Celebrating the life of Ellis Avery. Robert, a long hug, a shake of the hands. We talk of Ellisâs determination and growl at each other. Sara in the socks Ellis wrote a haiku about, yellow and orange striped Finnish socks. Four vases of spring flowers, peonies and tulips and white irises. Cassy telling us Ellis said âWhatâs happening with the book?â Cassy singing in Spanish and we sing along with her. At the end, Ellisâs famous karaoke song, Journeyâs Donât Stop Beliving, and Iâm singing along and a tan man in expensive clothe next to me says âyou have a good voiceâ. Iâm thinking Ellis would like us to all sing together. I wonder if heâs being bitchy- I do not have a good singing voice- and I think even at a funeral in New York, New Yorkers gonna New York. I introduce myself to Ellisâs sister. Someone pantomiming dancing. âWe should all go song karaoke,â I hear. âShe has to go to a chemistry classâ, âyou feel thatâ, âinspired by herâ and Iâm here, now in my phone, writing this post. Too much for a moment. Donât talk about yourself. Donât talk about cancer. Now I can listen again. Sharon gave us the story of the end. The days that led to death, the low sodium, the way that Sharon can get a laugh from Ellisâs âWe really need to talk about that dosage.â So much generosity in that room today, at The Center. There was a wedding happening upstairs. There were kids. There was Nikki Minaj and Nico. There were tears and smiles. I have to be optimistic. I like weddings and funerals. I like memorials. This was beautifully done. âDid I get everything done?â She wanted to love her love by doing all of the death paperwork. I made a pact with Alyssa to finish our books for Ellis. I have my notecards, I have two weeks in New Mexico in July. I have the light and wicked smile of a writer friend in my mind. #ellisavery #memorial #death @lgbtcenternyc #writer #thelastnude #theteahousefire #friendship #writing #love https://www.instagram.com/p/BxoGI4Tl11K/?igshid=dxi4zuok6ao7


















