on this last day of 2008...
*relieved (to finally be back home and have the house to ourselves)
*intense craving (for a return to "routine")
*exhausted (by the last month and a half)
*overwhelmed (by all that needs done in the next few weeks)
*sadness (that Rich is soon leaving for two weeks)
*dread (that Rich is soon leaving for two weeks)
*intimidated (by the number on Google Reader)
*calmed (by the sight outside the window--a beautiful eight inches of snow fell overnight and it's still coming down hard)
*worried (about how many times it will do that while Rich is gone)
*excited (by the thought of a new year--it just always feels like a new chance to do things better)
*extreme gratitude (for my life--just the way it is)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
needing a quick dose of good stuff...
Never in my life has the Christmas season been this totally out of hand. (Scheduling the end of a school quarter for this time of year was definitely a HUMUNGOUS mistake!) I seriously feel on the verge of a breakdown. And what does that call for? Yep, a look at all the good stuff of the past week.
*SNOW!!! 19 inches in the past 48 hrs., with another 12+ called for in the next day and a half! So even if a warm front appears out of nowhere, we should still have a buttload left to make sure it's a white Christmas. :)
*Annie finished her first college class! She should find out her grade in the next few days. (Unless she totally blew her final project, she'll probably receive an A- or B+.) So proud of her for giving it a try and for facing the challenges with a smile.
*Jean! Not only did she send me two cards that put huge smiles on my face, she also sent me A Taste of Earth and Other Legends of Vietnam by Thich Nhat Hanh. It looks wonderful! Thank you, Jean!
*Zanna's Gift by Orson Scott Card arrived in the mail while we were away for the day yesterday. I simply had to order it after reading Chris's wonderful review.
*Finally finished all the Christmas baking, and Annie delivered tins of cookies to all the neighbors on Friday.
I hate so very much that I haven't had time to visit everyone's blogs to see how everyone else is fairing. I miss you all so very much! Hope each and every one of you is having a beautiful holiday season!!!
*SNOW!!! 19 inches in the past 48 hrs., with another 12+ called for in the next day and a half! So even if a warm front appears out of nowhere, we should still have a buttload left to make sure it's a white Christmas. :)
*Annie finished her first college class! She should find out her grade in the next few days. (Unless she totally blew her final project, she'll probably receive an A- or B+.) So proud of her for giving it a try and for facing the challenges with a smile.
*Jean! Not only did she send me two cards that put huge smiles on my face, she also sent me A Taste of Earth and Other Legends of Vietnam by Thich Nhat Hanh. It looks wonderful! Thank you, Jean!
*Zanna's Gift by Orson Scott Card arrived in the mail while we were away for the day yesterday. I simply had to order it after reading Chris's wonderful review.
*Finally finished all the Christmas baking, and Annie delivered tins of cookies to all the neighbors on Friday.
I hate so very much that I haven't had time to visit everyone's blogs to see how everyone else is fairing. I miss you all so very much! Hope each and every one of you is having a beautiful holiday season!!!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Johnny Big Ears, The Feel-Good Friend...random thoughts
Johnny Big Ears, The Feel-Good Friend by John Paul Padilla
Me: So guys, what did you think of the book?
Gray: You mean like a rating?
Me: You could give me a rating, or you could just tell me what you thought about it.
Gray: Well, maybe a 3-. (That's out of 5.)
Max: Yeah, it's a medium book, I guess.
Me: Can you tell me anything you did like about it?
Gray: I don't know.
Me: Do you think it had a good message?
Gray: Yeah. Don't be mean to other people...
Max: Wait, what's a message?
Gray: You know, what's the book trying to tell you.
Max: Oh.
Me: I thought the message was also that we should always remember that we're special just the way we are.
Gray: And we should try to ignore it when other people say mean things about us. Like used to happen to me.
Me: Johnny Big Ears made it sound like it was easy to ignore when kids teased you...
Gray: Well it's not that easy.
Me: I know, sweetie, it isn't. But it is good to always remember how special you are no matter what other kids say.
Max: How come all the kids looked like teenagers when they're all in kindergarten?
Gray: Yeah, those kids look like they're thirteen or fourteen, not five.
Me: I can't argue with you guys there. So any other thoughts?
Max: Well, nothing happened.
Gray: Yeah, it really wasn't much of a story.
--And there you have it, as close to the exact words of our conversation as I can manage. As you can see, the boys didn't love the book. They didn't hate the book.
Personally, I hate to be too hard on a book that really does carry such a positive message, but I did have problems with it. For one thing, I simply couldn't figure out what age this book was directed at. It's about a little boy's first day in kindergarten (although as both Gray and Max said, the kids look more like 8th graders). The message is certainly appropriate for kindergartners, but the book seems far too wordy for most kids that young. And though the boys didn't seem to notice, I had big problems with the constant switching of the tenses. I'm not sure if it was deliberate or just poorly written. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I hate seeing bad examples of writing like that for children who are really just gaining steam in their own writing at this age.
Okay, as I said, I hate to be too hard on this book. If this book can help even one child see him/herself as special and unique just the way they are, then obviously it is truly a worthwhile book. I think that maybe as a mom of a little boy who has been bullied and teased, I was hoping for a little more substance. Oh let's be honest, I was daydreaming about it doing miracles...and that's a terribly unfair starting point to be judging a book from.
Me: So guys, what did you think of the book?
Gray: You mean like a rating?
Me: You could give me a rating, or you could just tell me what you thought about it.
Gray: Well, maybe a 3-. (That's out of 5.)
Max: Yeah, it's a medium book, I guess.
Me: Can you tell me anything you did like about it?
Gray: I don't know.
Me: Do you think it had a good message?
Gray: Yeah. Don't be mean to other people...
Max: Wait, what's a message?
Gray: You know, what's the book trying to tell you.
Max: Oh.
Me: I thought the message was also that we should always remember that we're special just the way we are.
Gray: And we should try to ignore it when other people say mean things about us. Like used to happen to me.
Me: Johnny Big Ears made it sound like it was easy to ignore when kids teased you...
Gray: Well it's not that easy.
Me: I know, sweetie, it isn't. But it is good to always remember how special you are no matter what other kids say.
Max: How come all the kids looked like teenagers when they're all in kindergarten?
Gray: Yeah, those kids look like they're thirteen or fourteen, not five.
Me: I can't argue with you guys there. So any other thoughts?
Max: Well, nothing happened.
Gray: Yeah, it really wasn't much of a story.
--And there you have it, as close to the exact words of our conversation as I can manage. As you can see, the boys didn't love the book. They didn't hate the book.
Personally, I hate to be too hard on a book that really does carry such a positive message, but I did have problems with it. For one thing, I simply couldn't figure out what age this book was directed at. It's about a little boy's first day in kindergarten (although as both Gray and Max said, the kids look more like 8th graders). The message is certainly appropriate for kindergartners, but the book seems far too wordy for most kids that young. And though the boys didn't seem to notice, I had big problems with the constant switching of the tenses. I'm not sure if it was deliberate or just poorly written. Maybe I'm being too picky, but I hate seeing bad examples of writing like that for children who are really just gaining steam in their own writing at this age.
Okay, as I said, I hate to be too hard on this book. If this book can help even one child see him/herself as special and unique just the way they are, then obviously it is truly a worthwhile book. I think that maybe as a mom of a little boy who has been bullied and teased, I was hoping for a little more substance. Oh let's be honest, I was daydreaming about it doing miracles...and that's a terribly unfair starting point to be judging a book from.
tis the season...
...for torturing one's animal friends by taking silly pictures of them.
(I'm hoping he won't hold a grudge for too long. After all, like I told him, that wasn't nearly as bad as the hot dog costume the kids wanted me to buy him at Halloween.)
...for Secret Santa fun.
(It seems my Secret Santa has chosen to remain anonymous, so I hope he/she reads this. My Secret Santa sent an adorable little snowman card with an assortment of mini pieces of scrapbook paper and some stickers. I had to make sure to snap a quick photo before the boys got home, as I strongly suspect my little Collage Master Max will soon claim these for his own. But that's okay, because I know he'll make me a wonderful masterpiece! :) Thank you very much, Secret Santa--whoever you are!)
...for incredibly thoughtful gifts from incredibly thoughtful friends!
(Yep, just look what the postman brought me today! Nymeth sent me The Best of John Bellairs, and she knew I would just love it! I've been wanting to read The House With a Clock in Its Walls ever since I first read her awesome review. In fact, I inter-library loaned it, but while Annie read it, I didn't have a chance to before I had to return it. Oh, I'm so excited to dive right in! But I think we're going to make this a family read. :) Even though Annie's read the first one, she hasn't read the next two...so I think this is going to be a treat for all five of us! Thank you, thank you, thank you Nymeth! I absolute adore it!)
...for baking cookies. And baking cookies. And baking cookies.
(I totally stole this cute idea from my sweet friend Dawn. This is cookie type #5 for the season. Just a few more kinds to go, then we'll be set for neighborhood deliveries.)
...for getting really, really, really far behind on blog reading. I've made myself stay off the computer for the past few days, just trying to get things done around here. Still not ready for Christmas, and now I'm missing out on how everyone else is doing. :(
I hope to just blow everything else off one of these evenings soon, and just catch up with everyone. Hope when I do, I find you're all having a truly fabulous holiday season!
(I'm hoping he won't hold a grudge for too long. After all, like I told him, that wasn't nearly as bad as the hot dog costume the kids wanted me to buy him at Halloween.)
...for Secret Santa fun.
(It seems my Secret Santa has chosen to remain anonymous, so I hope he/she reads this. My Secret Santa sent an adorable little snowman card with an assortment of mini pieces of scrapbook paper and some stickers. I had to make sure to snap a quick photo before the boys got home, as I strongly suspect my little Collage Master Max will soon claim these for his own. But that's okay, because I know he'll make me a wonderful masterpiece! :) Thank you very much, Secret Santa--whoever you are!)
...for incredibly thoughtful gifts from incredibly thoughtful friends!
(Yep, just look what the postman brought me today! Nymeth sent me The Best of John Bellairs, and she knew I would just love it! I've been wanting to read The House With a Clock in Its Walls ever since I first read her awesome review. In fact, I inter-library loaned it, but while Annie read it, I didn't have a chance to before I had to return it. Oh, I'm so excited to dive right in! But I think we're going to make this a family read. :) Even though Annie's read the first one, she hasn't read the next two...so I think this is going to be a treat for all five of us! Thank you, thank you, thank you Nymeth! I absolute adore it!)
...for baking cookies. And baking cookies. And baking cookies.
(I totally stole this cute idea from my sweet friend Dawn. This is cookie type #5 for the season. Just a few more kinds to go, then we'll be set for neighborhood deliveries.)
...for getting really, really, really far behind on blog reading. I've made myself stay off the computer for the past few days, just trying to get things done around here. Still not ready for Christmas, and now I'm missing out on how everyone else is doing. :(
I hope to just blow everything else off one of these evenings soon, and just catch up with everyone. Hope when I do, I find you're all having a truly fabulous holiday season!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
a bit of misinformation
Waaaaay back when I was in first grade, a couple of older girls tried to convince me that boys had cooties. Now these girls were wise and worldly, I mean we were talking third graders here! But to be perfectly honest, I always sort of doubted their claims. And over the years, I collected plenty of evidence to the contrary. In fact, I've pretty much learned that boys are really pretty cool.
Most recent check in the "boys are cool" column was added yesterday. Chris sent us a lovely package. Not only did he send a beautiful card with a handwritten note inside that makes me smile every time I think of it, but he sent Annie and I each an incredibly lovely gift. He sent me a beautiful monogram wax seal! I tried, but couldn't get a photo that came close to doing it justice. And he sent Annie a lovely little notebook. And a note that said he knew it wasn't big enough to hold her next novel, but maybe she could use it write short stories in. She's literally told me at least three times already that she can't wait to start her next short story, so she can use the notebook. Just look at that face, and try to tell me she doesn't absolutely love her gift:
Thank you so much Chris!
Most recent check in the "boys are cool" column was added yesterday. Chris sent us a lovely package. Not only did he send a beautiful card with a handwritten note inside that makes me smile every time I think of it, but he sent Annie and I each an incredibly lovely gift. He sent me a beautiful monogram wax seal! I tried, but couldn't get a photo that came close to doing it justice. And he sent Annie a lovely little notebook. And a note that said he knew it wasn't big enough to hold her next novel, but maybe she could use it write short stories in. She's literally told me at least three times already that she can't wait to start her next short story, so she can use the notebook. Just look at that face, and try to tell me she doesn't absolutely love her gift:
Thank you so much Chris!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
having a voice...
One of these days, I suspect someone is going to start screaming at me, telling me to "just shut up already" about my kids. But you know, I just can't help it...I think we may just be genetically predisposed to be proud of our offspring's every accomplishment. And right now I am feeling especially proud of Annie...
A little background: There's a park near here with a beautiful hiking trail. It's a wonderful place to view wildlife. A great birding spot, for one thing. Anyway, they've proposed greatly widening, and paving, the trail for biking. Now, I most certainly have nothing against bikes. We love riding our bikes. But there are already a multitude of biking trails in the area. So anyway, last night there was a town meeting to discuss the whole matter. Bottom line, if the town goes through with it, they're going to get sued anyway, because they're ignoring the Endangered Species Act (there are two threatened species that would be affected and the current plans don't take this into consideration). Anyway, none of that is really the point anyway.
The point is that Annie took part in the process. She was incredibly nervous, but she went to this meeting and spoke up anyway. She only talked for a couple of minutes, telling about one of the wonderful experiences she has had along the trail. She told about how one day she had the privilege of watching a snapping turtle laying its eggs right there on the trail itself. And she said how she would hate to have these kind of experiences taken away from her in the future. I didn't get to attend the meeting (too late for the boys, and probably way too much sitting still for them as well), but Rich said Annie did wonderfully. She came home so proud of herself for battling her nervousness, and with a big smile on her face told me of how everyone clapped when she finished speaking.
Way to go, Annie!
A little background: There's a park near here with a beautiful hiking trail. It's a wonderful place to view wildlife. A great birding spot, for one thing. Anyway, they've proposed greatly widening, and paving, the trail for biking. Now, I most certainly have nothing against bikes. We love riding our bikes. But there are already a multitude of biking trails in the area. So anyway, last night there was a town meeting to discuss the whole matter. Bottom line, if the town goes through with it, they're going to get sued anyway, because they're ignoring the Endangered Species Act (there are two threatened species that would be affected and the current plans don't take this into consideration). Anyway, none of that is really the point anyway.
The point is that Annie took part in the process. She was incredibly nervous, but she went to this meeting and spoke up anyway. She only talked for a couple of minutes, telling about one of the wonderful experiences she has had along the trail. She told about how one day she had the privilege of watching a snapping turtle laying its eggs right there on the trail itself. And she said how she would hate to have these kind of experiences taken away from her in the future. I didn't get to attend the meeting (too late for the boys, and probably way too much sitting still for them as well), but Rich said Annie did wonderfully. She came home so proud of herself for battling her nervousness, and with a big smile on her face told me of how everyone clapped when she finished speaking.
Way to go, Annie!
Monday, December 08, 2008
a couple of random observations on Christmas
Is there anything quite as cute as a kitty relaxing beneath the Christmas tree?
(Even if kitty looks a tad pissy over having his picture taken.)
*****
Is it just me, or do the nutcrackers on this year's US Christmas stamps look like thugs?
(Even if kitty looks a tad pissy over having his picture taken.)
*****
Is it just me, or do the nutcrackers on this year's US Christmas stamps look like thugs?
Sunday, December 07, 2008
talented ladies...
If you don't already know that Nymeth is one of the sweetest people on the planet, then you apparently live in a cave. Either that, or you're not a book blogger and have never made her acquaintance. And if you do read her blog, you also already know she's one very talented person. (Seriously, is there anyone who can write a more insightful, intelligent, downright eloquent book review than she can? I think not.) But her talents don't stop there. Just look at these beautiful bookmarks she sent to Annie and I for Christmas. And these photos don't even do them justice...they are just so gorgeous!
I think it was Chris who said before that we need to convince her to open an Etsy shop, and he was so right! Thank you again, Nymeth! So very, very, very much! Annie and I couldn't treasure them more!
*****
And speaking of talented people, I never had a chance to mention how Annie did with NaNoWriMo this year. Well, my silly little girl was disappointed in herself, because she only made it to a little over 45,000 words (her goal was 50,000). But considering that she wrote 15,000+ words during the first week of November before our computer crashed, and then started all over on a brand new novel on November 14th and got to 45,000+ words on that one, I'd say she did way better than okay!
*****
And one final thing for the evening, I know I'm supposed to be cutting way down on challenges, but there's a few I just HAD to join. (Okay, I'm sort of doing several more "unofficially" too, but we really don't need to go there, now do we.) First, of course, there's Annie's What's In A Name 2 Challenge. And there's J.Kaye's Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. And now Eva has gone and started a challenge that is IMPOSSIBLE for me to resist...The World Citizen Challenge.
I think it was Chris who said before that we need to convince her to open an Etsy shop, and he was so right! Thank you again, Nymeth! So very, very, very much! Annie and I couldn't treasure them more!
*****
And speaking of talented people, I never had a chance to mention how Annie did with NaNoWriMo this year. Well, my silly little girl was disappointed in herself, because she only made it to a little over 45,000 words (her goal was 50,000). But considering that she wrote 15,000+ words during the first week of November before our computer crashed, and then started all over on a brand new novel on November 14th and got to 45,000+ words on that one, I'd say she did way better than okay!
*****
And one final thing for the evening, I know I'm supposed to be cutting way down on challenges, but there's a few I just HAD to join. (Okay, I'm sort of doing several more "unofficially" too, but we really don't need to go there, now do we.) First, of course, there's Annie's What's In A Name 2 Challenge. And there's J.Kaye's Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge. And now Eva has gone and started a challenge that is IMPOSSIBLE for me to resist...The World Citizen Challenge.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Weekly Geeks...A Tribute to Dewey
I have to admit that the last couple days have been a fog. While I've been going around reading what everyone had to say about Dewey, for the most part I haven't been able to make myself comment. This loss is so profound, and dealing with it in private has been my choice. I think we all have to cope in our own ways, don't we?
But in truth, I haven't really been grieving in private. I've spent much of the past few days talking with Nymeth. She's one of the very best friends I have in all the world. And if that alone wasn't enough to make me turn to her right now, there's the fact that she loves Dewey like I love Dewey.
Forgive me if I ramble. I didn't know how to hop back into this world of blogging. I wanted things to be normal first. But things won't be normal. Well, at least not old normal. I suppose there will be a new normal. Yeah, see what I mean about rambling. Anyway, I thought Becky's idea about a Weekly Geeks tribute to Dewey was the perfect opportunity to rejoin the blogging world.
I first met Dewey barely more than a year ago, when she announced the first read-a-thon. I was immediately drawn to her. Her humor and her intelligence both drew me in and intimidated me. For a while I faithfully read her blog, participated in the first read-a-thon, signed up for her challenges. And while even then I admired her, I didn't really get to know her beyond her blog.
The hole that is left in the book blogging community is truly monumental! Frankly, it's hard to even imagine the vastness of her absence. But to be perfectly honest, I haven't been able to quite process that aspect of it yet. Right now my grief is so focused on Dewey the person, Dewey the friend, that I can't quite make it to Dewey the community builder yet.
See, somewhere along the line, we crossed the line from "blogging buddy" to "real friend". Maybe those aren't quite the right words. I actually do count all of my blogging buddies as friends. But I'm sure most everyone can understand what I mean when I say there's a small handful of people who end up meaning the world to you. Dewey was one of those people. I don't even remember how exactly the transition began. I guess through those practical-type e-mails, you know challenges and prizes and discussions about books. And somewhere along those e-mails became more personal. Sometimes just pure fun. Like the time we talked about chocolate. Turns out we're both "chocolate snobs" (her term). Sometimes they were much more personal. Sometimes they were just plain old "this is what's going on in my world today" type e-mails. Like the one she sent last Monday...where she just talked about managing to get her turkey at "just the right time" (after they dropped the price, but before they ran out) and about how she loved hosting Thanksgiving because she loved having the leftovers.
Nymeth and I were talking about (and I sincerely hope she doesn't mind me sharing this) how Dewey is still there in our homes. Seriously, how many of us have books in our home that are there because of Dewey?!! I'm sure if I gathered up all the books I'd bought because of her recommendations and reviews, I'd fill a nice-sized shelf. Books for pleasure, books for homeschooling, books I'm giving as gifts this Christmas. Not to mention e-mails that I'd never gotten around to deleting (for which I'm now quite grateful). I even found her on my Christmas shopping list yesterday when I went out to try to finish up my shopping (it said "Dewey--some REALLY GOOD organic dark chocolate...").
Oh my. I apologize. I know I'm far from eloquent in the best of times. And well, this has been rambling and possibly even incoherent. But it is heartfelt. And I hope Becky doesn't mind that I published this before Saturday, I just felt like I had to get it out.
Finally, I know there's a true anguish on all of our parts for Dewey's family. It's hard to comprehend their loss, which is obviously so much greater than any of ours. But I hope should her husband and son ever choose to read these tributes that it will give them a good feeling witnessing through our words how much joy Dewey brought to our lives.
But in truth, I haven't really been grieving in private. I've spent much of the past few days talking with Nymeth. She's one of the very best friends I have in all the world. And if that alone wasn't enough to make me turn to her right now, there's the fact that she loves Dewey like I love Dewey.
Forgive me if I ramble. I didn't know how to hop back into this world of blogging. I wanted things to be normal first. But things won't be normal. Well, at least not old normal. I suppose there will be a new normal. Yeah, see what I mean about rambling. Anyway, I thought Becky's idea about a Weekly Geeks tribute to Dewey was the perfect opportunity to rejoin the blogging world.
I first met Dewey barely more than a year ago, when she announced the first read-a-thon. I was immediately drawn to her. Her humor and her intelligence both drew me in and intimidated me. For a while I faithfully read her blog, participated in the first read-a-thon, signed up for her challenges. And while even then I admired her, I didn't really get to know her beyond her blog.
The hole that is left in the book blogging community is truly monumental! Frankly, it's hard to even imagine the vastness of her absence. But to be perfectly honest, I haven't been able to quite process that aspect of it yet. Right now my grief is so focused on Dewey the person, Dewey the friend, that I can't quite make it to Dewey the community builder yet.
See, somewhere along the line, we crossed the line from "blogging buddy" to "real friend". Maybe those aren't quite the right words. I actually do count all of my blogging buddies as friends. But I'm sure most everyone can understand what I mean when I say there's a small handful of people who end up meaning the world to you. Dewey was one of those people. I don't even remember how exactly the transition began. I guess through those practical-type e-mails, you know challenges and prizes and discussions about books. And somewhere along those e-mails became more personal. Sometimes just pure fun. Like the time we talked about chocolate. Turns out we're both "chocolate snobs" (her term). Sometimes they were much more personal. Sometimes they were just plain old "this is what's going on in my world today" type e-mails. Like the one she sent last Monday...where she just talked about managing to get her turkey at "just the right time" (after they dropped the price, but before they ran out) and about how she loved hosting Thanksgiving because she loved having the leftovers.
Nymeth and I were talking about (and I sincerely hope she doesn't mind me sharing this) how Dewey is still there in our homes. Seriously, how many of us have books in our home that are there because of Dewey?!! I'm sure if I gathered up all the books I'd bought because of her recommendations and reviews, I'd fill a nice-sized shelf. Books for pleasure, books for homeschooling, books I'm giving as gifts this Christmas. Not to mention e-mails that I'd never gotten around to deleting (for which I'm now quite grateful). I even found her on my Christmas shopping list yesterday when I went out to try to finish up my shopping (it said "Dewey--some REALLY GOOD organic dark chocolate...").
Oh my. I apologize. I know I'm far from eloquent in the best of times. And well, this has been rambling and possibly even incoherent. But it is heartfelt. And I hope Becky doesn't mind that I published this before Saturday, I just felt like I had to get it out.
Finally, I know there's a true anguish on all of our parts for Dewey's family. It's hard to comprehend their loss, which is obviously so much greater than any of ours. But I hope should her husband and son ever choose to read these tributes that it will give them a good feeling witnessing through our words how much joy Dewey brought to our lives.
Monday, December 01, 2008
this is real life
I can say for certain that I am not the only person currently sitting in a state of shock right now. I'm fairly sure I'm not the only person out here who simply has not been able to stop the steady flow of tears over the last hour.
Truly my heart is breaking for Dewey's husband and son. I honestly can't begin to comprehend how hard the last week must have been for them. It's so hard knowing there's nothing you can do to ease their pain.
And frankly, selfishly, it's hard knowing that Dewey is gone. This whole idea of IRL friend and on-line friend...well, it has never hit home harder how ridiculous those distinctions are. No, I've never met Dewey face-to-face. But in no way could I have considered her more of a friend if I had. For the past year plus, she's been such an important person to me. We all know what a wonderful place her blog is, and about all the fun "stuff" she puts together. Losing all of those things will make the book blogging place an entirely different world. But I know for me, and I suspect many others out here, it's so much more than that. My affection for Dewey only continued to grow as we became closer through e-mail. She was such a supportive, funny, caring person.
I just don't know how to say it, but Dewey was one of the truly "good people" out in the world. A generous, loving person if ever there was one, you know.
Anyway, I wasn't sure what to write here. But I couldn't let that stop me. I, along with so many others, will miss Dewey more than I know how to express.
I love you, Dewey!
Truly my heart is breaking for Dewey's husband and son. I honestly can't begin to comprehend how hard the last week must have been for them. It's so hard knowing there's nothing you can do to ease their pain.
And frankly, selfishly, it's hard knowing that Dewey is gone. This whole idea of IRL friend and on-line friend...well, it has never hit home harder how ridiculous those distinctions are. No, I've never met Dewey face-to-face. But in no way could I have considered her more of a friend if I had. For the past year plus, she's been such an important person to me. We all know what a wonderful place her blog is, and about all the fun "stuff" she puts together. Losing all of those things will make the book blogging place an entirely different world. But I know for me, and I suspect many others out here, it's so much more than that. My affection for Dewey only continued to grow as we became closer through e-mail. She was such a supportive, funny, caring person.
I just don't know how to say it, but Dewey was one of the truly "good people" out in the world. A generous, loving person if ever there was one, you know.
Anyway, I wasn't sure what to write here. But I couldn't let that stop me. I, along with so many others, will miss Dewey more than I know how to express.
I love you, Dewey!
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