In memory of Alyric

There's this great blog called A Touch of Alyricism that I've been reading for a few years. It's not updated all that frequently, maybe once or twice a month. I have it listed on my Google reader and it's always a treat to see a new post go up. I felt the same today until I clicked on the post and read that Alyric, its author died of cancer last Saturday.

Her husband and daughter were kind enough to write on her blog to share the terrible news with those of us who only knew her through her written words. They described her, in words that make perfect sense and ring with truth, as "truly courageous" and one who "always fought for the betterment of people, and not the detriment." I am very grateful to them for having done this.

I felt such grief and shock when I read it and my thoughts are with her family and their sad loss.

Those of us who cared about issues like ethics, respect, accuracy and decent treatment for all people have lost an important voice.

Here are a few of my favourite posts by Alyric,

• her dazzling review of Jenny McCarthy's woeful "Mother Warriors" book, saves you the bother of reading the thing yourself,
• an assessment of the techniques and thought processes of one of Canada's "autism advocates"
• a thorough investigation into the well worn phrase "indistinguishable from their peers"
• her "half Irish" response to the UMC

It's hard to believe and very sad to consider that she will never speak out like this again.