Claire Ayoub Laughing at Things

Hearing about Nora Ephron’s death was the first time in nearly 10 years where I’ve felt a sense of paralyzing sadness. Last night, every piece of paper around me was unworthy to be written on. Every joke was tired or juvenile. Every character was bland or shallow. Nothing I wrote could come close to the innovative, honest, endlessly curious, snarky, and unstoppable genius that was Nora Ephron. 

It is truly the death of an icon. I would be a liar if I said my heart isn’t grieving. However, the loss of a hero is never a reason to stop creating. Today is not the day to cry about what has been and what will never be again. Today is not the day to crumble over the things we never said to her and the work we’ll never read. Today is not a day for “nevers,” it’s a day for looking forward at what shall be. 

Nora Ephron is dead and the world will never be the same. It will never be the same because she raised us to change it. 

I will always love you, Nora. Thank you for everything.