Memorial held for StillPink Sandgrain

StillPink Sandgrain, who recently passed away in First Life, was a beloved member of the Raglan Shire cluster of sims composed of delightful creatures known as Tinies.  She was a vivacious, funny, tiny pink leopard in the tinies community, and sadly, passed from this life, first and second, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer on Valentine’s Day.

Sandgrain first rezzed, in SL, back in 2003 (almost 2300 days old!) and was a member of many communities who grew to love her as we did in Raglan.  How beloved was she?  Look to the tinies who attended her memorial (on Feb. 20) whose numbers threatened sim-capacity that they might go and honor her memory.

Look to the peaceful clearing where tinies, Tia Mcpherson and Dorian Longstaff, created a tree swirling in bands of pink, whose heavenward limbs sprouted delicate pink leaves that will stand as testament to StillPink’s presence till the sims are no more.  Look to the pink eternal flame made by Summer Seale, lit by the owner of the Raglan Shires, Zayn Till, as he spoke with fondness of StillPink who wished to not be forgotten.

So many came in pink finery with traditional umbrellas, and other items made by residents of Raglan, and stood at the foot of this tree passing stories and waiting quietly for the service to begin.  While the service was overwhelmingly tinies, many came from other communities she touched.

Even more stood vigil at an off-sim location where some had purposely gone to make room for others they felt “ought to be there for StillPink” more than they did.  The third annual Raglan Mardis Gras celebration was due to begin, and how fitting that it was decided to dedicate it to StillPink and begin everything with a traditional New Orleans funeral procession for her.

The first line, friends and family, began at the tree and followed a path of poppies from Heron Shire sim to Raglan proper.  The first line is a time to reflect and allow the sorrow to well up and flow and its slow cadence follows the somber bray of a brass band leading them forward till all entered the French Quarter where the music turns joyous and raucous for the second line.

This, then, was the way that the tinies ended their pensive journey to the robust voice of Louis Armstrong singing, “When the Saints Come Marching In.”  There was no better way to remember and honor someone who so truly loved life, and especially this Second Life where, as StillPink declared, “I can be free!”  And free she is and will always be remembered