No simple words to convey the sorrow of loss. It is far better to celebrate the life, and friendship, and far easier. Today we celebrate the life of one of Galactic Hitchhikers founding members, Jennifer Allaby. 

Jenn passed away recently after her long battle with cancer. 

I feel so very fortunate to have met her, truth be told it was her friendship that led to my starting the group. Way back in 2011 I met Jennifer while running against her for the first Towel Day Ambassador Contest. The contest was between Jenn, myself, and another contestant. She loved Douglas Adams about as much as I do, so we were fast friends from our first conversation. I was doing quite poorly in the contest. Jenniffer saw how badly I wanted to win it, and started telling her friends to vote for me instead. She was that kind of person, one of the good ones. 

Her spirit lives on in the humor she shared with us. A noble being, she never lost that humor. Even when Jenn had a mastectomy her reply was to start a Facebook group called “Titless and Fancy Free”. She always had something funny, or encouraging to say. Even as her cancer progressed, she was a bright spot in a gloomy world. I have been, and will continue to be inspired by her. 

“He hoped and prayed that there wasn’t an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn’t an afterlife.”

― Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything

I hope there IS an afterlife, she still owes me a beer. My heart goes out to her family, friends, and her loving wife who was so amazing in Jennifers life. While it may seem that we all lost something, that the world lost something, that there is sorrow, Jennifer returns to starstuff. The heavens just got brighter. My life was made brighter, I will remember her with fondness and love. 

So long Jennifer, and thanks for all the fish.