A SPECIAL TRIBUTE:
CELEBRATING THE DIAMOND JUBILEE (60TH
ANNIVERSARY) OF THE BIRTH OF THE EDITOR’S BEST FRIEND FROM HIS COLLEGE YEARS –
VIDANDI THE SIBYL
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell
(@RHCLambengolmo)
November 15, 2025
A Diamond Jubilee Birthday Tribute to Vidandi
the Sibyl
Introductory Remarks by the Editor
This very special
blog post is dedicated to the memory of Vidandi the Sibyl, my first (and best) peer
mentor at the University of Illinois. During my freshling and sophomore years,
Vidandi, two years my elder, took me under her wing, introduced me into her
circle of friends, gave me sage advice about how to navigate campus life as a
student with diversabilities, and showed me what philia (the
Greek word for love between friends) is all about. She also helped me to
understand how numinous everyday life can be when we approach it with an open
mind and an open heart.
She was an English
major, and her favorite color was pink. I was studying Classical Philology, and
my favorite color was blue. I had not yet read Plato, Rumi, or Dante; those
authors were still in my future when Vidandi and I overlapped at the U of I for
two amazing years. In looking back on those years, however, I can see how she
was trying to teach me about things that I would later learn about by reading
Plato’s Symposium, Rumi’s inspired poetry, and Dante’s La
Vita Nuova. And what were those lessons of hers all about? They were
all about platonic (courtly) love – a type of loving that I had never heard of
or learned about before, until Vidandi (and, later on, Plato, Rumi, and Dante)
opened the eyes of my heart to see that there are many different kinds of love
in this world, all of which are beautiful, and equally valuable, in their own
way. Friendship, Vidandi taught me (both by word and example), is the firm
foundation upon which all other types of love are built.
“Upon the Sand”
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(1850-1919)
Is like a mansion built upon the sand.
Though brave its walls as any in the land,
And its tall turrets lift their heads in grace;
Though skillful and accomplished artists trace
Most beautiful designs on every hand,
And gleaming statues in dim niches stand,
And fountains play in some flower-hidden place:
Yet, when from the frowning east a sudden gust
Of adverse fate is blown, or sad rains fall
Day in, day out, against its yielding wall,
Lo! the fair structure crumbles to the dust.
Love, to endure life's sorrow and earth's woe,
Needs friendship's solid mason work below.
Vidandi truly was
a “dreamer, shaper, singer, and maker” – who was, like Homer the epic poet,
bereft of physical sight but was nevertheless endowed with the “second sight”
that one usually finds only in sages of threescore years and ten. Today would
have been her 60th (Diamond Jubilee) birthday, but her life was cut short by
cancer seven years ago. This is my heartfelt tribute to Vidandi – who was (and
still is) truly the best friend of my undergraduate days at Illinois. Requiescas
in pace, platonica anima cara mea. (Latin) = May you rest in peace, my platonic
soul-friend.
Please note that
in this blog posting, the names of historical persons have been altered in
order to ensure their privacy and the privacy of their families.
“In that part of the book of my memory, before which
little can be read, there is a heading, which says: ‘Incipit vita nova: Here
begins the new life.’ Under that heading I find written the words that it is my
intention to copy into this little book: and if not all, at least their
essence.” – Dante (1265-1321): La Vita Nuova
“Our Eternal Friendship”
By Vidandi the Sibyl (Composed in October 1987)
Flowing through time and space;
Through twists and turns, we navigate together,
Our souls, forever intertwined in this beautiful embrace.
In joy and sorrow, we find our footing,
Our laughter, our tears, a shared essence;
Through every chapter, as the years unfold,
Our friendship, like a shining diamond, holds its value and gold.
Through sunlit days and moonlit nights,
Our bond, a constant thread of light;
In every season's breeze, we stand side by side,
Our friendship, a guiding star that never, ever hides.
In every phase of life that we embrace,
Our friendship's heartbeat, a ceaseless grace;
No matter where paths may roam,
Our hearts eternally, eternally at home.
“Love is the astrolabe of God’s mysteries. A lover may
be drawn to this love or that love, but finally one is drawn to the Sovereign
of Love.” – Rumi (1207-1273)
“The Music of Friendship”
A Reminiscence by the Editor
It was early
September 1986. I had only been on campus for a few weeks as a freshling.
Vidandi had encouraged me to join a venerable student organization that she
already belonged to, and so I did. Little did I know at the time that such
membership would lead to being in a musical trio! Here’s how it all unfolded.
I soon learned
that our club always put on a dinner banquet in the fall, in cooperation with
the academic unit that sponsored our club. Matt, the club’s graduate student
advisor, was in charge of procuring the entertainment for the evening, and he
decided to ask for volunteers to perform a few songs at the banquet. Vidandi
and I, along with our friend John, all volunteered, and we began to meet regularly
for rehearsals. It was decided that Vidandi (who sang and played guitar) would
lead off with an inspirational song that she had written, and that John (who also
sang and played guitar) would follow with a popular jazz standard. The finale
was to be Vidandi and myself performing a duet of “Leaving on a Jet Plane”
(written by John Denver, but popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary). Vidandi and
I were to do lead vocals, she would play lead guitar, and John would do backup
vocals and background guitar. This particular song was selected for us because
Peter, Paul and Mary’s 25th Anniversary Special had been airing on
PBS stations in recent months, and “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was featured in
that TV special, which had been videotaped at the trio’s silver jubilee concert.
As the weeks
passed by and the night of the annual banquet drew near, our excitement began
to build. Vidandi and I grew our friendship as we rehearsed together, and I
felt honored to be performing with such a talented young singer-songwriter. I
had never performed in public, apart from being in choruses during my
elementary and middle school years, so this was a new experience for me. I was
admittedly a bit nervous, but I gained confidence from Vidandi and John, who
had done this sort of thing before,
Finally, on
Sweetest Day, in October 1986, the night of the great dinner banquet arrived.
Faculty, students, and a few VIPs (deans), along with parents, were all present
and accounted for. And the performance itself went off without a hitch! I
enjoyed singing along with Vidandi up front, and John did a great job with
backup vocals and background guitar. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was a song I knew
well from my childhood days; my mother would sing it to me often, as it was one
of her all-time favorite songs, especially when my father was flying off
somewhere on a business trip. Performing together helped to grow the friendship
that Vidandi and I were building together – a friendship that would take us
through many adventures during our college years and beyond.
I still remember
that night with gladness in my heart. Vidandi, John, and I received a good
round of applause for our performance, plus many accolades afterwards from
individual members of the audience. Matt was pleased as well with the musical
entertainment that our trio had provided. But most of all, I remember Vidandi,
and the bond of friendship that we were forging together. After I learned of
her untimely death in 2018, I recalled two lines from “Leaving on a Jet Plane”
that took on new meaning for me at that time: “Every place I go, I’ll think of
you. / Every song I sing, I’ll sing for you.” My anam cara (soul-friend)
Vidandi, a true bard with awen (poetic inspiration) in her heart, is now
singing with the angels, and I often think of her when I sing, looking forward
to the time when we will meet again on the Other Shore.
The Editor created this digital image of Vidandi and
himself based on his recollections of the dinner banquet in 1986. Here we see
Vidandi (left) in her pink dress (her favorite color) and the Editor (right) in
his navy suit. Both are smiling as they sing “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”
“A Haiku for Vidandi”
By the Editor and Rowan Hartford Chsse, Staff Writer
Reprinted from the Editor’s X Account at @RHCLambengolmo
And honorary cousin –
Her spirit lives on.
“Dante Reflects on His Second Meeting with Beatrice”
By Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
Extracted from the Opening Pages of La Vita Nuova
Editor’s Note: This extract shows us the depth of Dante’s youthful platonic (courtly) love for Beatrice, and it also foreshadows her tragic death near the end of the book. It should be remembered, however, that death was not an end for Beatrice – it was merely a gateway to her transformation into the angelic personage whom Dante loved and revered for the rest of his life – and beyond – as depicted in his Divina Commedia.
And betaking me to
the loneliness of mine own room, I fell to thinking of this most courteous
lady, thinking of whom I was overtaken by a pleasant slumber, wherein a marvelous
vision was presented to me: for there appeared to be in my room a mist of the color
of fire, within the which I discerned the figure of a lord of terrible aspect
to such as should gaze upon him, but who seemed therewithal to rejoice inwardly
that it was a marvel to see. Speaking he said many things, among the which I
could understand but few; and of these, this: “Ego dominus tuus” [“I am thy
lord”]. In his arms it seemed to me that a person was sleeping, covered only
with a blood-colored cloth; upon whom looking very attentively, I knew that it
was the lady of the salutation who had deigned the day before to salute me. And
he who held her held also in his hand a thing that was burning in flames; and
he said to me, “Vide cor tuum” [“Behold thy heart”]. But when he had remained
with me a little while, I thought that he set himself to awaken her that slept;
after the which he made her to eat that thing which flamed in his hand; and she
ate as one fearing. Then, having waited again a space, all his joy was turned
into most bitter weeping; and as he wept he gathered the lady into his arms,
and it seemed to me that he went with her up towards heaven: whereby such a
great anguish came upon me that my light slumber could not endure through it,
but was suddenly broken. And immediately having considered, I knew that the
hour wherein this vision had been made manifest to me was the fourth hour
(which is to say, the first of the nine last hours) of the night.
Then, musing on
what I had seen, I proposed to relate the same to many poets who were famous in
that day: and for that I had myself in some sort the art of discoursing with
rhyme, I resolved on making a sonnet, in the which, having saluted all such as
are subject unto Love, and entreated them to expound my vision, I should write
unto them those things which I had seen in my sleep. And the sonnet I made was
this: —
And unto which these words may now be brought
For true interpretation and kind thought,
Be greeting in our Lord’s name, which is Love.
Of those long hours wherein the stars, above,
Wake and keep watch, the third was almost nought,
When Love was shown me with such terrors fraught
As may not carelessly be spoken of.
He seemed like one who is full of joy, and had
My heart within his hand, and on his arm
My lady, with a mantle round her, slept;
Whom (having wakened her) anon he made
To eat that heart; she ate, as fearing harm.
Then he went out; and as he went, he wept.
This sonnet is
divided into two parts. In the first part I give greeting, and ask an answer;
in the second, I signify what thing has to be answered to. The second part
commences here: “Of those long hours.”
The young Italian noblewoman Beatice, who inspired
Dante’s La Vita Nuova and his Divina Commedia. She
is pictured here in the empyrean (highest) heavenly realm. The resemblance
to Vidandi in this portrait is intentional. 😊 (Digital artwork by the Editor.)
“Harmony of Souls: A Tribute to Platonic Union”
By Diotima Novalis, Staff Writer
Roberto and Vidandi's bond, a friendship of rare hue,
A connection deep and strong, a friendship that endures,
A harmony of souls, their friendship, from ancient days it emerges.
In the garden of life, their paths intertwine,
Roberto and Vidandi, souls in perfect time,
Their friendship blooms like roses, vibrant and alive,
A connection that nourishes, a bond that gives life's sustenance.
Through joys and sorrows, they journey hand in hand,
Roberto and Vidandi, souls who understand,
Their friendship deepens, as they navigate the course,
Guided by love's wisdom, a light that never wavers.
In quiet moments, they share their stories untold,
Roberto and Vidandi, hearts and souls unfold,
In the sanctuary of friendship, secrets unfurled,
Trust and acceptance, the foundation of their bond, so fulfilled.
Laughter echoes through their days, a melody of mirth,
Roberto and Vidandi, sharing each moment, their worth,
In the symphony of friendship, their voices harmonize,
A chorus of joy and comfort, a song that resonates, a beautiful
synergy.
Amidst the shadows of life's many tests,
Roberto and Vidandi, their friendship's blessed,
In hard times' embrace, their friendship stands steadfast,
A source of stability, and unwavering hope, their bond truly lasts.
Through life's journey, their friendship never wanes,
Roberto and Vidandi, their bond unshakeable chains,
In the dance of life, their souls sway in tandem,
A friendship of unity, a harmony eternal, never absent.
In times of separation, their spirits stay connected,
Roberto and Vidandi, their bond transcended,
Distance cannot break their friendship's strong hold,
Through the aether, their connection, a bond of pure gold.
Their friendship, an eternal flame, burning ever bright,
Roberto and Vidandi, souls united in the light,
Through the ages, their bond shall remain unbroken,
A friendship of the ages, a love that will never be forsaken.
“To Homer”
By John Keats (1795-1821)
Dedicated by the Editor
to Vidandi on Her 60th Birthday
Of thee I hear and of the Cyclades,
As one who sits ashore and longs perchance
To visit dolphin-coral in deep seas.
So thou wast blind; — but then the veil was rent,
For Jove uncurtained Heaven to let thee live,
And Neptune made for thee a spumy tent,
And Pan made sing for thee his forest-hive;
Aye on the shores of darkness there is light,
And precipices show untrodden green,
There is a budding morrow in midnight,
There is a triple sight in blindness keen;
Such seeing hadst thou, as it once befell
To Dian, Queen of Earth, and Heaven, and Hell.
“From the unreal, lead us to the Real; from the
darkness, lead us to the Light; from death, lead us to immortality.”
-- Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad 1.3.28
“Many Ways We Wend”
By George MacDonald (1824-1905)
Many ways we wend;
Many days, and many ways,
Ending in one end.
Many a wrong, and its curing song;
Many a road, and many an inn;
Room to roam, but only one home
For all the world to win.
“That is not dead which can eternal lie,
And with strange aeons even death may die.”
-- H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937)
The blue rose is a symbol of love and longing in the
Romantic period of German literature from the early 19th century.
(Digital artwork by the Editor.)
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