37 Comments
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Emily Waletich's avatar

What a tribute to Lynn, Jill. Thank you for this beautiful piece!

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Emily.

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Rona Maynard's avatar

Jill, you honored Lynn as she’d want to be honored. I am so sorry.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Rona.

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Stephanie Hueseman's avatar

I'm sorry for your loss, Jill. What a lovely piece honoring Lynn. Our perceptions of someone grown and change so much when we're children like that! I have an Aunt that has grown and changed as I have and the decades have, etc. She's 91. She's the same Aunt as when I was 6, and yet so much more now.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

How special to have a 91-year-old auntie! She has known you all your life. A rock against the waves of time.

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Jodi Kiffmeyer's avatar

I was the oldest cousin on both sides of my family and I often wished I had someone like Lynn in my family doing a bit of groundbreaking for me. I'm sorry for your loss but thankful for this beautiful tribute that came out of it.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Eldest on both sides! What would your cousins say about the ground you broke for them? And what music might they credit you as an influence?

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Jodi Kiffmeyer's avatar

Simon & Garfunkel would be the music, for sure! And I had the honor of hearing one of my cousins tell me at our grandpa's funeral last fall that my willingness to question the Christian Nationalism we were raised in gave her the courage to do the same. That was a great reward!

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Older cousins are the best for breaking ground in making good trouble.

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Constance Ford's avatar

A beautiful and vivid tribute!

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Many thanks!

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

What a wonderful tribute to your rock and roll cousin, Jill! I am so sorry for your loss. May her memory always be for a blessing. (And thanks for the musical memories too!)

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thank you. Music brings us together.

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Heidi Lynn Adelsman's avatar

Lovely Jill I can see you in the kitchen in loving admiration!

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

Beautiful tribute, Jill. My cousin sang and acted out “Leader of the Pack” and it was so cool. And it was a big deal to go to Target in Crystal, by ourselves why we got older. My condolences for the loss of your friend.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Let's hear it for older girl cousins who taught us what it meant to look cool. Lynn graduated Cooper High School class of '69. Crystal kids went to the school in Robbinsdale.

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Mary Roblyn's avatar

Those were the days. So much has changed. The house I grew up in has shrunk by half.🤣

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Newell's avatar

I am sorry for your loss. Memories are food for the soul and sorrow remind us how much we loved.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Newell. The lyrics "nothing lasts forever" and "everybody needs somebody" from the song November Rain ring true. Love and loss are a package deal.

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Elaine Mansfield's avatar

I'm grateful you could write such a loving piece about your cousin and had sweet experiences with her. I can't hear the music because of deafness, but I'm glad you have these memories. Thanks for sharing more of your family with the heart tenderness so many of us need now.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

I hope you remember these classic rock tunes even if your hearing won't permit you to listen to them played again. I've had the earworm of Yellow Submarine in my head all weekend. Thanks for reading about my memories of Lynn. Who introduced you to rock music?

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Naomi Yaeger's avatar

You have my sympathy

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Naomi.

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Lori Olson White's avatar

So sorry for your loss but those memories will surely remain and offer comfort . This was a beautiful tribute.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Lori. I only wished I had pictures of her with her hair in orange-can curlers.

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Diane Burley's avatar

So very sorry for your loss. It is true that beautiful memories are a blessing.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

And the memories live on in the music. Thanks.

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Margaret Holt's avatar

Such a sad story to read this Sunday morning, but I do believe your cousin would have so appreciated what you wrote about her and the music you shared.

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Sometimes the music says so much more than words. And this is music which spoke to my generation in ways that have come full circle. Rock hard.

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Rebecca Barry's avatar

Beautiful!

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Sara Biren's avatar

Lovely tribute to the leader of the pack. ❤️

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Jill Swenson's avatar

Thanks, Sara. Vroom, vroom.

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