I met Donimo over 20 years ago, when Sarah and D first started dating. I remember Sarah’s incredible excitement and attraction for this new woman in her life. I’m pretty sure that this has never waned, but has only deepened. Over the years as I spent time with them together – and through both good and bad – I saw them hold a fierce, soul-strengthening love and commitment for each other. I feel honoured to have been witness to this and it has been heartening in my own moments of discouragement – to know love like this exists and to see two people be so much for each other.
Even though i knew Donimo for many years, D and I didn’t spend a lot of one-one time – usually it was at events or in small groups or visiting Sarah and D as a couple – but in the time we did spend together, talking or messaging, or having side conversations in a group, we connected very strongly about music – in particular 70s and 80’s alternative and we were both huge Laurie Anderson fans. I loved sharing this passion with her. We would listen to her together on vinyl, quote ‘Laurie’ on each other’s Facebook walls and in cards on each other’s birthdays, keep each other informed about her latest projects and life events, and at one point went to see her together at a venue in Gastown. D had such an incredible sense of joy in art and beauty in combination with a very discerning sense of taste and style, that made sharing these experiences with her great bloody fun.
The pic above that I’ve shared is of a kite that my partner David and I took out to Boundary Bay on Tuesday evening, the day that i knew that Donimo had decided to move on from this life. I wanted to go to a beautiful place and think about her, connecting upwards towards the sky and a simple, symmetrical black and white kite seemed right. David and I drank Prosecco and toasted D and flew this kite in Donimo’s honour, thinking of her and sending love, and maybe accompanying her for just a moment towards whatever journey her spirit and energy may now be on as she “flew fearlessly and joyfully out of this world.”
❤️