I can’t imagine there is even a handful of women of a certain age on this planet who, this morning, don’t feel diminished by the loss of their sister, Jane Goodall.
Ach! When I was of traveling ability I so wanted to have a tour at Gombe…it was possible then. Why didn’t I go? What took its place? India? Stupid.
(If anyone reading this is of traveling age, please take my stupidity for a caution, and GO WHERE YOU LONG TO GO! While you can.)
Anyway. That beautiful peaceable face. That quiet peaceable voice. Those inspiring words.
Intelligence. Bravery. Compassion.
What gifts to the likes of us.
One thing I was reminded of yesterday is that her mother—a novelist–lived with her the first five months at Gombe. How super…I can imagine my mother being with me, were I to have wanted to study, say, tigers…
Just needed to say thank you, Mme. Pioneer, for your inspiration.
Blessings.
P.S. I just read this in The New York Times–What Jane Goodall Taught Us About Living a Long Life. Happily it applies to me, and hopefully to a number of you reading this. It is optimism, yea-saying of the highest order.
“Even when it came to death, Dr. Goodall maintained a positive attitude. In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, she was asked about her “next great adventure.” Her answer? Dying.
“When you die, there’s either nothing, in which case I’m finished, or there’s something,” she said. “I happen to think that there’s something, from various experiences I’ve had. And if that’s so, then I can’t think of a greater adventure than finding out what’s there. What’s next?”
Incomparable. Yesterday at ninety-one, Jane found out “what’s there.”
Puts death in a whole ‘nother perspective, eh?
I’m with her.
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Yes, the world is diminished by her passing. I remember once hearing her talk about her favorite animal. It was not, she insisted, chimpanzees. “They are too much like us” she said. Her favorite, she said without hesitation, was dogs–their love, their unwavering loyalty, their cheerful presence. Today I found this great quote from her: “It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.” We were so lucky to have her with us for so long.”
Super of you, as always, Deborah. Thank you.
Dogs forever!!!
My 15 year old grandson has watched many videos of Jane and was super excited that she was coming to his school assembly to speak to the students about planting trees to replace many that were lost in the Altadena fire last January.
It was a huge shock when it was announced from the stage that she had died. He called me to tell me about it. Shaken.
We have lost a force for goodness and kindness. What a life she lived!