In February 2011 Srooc Skytower was the trainer for a new class of SLCS trainees: Aero Bigboots, Abbie Bulloch, Alexis Neiers, JennylJameson, Jolene Piers, Kitten, LadyLoveCatnip, LegitAbby Resident, Lyric Lacourte & Nicole. We didn’t know it then, but we were lucky enough to be taught by an SLCS legend.
During my long hiatus away from SLCS Srooc’s fleshvatar passed away on 6 March 2014. When I later returned I discovered Facebook posts about the squad mourning her passing. The stadium at Cheertopia had been renamed “Srooc Skytower Memorial Stadium” and a memorial garden had been erected up on the 1st level of the stadium. The memorial garden honors Srooc, other cheerleaders, and SLCS friends who have passed.
- Srooc Skytower Memorial Stadium, Welcome Area: Cheertopia/80/113/1609
- Srooc Skytower Memorial Garden: Cheertopia/176/107/1609
Srooc Skytower Memorial Garden
Srooc Skytower Memorial Garden is a circular monument built on a Italian terrazzo floor of water-worn pebbles. Set in the floor are four parallel reflecting pools and a fifth moon pool. At the 12 o’clock position is a travertine plinth dedicated to Srooc. Surrounding it is a series of 12 marble plinths with the names of other Cheerleaders and SLCS Friends who have passed. The terrazzo monument is incised in a ring of birch trees.
At the time of this writing, the plinths, starting at 9 o’clock and going clockwise to 3 o’clock, read:
Shorahmin Femto, Friend of the Squad
Doc Wayward, Friend of the Squad
Lian Delwood, SLCS
Shelara Mills, SLCS
Tillie Haas, SLCS
Shyt3mptrist Resident, SLCS
Jenzzul Resident, SLCS
Srooc Skytower Memorial Garden
Those we love don’t go away
they walk with us everyday
still loved
still missed
Srooc Skytower, Sr. Co-Captain, SLCS
Parys Panache, SLCS
Py Loon, SLCS
Fjona Capalini, SLCS
Patio Plasma, Friend of the Squad
Lollyann Resident, Friend of the Squad
Daiseze Dahlstrom, SLCS
Nicole Smiley, SLCS
Katie Falconer (katieirish), SLCS
I’ve worn many hats and tried on many identities as an avatar. I’ve been young and I’ve been old. Skinny and full-figured. Black and white. And red and green. A cheerleader and a derby girl. A barista and a host. I’ve seen so much love and beauty, so much desire, so much hunger for love and connection in the virtual world. I’ve seen that hunger and need expressed in unhelpful and destructive ways. Ways that can make living in this world as frustrating as living in the first life we came from. I’m touched by the tiny acts of kindness that surround us every day. If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.
