From cramer@unix01.voicenet Mon Nov  8 11:46:04 1999
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 13:33:11 -0500 (EST)
From: Matt Cramer <cramer@unix01.voicenet>
Subject: In memory of Krystalia (fwd)

The tribute site is very nice.  If you are still adding things, please
include my note that I posted to dc-stuff.


Take care,

Matt

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 11:35:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Matt Cramer <cramer@unix01.voicenet.com>
To: dc-stuff@dis.org
Subject: In memory of Krystalia

I met Krys "online" - on the mailing list and later irc.  I had the
pleasure of conversations with her on the mailing and off the list.
Few people can be classified as special as Krys was - her sense of humour,
her intelligence, her wit, her charisma.  I only met her in the flesh once
- at DC6.  I had hoped to see her again, but it never happened - a trip
she had planned to the Philly area was canceled.

Krystalia was an important member of the "scene" as I came to participate
it in openly - at Defcon, on the mailing list, etc.  I knew her for less
than two years but few people that I have met in this "scene" will leave
such an enduring, positive impression.

I remember at DC7 - the absence of Krys was apparent on the faces of those
who knew her.  But positive thoughts for Krys were still abundant, and I
hoped that she knew her friends were thinking about her, wishing her
better fortune.

Krys was taken at such a young age from her family and her friends, by a
disease that affects everyone - it knows no boundaries of race, of
religion, of age.  Regardless of one's spiritual and religious beliefs the
suffering she has endured has now ended.  Even though this should not have
been unexpected to me, hearing the news from Sang was still a shock.  My
feelings made it apparent that I had never truly given up hope for a
change in her condition.

But instead of sorrow, I, and hopefully others, should try and feel joy.
Not for the years that we will never have with her - but for the years we
did have!  Yes, it was such a short time - but a person's impact on their
friends and family is not measured in quantity.  It is a measurement of
quality - and from what I know of Krys and what I know of those she
touched, the quality of the impact she has left on us is great indeed.
Raise a glass to toast her honour, perform an act of good in her memory,
and try to smile realising we are all better for having known her.

Krystalia, you will be missed!


Matt

--
Matt Cramer <cramer@voicenet.com>
http://www.voicenet.com/~cramer/
The only defense against the world is a
thorough knowledge of it.
     -John Locke