Like so many of us, I was saddened when I heard one of my role models had passed away on Friday, September 18 after a long battle with cancer. Somehow, even though I knew she was 87, I really believed she was timeless. She had been seriously ill several times over the past years and bounced back, but not this time. Pancreatic cancer is not something the notorious RBG could beat.
The morning following her death was a perfect day in Washington, DC—bright blue sky and temperature in the high 60’s. I love this time of year when it is warm but not humid. I decided I needed to join the crowds as the Supreme Court to honor Justice Ginsburg.
The atmosphere outside the beautiful Supreme Court building was respectful but sad. I saw countless women with their daughters. I saw lots of young women on their own or with friends. I saw fathers with their children. One young girl was riding on her dad’s shoulders holding a bouquet of yellow roses while her dad was clutching more flowers.
There were flowers just lying on the ground which bothered me at first. I’ve never understood why people take something living like a beautiful flower and just lay it down in front of a fence. I remember seeing this done was when Princess Diana was killed, and it seemed like such a waste. But, as I was standing quietly right in front of the building, a woman—a total stranger—handed me a long-stemmed white rose.
It took me a few minutes to deal with the emotions that flooded my mind and then I leaned over and placed my rose on top of the other flowers. Tears were streaming down my face as I turned away from the crowd and started my walk back to the Metro to return home. I’m grateful to that stranger who helped me connect with what I was feeling by handing me the flower, and I am grateful to Justice Ginsburg for all she did for me and for so many others.
I read interviews with former law clerks of hers who had wonderful stories to tell. One resonated with me because as an author, I constantly struggle with using the right words and the right number of words. According to attorney Ruthanne Deutsch, she instructed her clerks when writing to, “get it right and keep it tight.” I’m putting that up on my computer as a new motto!
Ginger Anders who clerked for Justice Ginsberg said in 2004, “She didn’t tell war stories and she rarely talked about herself. She simply showed up every day and did the very best work she could.” Now that’s advice we call can take to heart.
One of the many homemade signs I saw on Saturday was a quote from the Justice that read, “I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the best of her ability.”
To say, “She will be missed,” seems like such a trite way to end this memory, but it’s the truth. Since she was all about the truth, I will stop here and just say thank you to a wonderful woman who definitely will be missed.
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