I didn’t know Donimo extremely well. We were acquaintances. But as life in our queer communities are so intertwined, I have known River my whole life and River is a piece of Donimo and Sarah’s chosen family. Through River I saw how beautiful and romantic a friendship could be. The ways I witnessed them each attend to their relationship was ritually purposeful and beautifully enacted. It was truly aspirational and gave me new ideas of what friendship could be. This is one of the key things I think of when I think of Donimo- the precision in which Donimo contributed so much to the romantic and emotional care of their beloveds.
Donimo, I will most of all miss your smile. Big and beautiful and shyly warm. I’m sad that someone with so much poetry in their self expression was short-changed and suffered so very much. I deeply respect the choice you made for yourself and my love goes to all your loves who now have to wade through the waves of their loss. Rest well, and we will look for you among all the living things as your energy becomes boundless and free.