Martha's story was a grand one.
Whether narrated by her, or others, the anecdotes of her life were always something that could bring a smile to the face of those listening.
But those stories, even the best of them, were only moments in her life.
Pieces of a day
Pages in a book.
She had 25,474 days to make this world a better place, and every single day, she did.
It was the everyday goodness of her that will be missed.
There is no one quite like her.
There is no one with the patience, the honesty, the stubbornness, and most of all the good will that she had.
She had an enviable life. In every chapter of it.
She was a Tomboy running around DC with her dog Pal at her side.
She got to marry her highschool sweetheart.
When that didn't work out she joined the Foreign Service and got to see the world.
She never seemed to make a very good wife, but she was an outstanding Mother.
Which is where her saintlike patience and understanding were truly proven.
She was even a patriot.
She was damn good at any job she ever had, she was liked by everyone who knew her and died without an enemy in the world.
To quote her "I've lived a good life, and I've lived it with style. I just want my death to be the same."
This was a tough lady.
One who was always more "one of the guys"
Who knew and did what she wanted, and accepted the responsibility for such with an easy pragmatism.
This was a woman who loved life, this world, everyone on it, possibly every furry creature as well.
This was a woman who didn't want us to mourn her death, but celebrate her life.
And while there are no more days and pages to be written in the great volume of her life, her story doesn't end.
It's not confined to the covers.
Her life, and her love, shaped this world.
And those of us touched and effected by her remain so