing to appreciate, we need you every bit as much ~ and will be happy to see you.

"Dear Keith and All,

OPEN MIKE NIGHT!!!!! February 12, a Saturday night. We will be starting with a community potluck at 6PM. Yes, bring food:-)and will hopefully start the open mike at or around 7PM. If it is too cold we will go inside. All are welcome to participate. And be a part of the organization, welcoming of others, set-up, tear-down and clean-up (lots of hyphenated words, yes?)OH heck, not to mention all are welcome to sing, recite poems, short stories, play the harmonica, tap
dance, do a stand-up routine (Karen, please..do it) Little Karen from New Jersey is one of the funniest women on earth. She poses as a kind of gruff yankee but when she gets going, watch out. She is hilarious.

Teri from the coffee house (bless her heart) has a poem she got in a dream and I will read the poem written by Victoria Angela for Cherie and Cathleen (How To Be Naked)It is currently posted on my
blog. http://peege.blogs.com/ I have several pieces written by others in the community which I will soon be posting and am very open to accepting the literary works (chuckle)of other Melrosians and
people who know us, from both near and far. Woody Turtledragon in New York has written a song and we are trying to figure out the technology to post that on the blog.

We do need a mike stand and a good portable boombox/stereo type thing. Maybe a keyboard. Paper plates, napkins and such. All proceeds will
go to the coffee shop general operating fund. We will be selling coffee and pastries.

I really want to encourage every shy and scared to death person to just try it once. Grab that mike and you will never be the same again:-) I will be reminding everyone over and over as the day draws
near. Saturday February 12 6PM, at the coffee shop. I am sure your song will be finished in time, Keith. I am chomping at the bit to hear it.

Thanks,
Patricia
(Peege)"

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I'm not certain of the current status of 'needs' for this event. The last I knew, a video-recorder was needed.

Please feel welcome to join and meet some of the people who dearly loved Cherie and Cathleen, and were dearly loved in return.

Love,
Elizabeth

I just read all the pages on this memorial site. I got the link from the BADD site. I am so saddened to learn of the loss of these two beautiful women. I know from reading all the postings that they were well loved and will be missed by everyone. I live a nation's width away from where they did, yet feel so close to them in spirit. May they rest in peace together.

I have never met these two ladies. My parents live in Key West and I read about them in their online newspaper. I was really touched by what genuine, caring, spiritual, loving women they were and I am sorry for their loss.

As far as the lady who had the dream, I can relate. When I was in high school, 2 friends of mine died in a car wreck. It wil be 8 years ago next week. Obviously it was sudden and I never got to say good-bye. One of them, who I had known for over a decade, came to me in dream a week later. To summarize the dream, I begged my friend not to go, but he told me he had to, and that he was okay. I truly believe your friends are watching out for you and communicating to you, like my friend did to me. I wish you all good luck, and I know you're thankful for the time you had with your friends.

Lois, thank you so much for sharing your "dream". What a great message to get at this time. I hope it uplifted your heart as it did mine!

Dearest Friends,
I am imagining that over the coming months (and years) many of us will dream of the Girls, feel their Presence, see them in a distant (or not so) crowd, and experience the myriad synchronicities of the spirit world infusing into this reality. How do we know if this is "Real"? How does it feel, I suggest to you. If you are touched, uplifted, affected or simply imprinted with an experience, then it is real, because its affect is real to you. Understand, it is human nature to have extraordinary experiences, so enjoy them, encourage them and marvel at the many dimensions that are taking place. These experiences
can expand our sense of reality, and for this I am grateful.

A very lovely song came to me a week ago, and Peege was kind enough to post it to her blog, for anyone who cares to read it. I feel honored to be a carrier of this song. It is as if Cheri and Cathleen are giving us an invitation, as they did when they were alive in body, to celebrate their lives, feel comfort in their memory, enjoy their energy, and to spread that love and laughter along with them, among all the stars.

Thanks for sharing your dream Lois and it probably was a visitation. One of my friends who only knew Cherie a little told me of a dream or vision she had had recently of Cherie being surrounded by children and teaching them some dance moves. It made me so happy to hear that and your story too as there was not much dearer to Cherie then the children. They were her truest joy[outside of Cath and her intimates] Many of you don;t know but she was in fact an elementary school teacher io a "previous life"shall we say. and it was a great sadness to her that she could no longer teach.
It is such a wonderful thing to know that she has found her kids again and is getting to dance with and like the children once more. I can just see her telling them to wiggle with a big smile across her face.
Being a psychic and particulalry one who is a medium ie can speak with the spirits, and one of their closest friends,I have been trying to keep my distance and let them come to me when and if they choose. As you must all realize that this has been an adjustment for them as well and they need for us to love them but not pull on them in our grief and loss.
Those on the other side do want to help us when needed and when they can but it is also important to in some sense treat them in the same sensitive way you would want to with friends who are alive.
So please in your grief and loss be thoughtful of their spirits who need also to rest and adjust to their new world and don't try to pull them into your world or lean to heavily on their memories and let their lives be an inspiration to do good and be the best we can be in everyway. Sometimes i feel like my own grief could tear me apart and then like a wave it subsides.There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel the hole in my life that their deaths have created and I trust that in time it will heal.
In the meantime I celebrate knowing them and will do all i can to help keep TMP vital and the oasis of spirit and acceptance that it can be,Mind the court system that Justice prevails and live my life as fully and passionately as possible. Blessings Flash

I dreamt of Cherie; She was walking around in my room, collecting up some stuff to do a project with some kids. She sat down on my bed, in her typical close talking style.
She said "I don't want you to think of me as dead. I'm just like I've always been." She said She loves the pins with pictures of her and Cathleen.
That's as much as I can remember right now, I don't know if it was a visit or wishful thinking, but Felt like I'd really seen her when I woke.

lois

Death does indeed challenge me. I must follow the inner journey and learn to handle and accept their deaths. Thank you for those wise words.

miss you auntie and uncle
love ya'll

Death challenges us all. Our belief systems, our feelings of worth, our connection to Spirit, Goddess, God. We are all part of the ONE, the ALL THAT IS. Every thought and feeling that comes into us guides us into ourselves, if we follow the inner journey. And here, not only can we find our connection to one another, we can find, feel, perceive our connection to those who are in spirit. As human beings we all have this ability. And it is here that we can learn to accept and handle death. Namaste.

I have just had a visit from Cherie and Cathleen, and I know it. I got confirmation of it through someone, with whom I work. I had shared this with another person here, who simply laughed, as I was about it. Then, due to what I thought was *only* the similarities in our ages [hence, she would *know* the song], I followed her out of the office, and into a store, til' she had completed the reason she'd gone into there, and then, on our way back to the office, I shared it.

Approximately 20 minutes ago, out of nowhere ~ did not hear anything on the radio while I was at lunch ~ and absolutely nothing else that would have triggered it ~ I started singing a song I haven't heard, much less sung, in many, many years. Its title is "Let Me Go, Lover," a song I heard, and sang along with, in my childhood, and one only the older amongst us here will probably be familiar with.

I just started singing it to myself, but out loud, as I was standing, finding something in my purse. I sang it straight, I did minor harmonies, I did dips with my voice, I sang it with meaning. I was astounded and baffled that I was singing it at all.

After a bit, I went to the woman sitting in the cubicle next to me and shared what had happened and said, "I have NO idea where this came from. The song just started coming out of me, without my even thinking about it." She laughed and said, "Yeah, I heard you, and was going to tease you, and ask if you were practicing for American Idol, and let you know that it had just left San Francisco." I laughed and said, "Y'know.....it's like someone just took a feather duster and was dusting way, far back in my brain, and this tiny bit of dust just fell out. I just don't understand."

Then, I remembered the other woman in my age range [already mentioned] and tried to locate her. I was told she'd gone to the mailbox. I walked outside of the office, and saw her going into a store. When I told her the same things that I had the first woman and then queried out loud, as to *WHERE* could that be coming from[!?!], she paused in thought and asked, "Is there someone you're trying to let go of?"

I understood why I felt compelled to follow her, to share this. When we walked back inside the office, she picked up her purse, and left for the day. Had I not followed, I'd have missed her.

Thank you, Cherie and Cathleen, for this visit from you, both of you ~ my dear lovers. Only *you* knew where to find this song in my consciousness, and impart it to me with your message. Thank you for waiting until I was in a better place, for being able to consider and honour your loving request. Thank you for your encouragement, after I found those moments of peace last night and this morning.

Love,
Elizabeth

One month and a day, both of you bodily taken away from us.
The love you shared continues @ TMP and beyond. A menagerie of souls gathering daily when we can. Young and old,I thank you both for bringing us mis-matched folks together. We are such a varied and interesting crew. Your light shines on. Your memories are etched in our souls. Your kindness lives on. You have done and I believe are doing us great good still. Many many thanks. Namaste.

Yesterday evening, we had a heartfelt gathering at Flash's, in commemoration and remembrance of Cathleen and Cherie, and their passing. Thank you to those who came. For the first time, last night and this morning, I had a sense of peace. I cannot tell you how much this means to me. Tonight, I will be meeting with Lois for more healing offerings. Healing simply and truly takes time.

Thank you to Tom, for the depth, truth, and beauty of your words from afar. Our community and the families of Cherie and Cathleen have suffered immeasurable loss. This site helps to keep them alive, through us and others coming to know, in so many ways, how they were in life.

Love,
Elizabeth

Dear all -

I've never been to Melrose, Gainesville, Florida, the US.
I've never even heard the names of C&;C before their last ride gravely ended.
A friend directed my attention to this great Taj Mahal for two loving souls.

I always was the kind of person to mouth unwarranted words, and I have been both bashed and embraced for this. Again I speak up, the most distant person imaginable, the human least entitled to put in his pennies' worth of fare thee well words.

C&;C, I cannot fathom the abyss your deaths created in the souls of your families and friends. To even try would be preposterous. After having read the various touching accounts and memories and tributes, I truly feel sorry not to have met you in a lifetime. Recreating from what I read the image of Take Me Places in my mind, the circle of honoured friends and loving strangers you gathered, the warmth you made happen there, I know I'd have felt at home in that planetary system you two had been the double sun of.

Life has missed another chance. Love has lost again?
No. From what I gather I'm sure you live on in the hearts and the souls of those who grieve today and will incorporate what you stood for into their own lives tomorrow. True Love never dies, or as one of my favourite poets, Dylan Thomas, sang:

Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

tom

Dear Cherie and Cathleen ~

A woman named Biruta wrote to me, in regard to the loss of you:

"As hotter the sun, as darker the shadows,
As bigger the love, as deeper the sorrow. "

Thank you for the sun and the love. I will emerge, one day, from the shadows and the sorrow.

Love,
Elizabeth

Cathy-

Though it has been one month, it feels like yesterday. I miss you more everyday. I keep having experiences and thinking "I've got to tell Cathy this" or "Cathy would know; I'll ask her"..... I catch myself every time and it is like I relive the initial pain. I know you're in a better place now sissy and I know you must be safe and happy in Cherie's loving arms. I just wish things could have been different. After all, you and Cherie didn't drink and drive, so why should you have to be the ones to pay?

I remember when I was little, and you were still at home, you would get up early in the morning to go to work in St. Louis. You would try to be ever so quiet so as not to wake me, but to no avail. Every morning I would get up and find you getting ready, fixing your hair in the bathroom, and beg you not to leave. I would grab on to your leg and you would drag me all the way to the top of the steps, while I cried, until mom finally pried me off. Part of me wishes I would have clung on like that at Thanksgiving (you definitely couldnt drag me far now!) and somehow gotten you to staybut I know you would not have been happy being stuck back in the Midwest (and I dont blame you). Im so glad that you finally found true happiness, even if it was short lived.

Ill miss you, sissy. See you on the other side.

Love,
Brandi
A.K.A. Evil Lynn
A.K.A. Your Girlie-Girl :)

Dear Cherie and Cathleen,
Only a month and a day ago, we still had you lovely ladies in our lives. We are all thinking of you both every day and will continue to love and miss you!
Your sweet ways and hearts touched our lives and our hearts in so many ways and will continue to do so! Thank you so much for everything and know that we will continue to celebrate your lives, support you and love you dearly!
Love,
Janice

Cold and grey all day;
the sky is now weeping.
She understands our loss.

Love,
Elizabeth

It feels good to have the restoration of the sculpture happening. It is part of the healing process. Thank you, Kirsten, and everyone who contributed.

Dear Cathleen and Cherie ~

It has been one month and my heart still remains at your side.

Love,
Elizabeth

You are coordially invited to attend MADD Northeast Florida's Annual Candlelight Vigil and Luncheon.

Plan on bringing your family and friends to this years vigil, as we will be releasing butterflies in honor of victims of impaired drivers.

Saturday, February 19, 2005 at 11:30am at the Holiday Inn-Commonwealth at 6802 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32254. (I-295 and Commonwealth).

We will need a count for the luncheon. Please RSVP by Monday, February 14, 2005 to 904-388-2455 or toll free, 1-866-444-6233.

One month, it still seems a little surreal. I love the fact that everyone is still coming to the coffee shop as always and I hope that never ends. That is a legacy they left us, a place to gather and enjoy each others company and friendship with their ever smiling faces watching over us wishing us love and peace. I wanted to thank Cathleen's sister for sending the pins in their memory, what a wonderful and kind thing to do. Thank you.

Hey Butterflies ...
One month has passed since ...
I hope what you meant in life for people who got to know you will survive as well as all the good energy you spread through this planet.
Girls you've gotta go we know it and maybe what we cannot accept is to have lost somebody who was so full of energy so alive.
We won't have you back and we must accept it ... keep on liveing our lives trying to be opened to the others, loving, peaceful, even if a little bit more sad.
Cherie Cathleen thanx for what you have done during your lives.
Whenever I will think of you I will see your smiles Systerz.

I just recently got the news about Cherie over the weekend from Kathleen. I'm stunned, words escape me. My heart goes out to Cherie's family and friends both in Rhode Island and in Florida. Sadly I never met Cathleen. But her smile reveals a loving person.

There is so much that I could say, but it would never be enough.

To the folks that shared the memories at Take Me Places Cafe. What a great comfort to know how deeply loved Cherie and Cathleen were, are and will always be.

Peace, Love and Compassion to all.

This poem was not written with Cherie and Cathleen in mind. It was written by a young man who's from and lives in Norway. His name is Vegard Nordahl. The poem was posted in the Member's Poetry section of a Leonard Cohen site. When I read it, however, all I could see was Cherie speaking to Cathleen. Still, I feel, there are perhaps parts where Cathy speaks to Cherie, as well. Their love was like that, so mutually supportive and understanding.

It seems the beauty of the human experience is that we share so much. Sometimes, confirmation of this appears at just the right time, and in just the right way. I want to dedicate this poem to Cherie and Cathleen. In it, I see the transformation, that came to them both, through their relationship.

I've left the spacing between the verses the same as Vegard posted it. It seems to allow for a slower, more contemplative reading of it that way. Its title is:

"Do you think that I can help you."

Do you think that I can help you
Rid the sadness off your eyes
What hope will swiftly form
From my presence in your life

What scar of yours is it
My mere touch can heal
What open wound of sadness
Can my fingers simply seal

Do you think that I can help you
Quench the longing in your heart
What makes my nights so innocent
That each mornings a new start

What magic lies in my embrace
That will forever keep you warm
What pleasures hidden in my rest
That has this thirst take form

Do you think I can forgive you
For all your former sins
What strength lies in my mercy
To overcome the guilt within

What salvation comes with my accept
That will relieve you from regret
What gracious mist covers my love
So that you can finally forget

~ Vegard Nordahl

****************************************************************

Love,
Elizabeth

Today, January 22, I am missing Cherie rather acutely. I would have been woken up with an early morning phone call and Cherie singing the Beatle's ..."Today is your birthday,Da da da da da da, happy birthday to you.." Later I would have gone to the coffee shop and collected my birthday card with many notes from coffee shop well-wishers. Then whoever was in the coffee shop would have been lead in singing the traditional version of the birthday song. This was my birthday ritual with someone who loved and respected all of us. I know there are many of you who will miss this ritual when the time comes.
Love to you all,
Harimandir

My heart goes out to Cherie's family with this news with all the love and light I have. I can't imagine the heaviness in their hearts, trying to reconcile the loss of two of their beloved children in such a brief period of time. It seems that Billie, somehow, just wanted to be with Cherie now. Some part of him just did not want to go on without her. I believe that she welcomed him, again, with her beautiful, open arms, the way she always did with him here. I don't know if even that thought is of any comfort, at all, to their family, as they are still having to deal with two, devastating losses now.

My love and all light goes to Billie, and to everyone who knew and loved Billie, especially his Mom, his brothers, and his sister, his nephew and nieces. What a heartbreaking loss for everyone already struggling with the loss of Cherie. I am so sorry, so deeply sorry, for your hurt and suffering.

Love,
Elizabeth

Cherie has long cared for and worried over her terminally ill brother Billie. Kathleen , longtime friend and exlover of Cherie just called me to say that Billie has crossed over now too. Please send love and light to him and his family. I am sure that Cherie was there to greet him and help him on his way.

Love and light to him and his family as they must now be quite crushed.
Blessings,

A Thank You to Cherie's Mom for Your Loving Words~

Your letter to us was such a blessing, and reading it brings comfort. What I feel most is gratitude for you on Cherie's, and Cherie's and Cathy's, behalf. One thing I feel we all long for is to be truly 'known' to, understood, and loved by our parents. It's such a deep need and desire going back to infancy, and remains lifelong, even though we come to deal with it in our various ways ~ whether or not it's there, and to what degrees.

Your letter remains an affirmation of the depth of your understanding and love for Cherie ~ your "Cherie-Darling," the beautiful, lifelong gift you gave her in the way you spoke her name. It's clear that as a child and as an adult, Cherie has always been her own person, spirit and soul. Your letter is a testament to the beautiful being you brought into this world, and the love and nurturing that helped make her all that she became.

In your letter, you gently turn her around in the lightness of your touch, like a multi-faceted diamond, to share with us all of her gleaming colours, including facets some of us did not know. Thank you for sharing the perspectives that only a deeply loving mother could bring to us.

Thank you, also, Cherie's mom, for loving Cathleen, as you did. I feel better just knowing that she came to receive the same quality of love that you gave Cherie. To know that she had not only Cherie's love, but yours as well, gives a picture of completeness that is so comforting for many reasons.

Thank you for at least trying to put your feelings into some words. I know they can't possibly express the terrible loss you feel, but they do express, so much, your deep love, and what a strong presence your loving daughter was in your and your family's lives. I remember conversations with her, that came as a result of the intense and comprehensive intake she did with her acupuncture clients, when she expressed the depth of her love for her own family. She understood so well anything loving that I said about mine. Thank you, in so many ways, for sharing Cherie with us.

Love,
Elizabeth

I'm so glad to see this beautiful site opened back up for us to share our thoughts and memories of Cherie and Cathleen, because they just keep coming.

This isn't intended to generate conversational responses, but hopefully to remind others of their own experiences to share. I know others have had experiences similar to mine.

I remember countless times of walking into the Coffee Shop and having Cherie reach over the counter to touch my hand and/or lean in toward me with both elbows on the counter, or walk over to me with her huge hug, and just before or just after either, cup my face with both hands, sometimes squeezing or shaking my cheeks just a little for her own, personal emphasis, and exclaim, "You look so BEAUTIFUL, Elizabeth!" or "You are SUCH a BEAUTIFUL Woman, Elizabeth!" She always said it, looking me straight in the eye, and with such conviction and gusto, that my own insecurities were blasted into oblivion in that moment, and had to regroup on their own.

Had I been inclined, I could have so easily believed that I WAS the ONLY "Beautiful Woman" in that Shop, or the FIRST "Beautiful Woman" she had SEEN that day. She was that convincing in her proclamations. Of course, I knew there were MANY beautiful women [and men] who frequent the Coffee Shop, but I still loved and appreciated her affirmations so much. It's such a rare occurrence in our lives to be greeted in this manner. After I walked away in a glow [lasting various periods], my little insecurity pals wasted no time, pointing out to me all the others [both inside and out, of themselves AND the Coffee Shop], who certainly qualified for those words. However, that part of me that wants to believe all those wonderful, affirming messages, about SELF and that place of holiness inside all of us, had been validated, and basked in the moment that Cherie had given them ~ as she pushed them to center stage, with her your biggest fan.

I also have vivid memories of the little container on the counter that held affirmations/brief, philosophical observations, and Cherie's holding them out to me and others, insisting, "Here~! Take one. Just TAKE one." Okay, hesitatingly wondering, "Why ~ what are they?" Then [when we had one in hand], she would say, "Okay.....now read it." Put on the spot.......I ~ or they ~ read it. "Now ~ TELL me. WHAT does that MEAN to you!?!" she always asked, and she meant it. She really wanted to know, what DOES that mean to you? "What does that remind you of, or make you think of? What is your first thought?" Or, "What in your life resonates with that?" And she would LISTEN to your answer, however hesitating it might be, because she really DID want to know. The attention that she brought was always summoning us to seek and find a higher or a deeper place inside ourselves; one of gratitude, one of reframing the negative into a positive, one of letting go of fear and embracing opportunity ~ whatever.

When I first encountered the 'pay on your own, make your own change' basket, I asked her about it. She explained that her belief is that if you trust and believe in people's higher selves, they will rise to it. If they don't, her attitude was "Oh, well," it'll all work out in the end ~ it was still the space she wanted to give people; to be, to grow, and to evolve.

When I [rarely] would hear someone say something negative [people just weren't inclined, or seemed to know there wasn't much point in entertaining those kinds of thoughts or observations with Cherie] about something/someone, she wouldn't disallow their right to express what they thought or felt, she would just offer an alternative way of looking at it [whatever it was] more positively. I never left there feeling like she would allow anyone to make disparaging comments about me, either; and would certainly not be doing it herself. She always seemed to be reframing Life, to show everyone the beautiful and good sides of it.

Cathy's kind of affirmation of people was always quieter and more subtle, the way Cathy was. It was in her soft voice and conversation, uninterrupted and directed only at you. It was in the clarity and warmth of her eyes and her smile, that came together in equal proportion, dispelling any doubt that one or the other might not be 'real.' It was a 'given' that she would not speak ill of you in your absence. When you were with her, you were already in the presence of the beautiful and good side of Life. Had anyone had any doubt, Cherie's attentive and expressive love for Cathy would have clarified all uncertainty. The aura of warmth that surrounded them, when they were together, was akin to the heat waves, that are visible rising from desert pavement. Even the most stunningly warm photographs of them together leave a dimension that could be seen only with the naked eye.

How many Coffee Shops can a person go to and be given this kind of nurturing? Take Me Places has been the only one I've ever encountered. The trust these two women generated created an atmosphere and feeling of true acceptance and familial love.

Love,
Elizabeth

(a message from Cherie's mom)

To Cherie and Cathleen's Wonderful Loving Friends in Melrose...

I miss her more than mere words can ever express. She was our first born girl- our Cherie-Darling. The bouncing curls and sparkling blue eyes were ever present (except in the late 1960's when she decided to straighten that beautiful mop and it fell out like crazy)

Cherie- the Blue Bird- the Piano Player (sometimes sour because she thought she could be a Mozart after two lessons)- the Singer- the Morning Glory (when I chose to stay in bed)- the Sea Lover- Animal Lover- Flower Lover- People Lover- the Endless Dreamer- Learner-Teacher- Listener- The Color of the Wind.

As Elton John sang- Goodbye My Rose- You will never fade out with the sunset when the rains set in... Your candles burned out long before, your living ever will.

Your brothers, your sister, your nephew, your nieces, Me- our hearts are broken. We will all go on with you inspiring us to do so. You are etched forever in our lives in Rhode Island-Melrose- wherever your magic carpet took us.

May you rest in His hands- the God that you loved so very much. May you always watch over us- Our Guardian Angel.

I Love You Cher, and you taught me to love your Cathleen.
I also found your message to me- I know you're okay.

Keep in touch my Melrose family and keep her memory in Take Me Places Coffee- she will be there with you!

My Love,
Cherie's Mom

Hello everyone....Thank you for this site....

No words can express the amount of sadness I feel with the loss of my auntie...I grew up under her guidance and wisdom for 19 years and no other person in this world has ever taught the meaning of Love and the appreciation of Life better than her. I remember many nights staying at my auntie's house in Newport Rhode Island many years back when my cousin's and I were just little kids and all the wondrous things that awaited us every time we were with her. At the time it was just the 3 of us and every time we got the chance to be with her we knew we were in for something great. I've always missed my childhood days with her...but now I will miss them much more...Those were some of the best memories of my childhood. no matter how I felt I could feel nothing but good feelings whenever I was her presence because it felt as if being near her brought you closer to heaven...or brought heaven closer to you.. It was amazing the amount of knowledge she has on every aspect of the world...I always looked forward to the next time she would visit us at home whenever she would return to Rhode Island..

My only regret and I believe I share it with others is not going to see her in her new place of peace in a little town in Florida...and visiting her and Cathy's coffee shop, I had herd so many great things about it and I longed to see it up close and to meet all the wonderful people I was told about...I know..espcially from this website that you all know how we are feeling as a family and I thank you all personally for sharing your thoughts, feelings, and memories with everyone.

I also have to say that im hurting also for the loss of Cathy aswell. Although I had only met her twice, we shared good conversation and she was a great person...a perfect match for my aunt and I believe deep down that although sudden and tragic I dont think they would have wanted it any other way if it ment they would be separated from eachother...Their souls are forever entangled in the fabric of our universe...

I love you Aunti....you will always be in my heart....Keep a place for us...and open the gates for me when my time comes...

Cathy....dont let her cause too much trouble up there....and you will be in my heart also...

Much love....so long... ...for now.....

Michael