I received some very bad news this morning. My dear friend, Elizabeth, has passed away. Although we have never personally met and have only spoken on the phone a few times, I feel as if I have known her forever and perhaps I have. I met Elizabeth on a Yahoo group about 3 years ago. We hit it off immediately and became like sisters. We were both only children. When the group dissolved, Elizabeth and I branched off and started our own group. I even surprised her by getting one of her favorite authors to join--Ellen Hopman, and she was so excited, but shortly after the group began, my dear friend participated less and less until she finally admitted that she had liver cancer. I know none of you knew this very special lady, but I will forever miss her. Sobeit, I think you are the only one who knew her.
It just makes you realize how strong the online friendships we develop can be. Everyone we meet comes into our lives for a reason, and we are blessed to have been touched by them. I still have our Yahoo group and still participate in the smoking cessation support group, but most of my postings nowadays are here on my blogs. I've made so many wonderful new friends here. I just want to take a moment to let each of you know how blessed I feel that you have come into my life.
We are expecting a snowstorm here today...well, actually it has already begun. My son has promised to show me how to take pictures and put them on the computer, so I hope to have some for you either later on or tomorrow. May you all have a blessed day. Thanks for being my friends.
Sorry to hear about your friend Elizabeth. Friends are friends, whether you ever meet them in person or not. When you share and care, that's how friendships are made! (oh oh, now I'm sounding like Dame Edna). Be safe during the snowstorm!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your friend. I met my very best friend online, and I can fully relate to the bond an online relationship can bring...
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you and to your friend and her family...
I did know Elizabeth online also and though we didn't have as close a relationship as you and her had, I did often 'bump' into her in cyber space. You are so right - close relationship do form online - these people we chat with may not be standing right in front of us but we can feel their souls reaching across space to us and vice versa. I am going to miss her a lot and I so sorry that she was called to pass over so soon. Her memory will remain with me always. I hope you find peace with this loss after a while but for now I respect your grieving and want you to know that we are there for you. You will be close in my thoughts throughout this Solstice and Yule season.
ReplyDeleteSobeit
Dear Mary,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss. It's amazing and beautiful that one can form a friendship..a bond with another individual, and yet never meet. You were blessed to be in each other's lives.
Hugs to you dear!
Sandra
I'm sorry for your loss...
ReplyDeleteYes, those of us who have been on line for some years, and in Groups, or Mailing Lists or blogs... are bound to have lost someone. And it is sad... Even though we may never have met the people, in Real Life.
Yes, the World Wide Net is an amazing thing! Allowing us to "travel" so far beyond our own personal life limits. And to meet so many amazing people, while doing so. I hope I never lose my amazement at this fact.
Hugs to you, Dear new Friend...
And have fun with taking photos of the storm... and learning to put them on your blog. :-) A wonderful new skill is soon to be yours. Thanks to your son.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your kind words. I did a lot of thinking last night and realized that she went so quickly, she really didn't suffer long. It's been barely two weeks since she got the diagnosis. I am also glad that we had a chance to speak to each other on the phone on Thanksgiving Day, and the last words we told each other were "I love you."
ReplyDeleteso sorry to hear that your friend has passed... it is always hard to lose someone dear yet especially hard at the holidays.... I am glad you realize the significance of your friends here and how we are hear for you... I likewise have been blessed with some truly wonderful encounters via blogland.... take care and have a very blessed yule.... and enjoy all that snow you are getting....
ReplyDeleteI am very sad to hear about your loss. My condolences to you and her family. =( You're right, just because a friendship blooms online does not make it any less real, important or fulfilling if both people are truly invested in the relationship.
ReplyDeleteBrighid's comfort and blessings to you all.
I'm saddened by your loss. I really have become so attached to these beautiful "faceless-names" in blog-land and on a few chats I participate in. There are so many wonderful hearts out there. I'm sure your friend thought so much of you as well.
ReplyDelete