“Somewhere, out in the world, are the people who touched us, or loved us, or ran from us. In that way we will live on. If you go to the places we have been, you might meet someone who passed us once in a corridor but forgot us before we were even gone. We are in the back of hundreds of people's photographs - moving, talking, blurring into the background of a picture two strangers have framed on their living room mantelpiece. And in that way, we will live on too. But it isn't enough. It isn't enough to have been a particle in the great extant of existence. I want, we want, more. We want for people to know us, to know our story, to know who we are and who we will be. And after we've gone, to know who we were.”
―
Marianne Cronin,
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“The cruelty of strangers never usually upsets me, but the kindness of strangers is oddly devastating.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Do you know," she said slowly, "that the stars that we see the clearest are already dead?""Well, that's depressing." I took my hand from hers."No," she said gently, linking her arm through mine, "it's not depressing, it's beautiful. They've been gone for who knows how long, but we can still see them. They live on."They live on.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We have practiced for death every night. Lying down in the dark and slipping into that place of nothingness between rest and dreams where we have no consciousness, no self, and anything could befall our vulnerable bodies. We have died each night. Or at least, we have laid down to die, and let go of everything in this world, hoping for dreams and morning.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I think the same is true of dying. We can’t know why you are dying in the same way that we can’t know why you are living. Living and dying are both complete mysteries, and you can’t know either until you have done both.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“The answer I have, the only one I have,” he said, “is that you are dying because you are dying. Not because of God’s deciding to punish you and not because He is neglecting you, but simply because you are. It is a part of your story as much as you are.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“There are some words in the Lord’s Prayer that I don’t know. But I do know the word art. It’s a necessary inclusion, I think. We should all be artists. Especially if God is doing art in heaven; we should follow his example.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And in the quiet, as she carefully outlined her yellow star in gold, I got this feeling I've never felt with anyone. That I had all the time in the world. I didn't have to rush to tell her anything, we could just be.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And I will be forever changed by the people I have met and their bravery, their courage and their light.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I really am fine,” Humphrey said in the corridor. “I just got old by accident.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We can’t know why we are dying in the same way we can’t know why we are living. Living and dying are both complete mysteries, and toy can’t know either until you have done both.”“That’s poetic. And ironic.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And Lenni, when you get to heaven,” he said. Her eyes opened. “Give ’em hell.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Somewhere, out in the world, are the people who touched us, or loved us, or ran from us. In that way we will live on.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We want for people to know us, to know our story, to know who we are and who we will be. And after we’ve gone, to know who we were.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Lenni," she said softly, "you're the bravest person I know.""Why?""You just are," she said, and the moment fell between us.""Dying isn't brave," I said, "it's accidental. I'm not brave, I'm just not dead yet.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Well, this is my final truth: if I had a granddaughter, I would want her to be exactly like you.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We are in the back of hundreds of people’s photographs – moving, talking, blurring into the background of a picture two strangers have framed on their living-room mantelpiece.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“The cruelty of strangers never usually upsets me, but the kindness of strangers is oddly devastating.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Do you know," she said slowly, "that the stars that we see the clearest are already dead?""Well, that's depressing." I took my hand from hers."No," she said gently, linking her arm through mine, "it's not depressing, it's beautiful. They've been gone for who knows how long, but we can still see them. They live on."They live on.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We have practiced for death every night. Lying down in the dark and slipping into that place of nothingness between rest and dreams where we have no consciousness, no self, and anything could befall our vulnerable bodies. We have died each night. Or at least, we have laid down to die, and let go of everything in this world, hoping for dreams and morning.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I think the same is true of dying. We can’t know why you are dying in the same way that we can’t know why you are living. Living and dying are both complete mysteries, and you can’t know either until you have done both.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“The answer I have, the only one I have,” he said, “is that you are dying because you are dying. Not because of God’s deciding to punish you and not because He is neglecting you, but simply because you are. It is a part of your story as much as you are.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“There are some words in the Lord’s Prayer that I don’t know. But I do know the word art. It’s a necessary inclusion, I think. We should all be artists. Especially if God is doing art in heaven; we should follow his example.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And in the quiet, as she carefully outlined her yellow star in gold, I got this feeling I've never felt with anyone. That I had all the time in the world. I didn't have to rush to tell her anything, we could just be.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And I will be forever changed by the people I have met and their bravery, their courage and their light.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“I really am fine,” Humphrey said in the corridor. “I just got old by accident.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We can’t know why we are dying in the same way we can’t know why we are living. Living and dying are both complete mysteries, and toy can’t know either until you have done both.”“That’s poetic. And ironic.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“And Lenni, when you get to heaven,” he said. Her eyes opened. “Give ’em hell.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Somewhere, out in the world, are the people who touched us, or loved us, or ran from us. In that way we will live on.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We want for people to know us, to know our story, to know who we are and who we will be. And after we’ve gone, to know who we were.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Lenni," she said softly, "you're the bravest person I know.""Why?""You just are," she said, and the moment fell between us.""Dying isn't brave," I said, "it's accidental. I'm not brave, I'm just not dead yet.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Well, this is my final truth: if I had a granddaughter, I would want her to be exactly like you.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
“We are in the back of hundreds of people’s photographs – moving, talking, blurring into the background of a picture two strangers have framed on their living-room mantelpiece.” ― Marianne Cronin, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
