My blog now has a title… thanks Teri!
It’s been a strange couple of days. As some of you will know, A member of Multiply, JohnOh, fondly known as Penguin by his many friends here, passed away yesterday. It was sudden and unexpected… he suffered a stroke at the weekend and was on a ventilator for a short while before it was turned off and he died peacefully.
Although I didn’t know him personally, I’d “seen him around” all over the place and knew him to be a funny, good-hearted, life-loving man, and I know he’s going to be sorely missed by many.
The news of his short illness and death left me profoundly saddened yesterday, which felt weird as, like I said, we weren’t connected friends here. But it made me think…
We all make connections, friends, acquaintances here, and they all have an impact on us, whether it be a small, relatively insignificant one, or something much deeper and more meaningful. When I first started blogging back in the old 360 days, most of my friends and colleagues “in real life” sort of thought I’d lost the plot ~ they didn’t get it at all. They just saw me “playing on the computer” and couldn’t correlate that with the notion that it was real people, just like me, that I was interacting with.
The news of John’s passing brought that home even more strongly to me than ever. John was a real man, who has left behind a grieving family and friends. He was as flesh and blood as I am. As you are, to me, also. I think part of my sadness and tears yesterday was for the grief of my friends here who were closely acquainted with JohnOh. It was almost tangible, with each post and tribute I read.
You are all very real people to me. When I visit your blog, note, guestbook, I don’t just see an avatar and background. I don’t just read the words you’ve written. I see you, the person, in my mind’s eye, sitting at a desk or table in front of your screen, just as I am now. And I can feel your personality. Just as with people I know in the flesh, I know you, too.
When someone here goes through a troubled time… that’s real.
When someone loses their job in this difficult economy… that’s real.
When someone has an illness… that’s real.
And when someone here dies… that’s real.
I guess what I’m stumbling around trying to say is, that while most of us may never meet face to face, you are all so much more than a two-dimensional entity to me. I think of you all as the people that you are, with your own individuality and personality, quirks and foibles, strengths and weaknesses, ups and downs. I have such a diverse and varied group of friends here and I enjoy every minute of the time I spend with you all.
You’re a great bunch of people. Real people.
Comments (5)
i remember then the penguin passed away…
Wow I am sorry to hear that. I didn’t know him, but my heart goes out to those who did. You are a real person to me too my dear. I love all of you as if you were my family!
@RingoBonzai - And I remember you commenting on Gator’s tribute blog to him… they were very close. You said something to the effect of that you could only wish that you were as respected and loved, and would be missed as much. Tell you something for nothing Z Man – you are, and you would be.
@kissmydragonflye - That’s the whole point Mel – we are that “family” to each other.
I panicked like fuck when I heard the news about M’Ply closing… not because I’m a huge blogger, but because of the friends I’ve made and LOVE. All this business you hear about “IRL” friends – there’s no difference to me. You’re just friends I haven’t met yet. 
*hugs*I hope you’re going to be around more often Mel – your presence was noticeably missing recently.
I figure if it does come to that the ones who don’t stay in contact in any way shape or form, then we don’t need them.