The day before yesterday a close family member died after a very short and completely unexpected health downturn. I wrote a long post about him, but I contemporaneously received a painful reminder about the perils of making personal revelations in the blogosphere, so at least for now that is all I am going to say here. I noticed this morning that I’ve posted mainly about violence and death over the last couple of days. For my own sake I’m going to try to lighten the mood here a little today. I know it is jarring to juxtapose facile humor with issues like the murder of a courageous journalist, and for that I apologize.
–Ann Bartow
That’s really difficult. I’m sorry.
Thanks. You remind me how many nice people there are in the blogosphere, and I really appreciate that.
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. You have my sympathies.
I’m sorry to hear it, too. It’s always bad, but when it’s sudden, it’s even harder to deal with.
Thank you, Kristina.
Thanks, too, Diane. I’m glad he didn’t suffer very long, but a chance to say goodbye, and thanks, and I’m sorry for the times I acted like a jerk, and I love you, sure would have been nice.
i finally signed up for a wordpress account so that i could tell you how much i respect and admire you and appreciate your blog. i’m sorry that you’re dealing with some painful stuff right now and that you weren’t able to get real closure with him. for what it’s worth though, you offer so much to your readers and we can sense your compassion and authenticity through your writing. i’m sure he knew what you would have said if you could.
my mentor died when i was twenty-four. she had been like a second mother to me since i was fifteen. she passed away suddenly (after a number of years of ovarian cancer and recovery and relapses, etc.) and i wasn’t able to say goodbye because i was out of town. in a way i’m grateful for that because sometimes i imagine that she’s still here and only as far away as the phone line. that i could call her if i wanted. not having that closure leaves her open to me somehow.
anyway, thinking good thoughts and sending them your way.
xoxo, jared
thanks, ms. jared. i will refrain from capitalization in this reply in your honor, though it is challenging my lawyer control freak impulses rather dramatically. :>) serously though, those are very kind words and they warm my sad, weepy soul.