A fellow blogger recently passed away, a life suddenly taken without warning. Today, I visited his blog to read a few of his posts. It’s haunting to realize that you’re reading the words of someone who has passed on. It’s also a very emotional experience. All of a sudden their words have a greater meaning.
The posts that made us laugh, make us laugh even harder. The ones that brought tears to our eyes, bring even more. We realize that each word was leading up to their final day, a day that they were unaware of when they wrote them.
A few months ago, a woman who had been struggling with the loss of her daughter, wrote a post. None of us knew that it would be her last. Perhaps she didn’t either. To look at it now, it’s heartbreaking to realize that the signs of what was to come were right there, right in front of us, yet we missed it.
We read the old posts from those who have passed on, whether through illness, tragedy, or their own hands, and we remember the special moments in their lives. Moments that we all had the privilege of experiencing with them. Experiences that were written to be shared with their family, and also to connect with a world of people who they would never meet.
Fellow bloggers, our friends, pass away but what they leave behind is priceless. They leave their life story to forever touch the hearts of their loved ones, including those who have yet to be born. Their words continue to teach, touch and inspire everyone who reads them, whether friend or stranger.
What we are doing is much more than typing on a keyboard. Essentially, we are writing our autobiography; a priceless gift to those we leave behind.
This is our voice when we no longer have one.
Me - Who am I? 
I know exactly what you mean, I was following a very sweet lady who lost her daughtet to suicide,and then she took her own life as well, just so unbelievabley tragic. Im sorry for loss of your friend.
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I think we’re talking about the same person. It was so tragic. The whole situation was. We followed so many months of her heartache, thinking (or at least I was) that she was slowly learning how to cope. Then she took her life and it was almost too much to grasp. So incredibly sad.
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Yes I think her name was Deborah but I may be mistaken. I know my heart broke for her husband and her other daughter
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The one I’m speaking of was named Rhonda, from “My Bright Shining Star”. (probably the same person still) Like you, I was so heartbroken for her family. She left a lasting mark on the world though, with her many posts and her book. I’m sure that her words will help others for years to come.
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Yes that is who I was thinking of!
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Thought so…
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Oh, awfully sorry for the loss you’re feeling with this. However, am very much impressed by your wise words…we are indeed creating the conversation of our lives on here……..
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Thank you. Creating a conversation of our lives…. that’s a great way to put it.
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A beautiful and touching post.
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Thank you.
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A beautiful tribute.
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Thank you.
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Sorry for your loss, Me Who. Always appreciate what we have while we have it. Sad lessons, this life provides us.
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Thank you, Mark. It is always a sad day when someone we know passes away. Life is indeed our greatest teacher.
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Very nice. 🙂
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Thank you, OM.
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Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
A touching post. Very nice writing. -OM
Note: Comments disabled here, please visit their blog.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, OM!
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Very well expressed.
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Thank you, George.
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You never know who.. when.. where can touch your heart… and influence you.. sorry for your loss..
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You are absolutely right about that. Anyone can make a difference in our lives. Sometimes all it takes is one word, one meeting or just one look to make a lasting impact on someone.
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Exactly. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known a person what matters is the connection between two people.. I lost one friend too. we didn’t know each other for long but i still miss her at times.
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Reblogged this on newauthoronline and commented:
Our words do indeed live on long after we are gone. A touching post. Kevin
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Thank you for the reblog and for your wonderful comment.
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Beautifully written –
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Thank you IW.
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You are welcome 🙂
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So I’m not the only one wanting to leave their mark on this world? Thank God I am not as nuts as I seem.
Jeanette Hall
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I think, whether we admit it or not, we all want to leave our mark. It’s wonderful knowing that we, or the life we lived, had a positive impact on others, even if it’s only one person.
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Very beautiful written and now I really feel like I have been almost away for a long while. If several left our world and I didn’t even know it… You expressed so amazing 🙂
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Thank you, Irene. It’s frightening how much can happen in a day, how a life can be taken in an instant.
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I agree so much. Will you be so kind to write who just left us, because I have been away and don’t know, if it was a friend? Just the blog name would help me. Thank you.
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It was Dave, from the blog “Grayson Queen.”
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Thank you.
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How very sad. What you say though is so beautiful and true. We leave something behind.
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Yes, we all do. This situation certainly makes me more aware of how my words may effect others.
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There is another blogger I was following and he suddenly disappeared. Well, the blog is still there but no activity at all. I’m a bit worried especially because one of his last posts was about being really sick and “coughing his lungs out”…
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Oh no. That is so frightening. Have you tried emailing him? If he has an email address that is. Many times people don’t. I too have noticed that someone I follow, who struggles with suicidal thoughts, has been missing for months now. It’s really unsettling when people suddenly disappear. I think, in order to keep people from worrying, we should all give a heads up if we’re going to stop blogging.
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I agree! Yes, I tried to get in touch and nothing. And that’s what worries me. I first thought that he got super busy with work or just lost interest in blogging. But no answer to my mail? I just keep my fingers crossed.
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That’s not good. I’ll keep my fingers crossed with you.
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Reblogged this on and commented:
Wow
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Thank you very much for the reblog.
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I struggle with these thoughts frequently. Only from the other end. Do I delete my blog so that my children have no record of my instability , or do I keep it so that my family understands if eventually I do not win the fight for my sanity.
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That’s certainly a different perspective and your concern is understandable. I’d have to say that it’s a personal choice, to do what you feel is best. Even though I’ve not been down that road, I think that I would appreciate the words of any of my loved ones regardless of their situation. With that said however, never give up. I’ve known people who didn’t think they’d make it another day, who now five years later have so much to live for and are so happy/relieved to still be here. One day at a time.
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Oh, lol. I’m not in any way giving up. And I haven’t been there in a long while. But it is still a worry for me in the long run.
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Oh! Whew! Good to hear. 🙂 I’m glad you haven’t been there in a while and hope that you never return to it.
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Beautiful. Truth. I’m sorry for your loss.
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Thank you very much.
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To be able to read what a loved one has written is so poignant after they have gone. I have an old very battered letter my dad sent me one summer I was away from home aged 15. He wrote a poem in it for me called ‘the homecoming’. It is worth more than I can ever pay to read it and know he sat and wrote it for me all those years ago.
My family rarely read my blog, I’m amused to imagine them appreciating it after I’m gone.
Sorry for the loss of your blogging buddies. It’s a strange loss to explain to someone who doesn’t blog.
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What a special gift. I’m sure at the time he wrote it, he would never have imagined that after all these years you still have it. It’s letters like those that are irreplaceable and hold so much meaning. It may be an amusing thought, but I am positive that they will appreciate your words more than you could possibly imagine. Sadly, words seem to have more meaning after death.
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So very true MeWhoAmI. Beautifully said. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. I had not heard of her blog before. I’ve ‘met’ people on blogs before and lost them to death. Even if we’ve not met them we do grieve the loss of them, their words. We look forward to them and when they are no longer a part of our world, we miss them. I love the tribute you wrote, and the following comments.
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As bloggers, although we may never meet, we still build bonds with one another. I believe that we are more to each other than words on a screen and when one of us passes away, it leaves a hole. No one can be replaced, neither in the real world or in the writing world. It’s comments like the ones here that make me appreciate our WP community even more.
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So well said MeWhoAmI. I can relate to what you say and appreciate it fully. I’m grateful others understand.
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I’m so very sorry to hear about this. It really is very tough to continue to move along and live life when you’ve been impacted by the words of someone who is no longer on earth. It really always keeps things in perspective, but in addition to that, it makes me have such gratitude for each and every moment spent on earth even when there are days with only sad or negative news. Each day I’m lucky and I’m aware of that. People really don’t understand how important they are to others until it’s sometimes too late to tell them. This is why I mean what I say when I say it to family & friends and think long before I express something. Sending you love and light!
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Excellent thoughts here. Thank you. You’re right that life is so precious. Each day and every moment that we get should be cherished. Every word spoken should be to love and to help, never to hurt. Our time can be over in an instant, and that is something that we should always be mindful of. Thank you again for your thoughtful comment.
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I’m sorry for your loss. I remember Rhonda often, and still find it hard to believe she’s gone.
Beautifully expressed, Mewhoami. Those last few lines are so very true.
Jennifer xo
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Thank you. She touched many of our lives. She was very sweet, with such a big heart and so much to give. She’ll never be forgotten and her words will live on.
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Thank you very much for today’s Friday Bouquet. I am truly honored. Also, I’m glad that this post touched you enough to share it with others.
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My pleasure! I try to remember to bookmark any posts that resonate with me. When I read and enjoyed your post the other day about why women wear makeup, I thought to throw you a bouquet for this one. 🙂
Jennifer x
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Reblogged this on Priya Jivrajani and commented:
This gave me a drop of tear in my eyes.! Yes, this is a bitter truth that death has no warning bells and realizing this fact gives tears in eyes. The words written or said, will live in memory only! 🙂
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Thank you for reblogging, Priiya. Death can happen at any moment and that is a sad fact of life. Therefore, we should cherish every moment and make each word count.
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Yes..true it is.!
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Such a touching tribute! 🙂
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Thank you. 🙂
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i agree with you about blogging and the community of support. The loss of a fellow blogger can be sad, indeed. Beautiful post!
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Thank you, April. It is sad, but when tragedies like this happen it is easy to see just how close of a community we all are.
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You remind me of what it was like to hear my father’s voice on his answering machine after he died.
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Aw, yes. I know exactly what you mean. That is one reason why technology has become such a great benefit. (Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I never saw this come up on my notifications.)
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Pingback: Friday Bouquet #24 | Jennifer's Journal
What a poignant topic! I come here today via Jennifer. ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you! Also, thank you so much for the visit. 🙂
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Thanks to jennifer, I am able to connect with your thoughts on losing a cyber friend, mewhoami. Any loss is diminishing, much more so of people close to us. The value of the written word is that it takes a life of its own after it is off one’s pen or keyboard. It is there for posterity…best wishes.. Raj.
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You are right about that. It does take a life of its own. Our words are so powerful and long-lasting. Thank you so much for your visit!
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“This is our voice when we no longer have one.” Nicely written, perfectly stated and i love your closing line. Your post has me thinking deeply. Thank you!
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Thank you. I’m glad that you enjoyed it and that you found it to be thought-provoking. Knowing that this is our voice when we’re gone is a big part of what inspires me to keep writing.
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I have not thought of that aspect of blogging, but you are exactly right. Once we are gone, our words are still here speaking!
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
Take a moment and read this post. Well written about a couple of our fellow bloggers that have passed on. This has me thinking.
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Thank you so very much for the reblog and for your kind words.
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It is my pleasure!
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Beautiful post, thank you very much for sharing it.
Lots to ponder upon!
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Thank you and you are very welcome. I’m so glad you stopped by.
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