From Bob Aquadro: I am writing to update your profile on Helen Hodgkinson. Helen and I were married for 25 years before breast cancer took her life in 2004. We had a wonderful, growing relationship that was getting better all the time. We were traveling the same spiritual path through yoga when I lost her and she was very accepting to the knowledge that the only thing that was leaving was the vessel and that she would continue on.
Helen is the smartest person I’ve ever met. Her thirst for knowledge was great. She was always had several books going at the same time. She graduated with a degree in modern dance from SIUE and spent many years in music retail.
Helen was a very successful business woman, managing Streetside Records for a number of years. Profits doubled in her first year as General Manager and you could tell that is was due to the love her staff had for her and the energy they put into work.
She had a great love of music, dance, art, gardening and animals. Our house and yard were always full of flowers, cats and music. We were fortunate in that we shared all these passions.
She was a very giving person. She loved to give and receive presents but mostly it was giving herself to her friends, family and strangers. She became a Tai Chi teacher in Austin and I would watch as students would light up as she spent time with them. She had that effect on many people who came in contact with her. She had a magnetism that attracted people to her, to learn from her and soak up her radiance.
I am the fortunate one who got to be by her side for 25 years. Our last months together were our closest. There was nothing to say, we just loved being with each other and loved each other.
Twenty five years seems like a short time in retrospect however anyone would consider themselves blessed to be loved like I was by Helen.
Helen listened to the song “And She Was” by the Talking Heads a lot near the end. It’s the best song I can think of that would define her spirit.
Laralei Ashford (Thomas)
From Bob Aquadro:I am writing to update your profile on Helen Hodgkinson. Helen and I were married for 25 years before breast cancer took her life in 2004. We had a wonderful, growing relationship that was getting better all the time. We were traveling the same spiritual path through yoga when I lost her and she was very accepting to the knowledge that the only thing that was leaving was the vessel and that she would continue on.
Helen is the smartest person I’ve ever met. Her thirst for knowledge was great. She was always had several books going at the same time. She graduated with a degree in modern dance from SIUE and spent many years in music retail.
Helen was a very successful business woman, managing Streetside Records for a number of years. Profits doubled in her first year as General Manager and you could tell that is was due to the love her staff had for her and the energy they put into work.
She had a great love of music, dance, art, gardening and animals. Our house and yard were always full of flowers, cats and music. We were fortunate in that we shared all these passions.
She was a very giving person. She loved to give and receive presents but mostly it was giving herself to her friends, family and strangers. She became a Tai Chi teacher in Austin and I would watch as students would light up as she spent time with them. She had that effect on many people who came in contact with her. She had a magnetism that attracted people to her, to learn from her and soak up her radiance.
I am the fortunate one who got to be by her side for 25 years. Our last months together were our closest. There was nothing to say, we just loved being with each other and loved each other.
Twenty five years seems like a short time in retrospect however anyone would consider themselves blessed to be loved like I was by Helen.
Helen listened to the song “And She Was” by the Talking Heads a lot near the end. It’s the best song I can think of that would define her spirit.