Edrie Dodge

Speaking of forces of nature...

I've tried a few different drafts in memorial to Edrie. Her feisty, compassionate, stubborn, maternal, happy with her place in life nature. They all looked/sounded stupid to me. I just couldn't do her justice. I couldn't tell the stories right.

If it were up to Edrie, I'd be living on Block Island right now, in my own house on Old Town Road. If it were up to Edrie, I'd still be the director of the Ecumenical Choir. If it were up to Edrie, my husband would be coming home to his family every night. If it were up to Edrie, I would be under her wing for some time to come.

I wish it had been up to Edrie.

Edrie was a good Baptist woman who will sing with the angels and then bully them around a bit just so they know who's really in charge now.

Nobody represented the "true" Block Island culture more than Edrie. And she was exactly who you thought she was.

I loved her. I mean, I loved her.