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Shelly's
favorite things
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It was not surprising to find out that Shelly was very musical - after all her dad is a very good violinist. Shelly enjoyed her music lessons with Steve Oz, and although Steve has a "music environment" and she could have tried all types of instruments, she really wanted to learn piano. At home she liked to sit by the piano and figure out how to play different tunes: Winnie the Pooh and the Carpenters songs (We've Only Just Began, Close to You, etc) were her favorites. She also loved to play duets with Howard. Top of the page
Shelly loved to draw, paint and do various types of art projects from a very young age. It was clear that she had a special talent for art since she was about two and a half. She was very proud to tell me when she was in first grade, that one of her classmates told her she should publish a book of her works.
The art Shelly left behind enables us to continue the dialogue with her even after death. The exhibit Gifts From My rainbow has been shown at the Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw County and the Pierpont Commons Gallery at the University of Michigan. Read the entries in the exhibition's guestbook - they are inspiring and profound. To see some of Shelly's art go to the Virtual Art Gallery section of this web-site. Top of the page
Shelly was a kid who thrived in the structured environment of school. She was happy in a full day preschool, and loved the Hebrew Day School, where she got a chance to practice her fluent Hebrew and learn how to read and write in this language. Her favorite part of the day were the "tfilot" -- prayers. She was much better in "tfilot" than her parents and we were amazed when she would recite the whole "Birkat Hamazon" (blessing over the meal) and other beautiful prayers from memory. These "tefilot" were very comforting to her when she was very sick. Her teacher, Moreh Aharon, made a tape for her of her classmate saying "tfilot" she listened to it over and over again. Not being able to be in school for the last three months of her life, was one the biggest losses she suffered from this disease. Top of the page
When Shelly was in Kindergarten she asked Howard to teach her how to read. "The world will open-up to me if I learn how to read" - she said. She learned quickly and Howard was very proud when she read a very difficult paragraph from the hagadda on Passover. She also loved to write and the ability to communicate and express herself through writing. Her handwriting was beautiful. Top of the page
Shelly loved going on family outings, trips and picnics.
She was very attached to us and never wanted to spend the
night away from home. She only wanted to have sleepover
parties at her house. She was very worried when she found
out that she would have to live in a dorm, if she was to go
the University of Michigan, and was very relieved that she
could stay at home if she goes to Eastern Michigan
University... Top of the page
Shelly slept every night with 23 stuffed animals, which were arranged nicely on her bed. Her most favorite one was a big bear whom she named "Fuzzy Wazzy". Fuzzy liked to be covered with Shelly's baby blanket called "blanky", and he went with Shelly wherever she needed a friend to help her feel comfortable, like to MRI's and radiation treatments.
In addition to Fuzzy Wazzy she also had a big Pooh bear, a medium Pooh bear and a small Pooh bear. She had a soft pink bunny she named "Tiny Love", and other friends. In the spring of 1998 she told me she doesn't want any more stuffed animals, because she can't take care of so many.... Top of the page
Shelly had a healthy self-image, and a sense of self-worth. She was not afraid to assert herself, even to suprior figures like adults and older kids. She knew that she was very bright and that she had a special talent for art and music. She also liked the way she looked, especially her eyes, which had a very special color: a blue ring around the iris of the eye, and a brown ring around the blue ring. The color of her eyes changed whether she was indoors or outdoors, and was the most beautiful when the sun was out.
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Top of the page Synopsis of a life cut short Shelly's place created by Ruti Volk |