aka: “MingoSage”
Born: December 7, 1974 in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas
Died: April 18, 2009 in Richardson, Dallas County, Texas.
Survived by: fiancé Joshua Doc Shaw (Irving, TX); Mother Vicky Hargus-Larimore & Stepfather John David Larimore (both of Dallas, TX); Grandmother Elma Hargus (Shawnee, OK); Uncle James Steven Hargus & Aunt, Deborah Hargus (both of Sterling, CO); and Cousin Lieutenant James Benjamin Hargus (West Point, NY).
Editor’s Note: The following is an open letter to Aly after her death, from her mother Vicky.
Aly, my precious pup, the light of my life, and my gift from God,
As I sit here enveloped in thoughts and memories of you, it is difficult to scribe them in words to share with the rest of the world, but I gave my promise…. so please bear with me as write down all things I love most about you.
As a child, we were so close that we communicated without even speaking – a look, a smile, a touch, and a giggle. You were always such an extraordinary child, wise beyond your years, and your happiness was so infectious, bringing ear-to-ear smiles to everyone’s face when you entered a room. I will never forget the tickling matches we had as we awoke to greet each new day; they always ended with “I love you mommy,” and “I love you my little Aly-cat.”
I still hear your sweet voice singing “You Are My Sunshine” on a cassette tape recorded by your Papaw when you were three years young. And Pumpkin, not only were you our sunshine, you were our moonbeam, our shining star, and the heavenly fabric of our being.
So extroverted, you always made the rounds at any café, introducing yourself to each and every patron. After the initial shock at your inquisitive nature, their hearts would melt and they would always impart a special story about their life with you. Later, you would share with us, verbatim and with glee, the many stories you’d absorbed.
Always so tender hearted, you never thought twice about bringing home strays who needed warmth, nourishment, and love…. So we always kept puppy and kitten chow handy, until we found the perfect home for each and every one. As the years passed, our hearts and generosity expanded, insuring that our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables were filled with misplaced and lonely souls who graced our presence, sharing in God’s blessings during the holidays.
You never cared for Barbie dolls, but you sure clung to your Holly Hobbie doll and Cabbage Patch Kid – so much so that everything in your bedroom screamed “Holly Hobby” and you wore out the soles of your Cabbage Patch house slippers (appropriately named Agatha and Christi, after your favorite author).
Road trips were always a blast for you, too. I recall the summer when you were five, you left with your Memaw and Papaw on a month long trip in their self-contained motor home. When they thought you might be getting bored, they bought you a puzzle map of the United States. By the time y’all returned home, you had learned the shape, the location and the name of every state – including their capitol cities.
Every summer we’d set off for a new adventure, exploring, hiking, climbing, horseback riding, and four-wheeling in Estes Park, Roosevelt National Forest, Never Summer Mountain Range, Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake & Lake Granby.
As a young woman, your physical beauty was so natural. You never required makeup. Even more surprising is the genuine inner beauty exuded by your sweet soul. I would be remiss if I neglected to mention that your IQ is 10 points higher than that of our current President!
Always concerned about being too overprotective of you, I made a promise to myself to always be a source of encouragement. So, every time you’d leave the house, I’d say, with a wink and a smile, “Aly, do something extraordinary!” I remember saying it so often, that when you’d hear me say, “Hey, Aly…” you knew what was to follow, and would laugh and reply, “I will, mom!”
One time when you came home and I asked what extraordinary thing did you do today you and your friend Jackie just laughed and laughed, then you both turned around to display the matching tattoos on your shoulders. That night, I prayed to God that neither of you would get infections!
Your love of music and movies is evident the eclectic collection of CDs and DVDs that I’ve been struggling to organize and categorize by genre, a daunting task indeed, sweetie. There’s one that I cherish with all my heart, because I know how you enjoyed singing and dancing to your CDs, and how you painstakingly memorized all the lines of your favorite movies; goosebumps run up and down my spine as I recall us reenacting the entire movie “Grease,” you playing the parts of Sandy and Frenchy, and me playing the parts of Danny and Rizzo.
Nothing thrilled me more than to take you to concerts, whether it was Fleetwood Mac at Red Rocks in Denver, Yani at SMU’s Concert Hall in Dallas, or The Rippingtons at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth. The pleasure afforded me was not so much the onstage music, but rather watching the sheer joy in your face and eyes. I’ll never forget when Jeff Kashiwa, Rippington’s saxophone player, jumped from the stage and then, on bended knee, played his solo just for you. He was so taken with you that he stopped by our table to invite us to a private birthday party celebration for the band’s drummer. Jeff was not the only celebrity won over by your charms....
You were Birkenstock, I was Evan-Picone. You a desert rose, me a mountain columbine. But we always had each other, Aly. Nothing in this life will ever compare to the love and admiration I feel for you, Sweet Pea. My life may be empty now, but it will never be sad as long as I carry cherished memories of you in my heart, my mind, and my soul.
Love, Mom
Family’s Request: In lieu of flowers, Aly would prefer that you consider adopting a pet in her name. Her dog, Parker, was her most loyal and best friend.Also, if you know a friend, a loved one who is experiencing extreme emotional swings from manic highs to depressive lows, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE have them get professional help. Bipolar disorder is treatable.
Editor’s Note: A diagnosis of bipolar disorder (a.k.a. manic depression) can be made through having a mental health professional assess a person’s behavior, family history, personal history, and response to medications. For more information, please visit local bookstores for books about the disorder, or visit the following websites: www.dbsalliance.org (The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) and www.nami.org (National Association on Mental Illness).
Aly on the Porch, dancing with Wade, 2005. Photo by Caroline Burr.
