We live to dance another day It's just now we have to dance for one more of us,,,

August 31, 2023

We live to dance another day
It's just now we have to dance for one more of us,,,

I wasn’t a close friend of Rachel Ligon. Living in the same small community, we were more friendly acquaintances. I like to take photographs as a hobby and Rachel was a talented and in demand professional photographer who I would often cross paths with as we were both photographing the same events, she, creating incredible art as I attempted to simply document the scene.

Even though we didn’t know each other well, she was always kind, friendly and accommodating and I always figured that eventually we would become better friends as we ran in the same circles, had countless mutual friends and similar interests. Tragically that won’t be the case as she passed away suddenly due the onset of a fatal health condition.

It was a shock and sudden blow to our island community that this vibrant, beautiful, talented and far too young soul was taken without warning. How she passed is not so important as how she lived and I don’t think I have ever seen such an amazing outpouring of grief and fond remembrance of anyone.

Reading the myriad of tributes on facebook, I came to the realization that I really missed out on knowing better someone who had such a tremendous positive impact on her family, friends and the people she encountered every day. The heartfelt messages were beautiful and heartbreaking and it pained me to see our community in such shared pain and grief.

Rachel was an amazing photographer, excelling at something that I know to be incredibly difficult, wedding photography, but also at ease shooting special events and even in just everyday photos of her life and friends. I most recently worked along side her at the Key West Songwriters Festival and it was just a pleasure to see her talent and professionalism on display and the images she seemingly effortlessly captured were outstanding.

Not only did she focus on her own art, but through the amazing gallery she opened on Caroline Street, Key West Collective: A Rachel E. Ligon Gallery, she promoted the work of an entire community of local artists. It is as beautiful and classy as the woman herself and a beautiful example of the very best of this island community.

Her friends and family organized a memorial for her at sunset at the Fort at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park and it was one of the most beautiful, sad and wonderful local events I can recall. Kathy and I went to pay our respects and to support the literally hundreds of friends who were on hand to grieve and celebrate a life well lived, yet far too short.

It was incredibly moving and we saw so many friends, including many former Key West residents who returned for the event. It is fitting I guess that we witnessed one of the more perfect and beautiful sunsets that I can recall, surrounded by friends and Rachel’s family. Our deepest sympathy to all who knew her and were touched by her passing.

One of the lessons that was reinforced at her memorial was to live every moment to the fullest and I think attending a fun and creative event at the bar 22&Co. fit that bill. The bar was hosting a watermelon carving event in which a dozen patrons were given a watermelon and the tools to carve it at the bar and then specialty drinks were made from the innards.

Our friends Tom and Kristyn organized the event and I went to check it out and to take photos of the frivolity. It was great fun and so creative and interesting, the perfect example of our funky and fun artsy community here in Key West. The drinks were tasty as well. 

https://vimeo.com/859621055?mibextid=2JQ9oc&fbclid=IwAR1OxdY8hpku7T6ATgAj95EtFuyUOCAZY7hRyIJppC7Lm4VK-2MZMm4gwA0