The director stayed herself to the very end.
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There was no pain, no distress.
The piece was in part a bracing look at how Hollywood treats women directors.
Even then, 21 months ago, Stacy was unable to move all but a few of her muscles.
Stacy communicated then by moving her eyes, but her eye muscles were starting to fail.
Then everyone tromped down the hill to their house and had a big party.
Too quickly, though, Stacys hopes of directing one last film began to diminish.
In July 2019, Jonathan reported that something had shifted.
Stacys eyes were not behaving.
Still, Stacy kept on.
But she kept on.
There were bright spots.
More and more, Stacy and Jonathan were living those lines.
Husband and wife fell back asleep.
Later, though, Stacy moved her eyes in a way that meantI have something to say.
But now we start to spell.
He translated: She has not changed much, she means; she is still she.
COVID protocols took their toll on her even more than the rest of us.
Stacy could no longer blink at this point, and her eyes were always dry.
Jonathan sent an appeal, then, to all their friends.
For their 29th wedding anniversary, could people send videos of themselves?
I would like to ask if she could hear from you, he wrote.
Maybe how beautiful and brave she is.
Maybe just how she used to drive you crazy but you forgive her.
Maybe how you wish her peace.
Maybe you even tell her what you want to tell her before you cant tell her anything anymore.
And now, he said, she was afraid to watch anymore.
Stacy and Jonathan took one final vacation for their anniversary.
Stacy had suggested Paris, her favorite city, but Jonathan couldnt find a way.
A huge pile of Frankensteinian shit, Jonathan said.
The weekend was perfect.
Jonathan rolled Stacys wheelchair down the pier.
Her family was torn.
Ultimately, they decided to keep Stacy at home.
She had made it clear that was where she wanted to die.
Nurses stepped in to care for her while Jonathan and the kids kept their distance, in quarantine.
Sometimes Jonathan bellowed the books he was reading down the corridor to keep his wife company.
Stacy was tested numerous times.
She was always negative.
As the New Year approached, Stacy participated in a Zoom reunion.
But the truth was, she was losing her sight.
More than movies, in her final weeks, she preferred to be read to.
Theyd finished Elmore LeonardsGlitztogether and were beginningThe Brothers Karamazov.
Jonathan, meanwhile, found himself rereadingHamlet.Tell me if this sounds familiar, he wrote to their friends.
She just needs, like we all do, more contact in this crazy time.
She didnt just let go.
She let me go.
In the past year, so many people too many have died alone, without their families around them.
So many have struggled with the heartache of sudden loss.
That gift caused them pain, no doubt.
