Sunday, April 13, 2014

Losing An Online Friend

My hobby of papercrafting has blessed me with many great friendships, some of which where I have been able to meet people in person and become best friends with and others where I only know them online. I hold these friendships dear. There are others that I would consider more acquaintances but still value their "friendship". I tend to marvel at the ability for people to bond so closely over a hobby.

This week I learned that one of my online papercrafting friends passed away suddenly and my heart pours out to her family and friends. I first became acquainted with Mary on the Cricut Messageboard, she and her daughter were both members of the board years ago and I think before I even joined the ranks of papercrafting fanatics.

Lunch with the Night Owl Mini-Me group 2013
We chatted on the message board back and forth with hundreds of others and Mary was part of the Night Owls group that bonded on the board and carried over to another site when the Cricut MB started having problems. This closely bonded group of ladies even made "mini me's" for each other and those mini-me's go on adventures with each other. I had the privilege of having lunch with the group twice thanks to Jann, she brought them along when we met up in Orlando. I am keeping the Night Owl group and Mary's family in my prayers as her passing is leaving a hole in their hearts right now. I know they are there to comfort each other and share in the good memories they have of Mary and somewhere up there Mary has to be smiling, looking over everyone and thinking "I AM LOVED!"

13 comments:

  1. This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Shirley for remembering Mary and what a sweet sweet person she was. She was very much loved by all and her sudden passing has truly left a giant hole in everyone's hearts. The Night Owls are grieving and shedding a lot of tears right now at the passing of our good friend. I am one of the lucky ones as I only live about 50 miles from her so was able to see her a little more often than others. I really cherish those memories. And yes, Mary was loved!!

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  2. I did not know Mary, but send my prayers & sympathy to all her family & friends.

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  3. My family does not understand the "cyber craft friend" relationship concept. I have several wonderful cyber friends that I have never met in person and would be devastated if something happened to them!! HUGS and prayers to you, the Night Owls and Mary's family!

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  4. Thanks Okie, we Night Owls miss Mary dearly and thank you for remembering her.

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  5. OH OKIE YOUR HEART IS SO GOOD; ..OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IS ENDLESS ...I REMEMBER YEARS AGO SITTING AND CRYING WHEN YOU LOST YOUR BEST FOUR LEGGED FRIEND;;;I FORGET IT'S NAME ;;;; AS I'M 84 I KNOW MY MEETING YOU OR MY NIGHT OWLS IS VERY SLIM.. BUT THE LORD SMILED ON ME AND SENT A OWL AND HER BABY FOR ME TO SEE ==I SO ENJOYED THAT VISIT !!MARY WAS A BEAUTIFUL AND FUN LOVING LADY.... I LOVE MY NIGHT OWLIE FRIENDS THEY ARE MY GIRLS OF MY HEART...THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND ALSO.. I DON'T THINK ANYONE OF YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU FILL MY LIFE... HUG LUCY AND THAT ROTTEN PUP FOR ME...

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  6. OKIE YOU'R A VERY SPECIAL PERSON....THANK YOU== MY OWLIE AND FACE BOOK FRIENDS ARE THE BEST

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  7. Okie, this is so sweet. I love my cyber crafting friends!!! I'm keeping Mary's family and friends on my prayer list!

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  8. Okie, thank you so much for posting this, and remembering Mary. Mary was truly a special friend to me. I am one of the Night Owls and her friendship has meant everything to me. I miss her so much. This is such a great loss and heartbreak as she touched so many lives. Thank you again.

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  9. Thank you Shirley and to those of you who have commented. I so appreciate this tribute to my momma! She loved her friends and together we formed many "online" friendships that truly were real and in many case became real life friends. I am so touched to see how much my mom was loved and appreciate the support I have received after her tragic passing. Love you all so much! Momma would be so proud!

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  10. Okie, Mary will indeed leave a big hole in the hearts of all the night owls. Glad I got to have lunch with you and hope we meet in person sometime too. This truly reminds me of how much I need to get back in touch with my friends! They've helped me through a lot and I miss them now so much....

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  11. Shirley, thanks you so much. I am the mini me under the one wearing the mickey hat which would be Jann whom you had lunch with!!
    Mary is the one to Jann's left. This is a wonderful tribute. Thank you for keeping not only Siobhan and her family in your prayers but also our Night Owl group.
    We started as an online group but many of us get to met each other once a year and some more often. Like you said our lives our so enriched by our friends, online or in person and Mary was one of the most special!!!!!

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