Visitor: Iris Toth
Time: May 28, 2006 3:17 PM
When I was in the 1st grade i joined Tina's girl scout troop (troop 1299) and we went to the Town Lake Animal Shelter. I was amazed that she volunteered there on a regular basis. I am writing this in memory of Shoshana's love of animals.
Visitor: Audrey Zeis
Time: May 30, 2006 3:25 PM
Hey it's me your favorite weirdo!
Now you may find this memory to be stupid but it's my favorite.
Shoshana, Laura, and I carpooled together all last year and this year. If you know at all, you can tell that I'm not a morning person, even after some coffee, and just about everything will amaze me. Now Laura and Shoshana took this fact to a completely new dimension several times a week, especially Shoshana. She knew that if she pushed certain car buttons, like the ones that make lights go on and off, the windows to move up and down, and locks go up and down I would be estatic.
Every time she would push any of these buttons, I would shriek like a little kid in a candy store, and ask her to do it over and over, while Laura and Mr. Weintraub were usually laughing at me. I didn't care, as long as Shoshana kept pushing buttons. It would never get old for me, but she eventually got bored herself and stopped pushing buttons, which would not make me very happy, but by then, we were at school.
Shoshana knew exactly how to make me laugh at any time, no matter what had just happened during any of our days. I could make her laugh as I forgot to act my age and she would just make me laugh using anything, a joke she had just heard, a story she'd made up or just some lame face that worked every time. It didn't matter how bad the joke was or far-fetched the story or predictable the face, it had almost become a ritual for me to laugh and have her join in shortly after.
Visitor: Jason Ermer
Time: June 1, 2006 2:59 PM
First, let me offer my deepest condolences to you and your family. Shoshana was an amazing young woman and I will never forget her. There's one story I'd like to share in particular.
I don't know if Shoshana ever told you about how she and two close friends (Katie and Smadar) would each pay me a nickel every Friday to rub my head for good luck... at first I was confused (as I often am by middle schoolers), but as the Friday head-rubbings continued, it always made me smile.
On the last day of school, Katie and Smadar came to rub my head one last time. They brought me three nickels and three nickel-sized circles of paper bearing the names Katie, Smadar, and Shoshana. Here in my home I keep a box of notes, drawings, and other rememberances from Kealing students. I intend to keep these last three nickels among them.
I am honored to have known your daughter. If there is ever anything I can do for you or your family, please let me know. You and she are in my heart.
Jason
Visitor: Mike and Charlotte London
Time: June 1, 2006 8:25 PM
We are so sad that Shoshana has died. We did not know her, but we know how she was loved. We know that because we know how we love our own children and our grandchildren. We know that one of them or Charlotte or myself can die at any moment without warning. It pains us to even consider such a possibility, but we know it can happen.
Death almost came to our nephew David Helms a couple of years ago after he drank too much wine at our house during the family seder. David drove his car off the side of MoPac and his brain swelled up and it appeared that we would lose him. But luckily for him and all the family, the surgeons were able to save him. He recovered and now he is on anti-convulsants. But he is alive.
Now for a similar circumstance that did not turn out so well. Charlotte owns some farmland in South Texas that she rents out to a farmer. The farmer's cousin lives in Austin, and the cousin's son Clarke Spinks age 18 died yesterday May 31st as a result of drinking and driving. He rolled his car on Friday May 26th around 4 am and his brain swelled up. When I was notified that Clarke was hospitalized, I was sure he would be saved just like David was. But not this time.
We grieve with you and your family. We just do not really know how sharp the pain can be. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes.
Mike London
Visitor: Deb
Time: June 3, 2006 6:40 PM
I was so sorry to hear about Shoshana's passing. We did not know Shoshana since we only recently joined the Kol Halev B'nai Mitzvah program. From reading all the sentiments about Shoshana, one certainly gets the sense that she was quite a wonderful young woman and one that touched many lives. I recently heard the song "The Blessing" by Steven Curtis Chapman and thought of her while listening to the words. Our prayers go out to your family in this difficult time.
Visitor: Lisa McClain
Time: June 5, 2006 11:15 AM
I did not have the pleasure of meeting Shoshana, but I was fortunate enough to train the three of you just days before Shoshana's untimely passing. Having only met you for a brief time, I was still able to see what a strong family you are. I know you will make it through this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Visitor: Steven Weintraub
The following four entries are entries that seem to have been dropped from the guestbook accidentally. They are dated at the date they were posted.
Visitor: Betty M. Sissom
Time: May 15, 2006 10:45 AM
What memories I have of you all! I can still see where Shoshana and Aaron sat in my classroom. I remember Shoshana as an upbeat, courteous, generous, funny, artistically talented, articulate writer. a bright, eager student.
I asked for parent volunteers on Back-to-School night to help me teach the class how to play these really difficult math games. They were too challenging for me to teach as a whole group and I didn't have enough time to teach them in small groups. Of course, Steve, you volunteered. I was amazed that Friday after Friday you actually returned to face another afternoon with 5 wiggly, talkative, 'excited to be leaving the classroom for the library' 8 and 9 year olds. Shoshana would, of course, want to go with you each time, but I would have to be fair and let everyone have a turn. She was always understanding and happy, knowing other students had the chance to learn from her father.
Since Shoshana was so well read and wise beyond her years, I could tell her puns and jokes. She would be one of the few that 'got it' as third graders are usually still dwelling in the concrete...just beginning to understand abstract thought. I remember you both, Tina and Steve, coming to school to eat lunch with Shoshana, and walking her back to class after recess. I remember after school, you standing in the hallway, waiting for her to leave me and find you. At the end of the year, it was with sadness that I said good-bye to Shoshana and her positively charged spirit.
In fourth grade, many students still say 'hi' to their old third grade teachers, but by fifth grade, third grade can be really uncool and babyish. Shoshana never wavered in her relationship with me and we greeted each other through the years, with love and regard for each other.
When I heard the news of her death, it was an unbelievable moment. I heard about it during Gullett's track and field day. I kept telling myself it couldn't be true and I would think about it later. When I finally did really accept it, I thought of what we would all miss. I realized what a gift she had been for me. I got to share an entire year with her and watch her grow into a more lovely, life-affirming girl.
Tina and Steve, I hope you know what wonderful parents you were to her.
Aaron, what a special boy you are. Shoshana loved you so much and treasured you because you are such a fine young man.
Please know that I will always have Shoshana in my heart.
Love,
Betty Sissom
Betty M. Sissom
Gullett Elementary School.
Visitor: Rosemary Klein-Robbins
Time: May 15, 2006 5:51 PM
Wow-what to say. I still am having problems wrapping my brain around this one.
My family (Reuven, Zehava and Avi and I) have known the Weintraub's since forever and they are more family than friends and so this has been difficult. Especially for Reuven, he was Shoshi's tutor and teacher and for Zehava who loved her like a little sister. And for me-loving Tina and Steve and Shoshi and Aaron like my own.
I told Tina that my late father never said much about people-but if he liked and respected someone he would say they were a "good girl" or a "good boy". When he said that, you knew that was something to be proud of. And Shoshi was a "good girl."
If anyone has ever heard of the movie "Pay it Forward"-the premise, as I understood it was that you did a good deed for someone and then in turn they would do a good deed for someone and in turn...you get the idea.
I would like to think that for us to "Pay it Forward" in memory of Shoshi is to take her along with us when we go forward in life. There are very few people that make such a profound impact on our lives. Then that person becomes a part of our lives and a part of who (whom) we are.
As such, that whatever our hopes and dreams are-that when we fulfill them we take her with us. When we go forward, so does she.
I believe that those who have had such a profound effect on our lives, never leave our lives. That they are with us every step we take and every place we go.
So this I believe about Shoshana.
"Only when you drink from the river of silence, do you begin to sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, that you begin to climb.
And when the earth has claimed your limbs, then shall you truly dance."
(Khalil Gibran-The Prophet)
Baby, you will be missed.
Rosemary
Visitor: Marlena Gonzales
Time: May 18, 3:41 PM
I really just wanted to say how much respect I had for you and you're family and of course Shoshana.. And although I hardly knew her, I really wish I did. She sounded like an amazing young lady, and person who could do anything she set her mind to. And for your loss and the way you have so strongly coped with it all is just amazing to me. I wish your family the best wishes and hope that you can get through this hard time in your life..
Marlena