Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

“woke” is the new caravan.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Second rate reporter says what?

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

He really is that stupid.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

You are here: Home / Absent Friends / Rest in Peace Commenter Emerald. May Her Memory Be a Blessing!

Rest in Peace Commenter Emerald. May Her Memory Be a Blessing!

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The sister of the commenter who went by Emerald posted this as a comment in Cole’s post:

I hope this is the right place to put this. I’m not familiar with this site. I’m fulfilling one of my sister’s last wishes to post her last message here.

Dear friends of my sister “Emerald” (her real name was Monica D. Wyatt, Ph.D.) I’m sorry to report that she passed away on September 6th, 2023. I’m also sorry it has taken 2 months for me to get to this. It’s been tough. She didn’t want anyone to know that she had fatal ALS disease.
I was her caregiver for 2+ years. She was our Dad’s caregiver for many years until he passed from complications of Parkinson’s disease in 2012. She wrote this:
Monica earned a Ph.D from The University of Georgia in Reading Education and taught at Northern Illinois University. She participated in theater for about 20 years. She never found the time to read all the books she hoped to read, but got enjoyed quite a few, including all of Dickens. Her name is inscribed on the Perseverance Rover and will remain on Mars for a billion years. She loved cats! She passed due to complications of ALS disease but insists that she is now dancing. Peace to you all.

On behalf of all the other front pagers, all of our commenters, lurkers, and readers I want to extend our sincerest condolences to Dr. Wyatt’s family. May her memory be a blessing.

Reader Interactions

69Comments

  2. 2.

    Nukular Biskits

    Her name is inscribed on the Perseverance Rover and will remain on Mars for a billion years.

    I realize this is probably a small thing, given all the other accomplishments, friendships, etc, that was the life that passed, but this is super cool.

  3. 3.

    sralloway

    I’m sorry for your loss. Four hours ago my nephew called me to let me know my sister died at 7:15 pm. I am having difficulties with all the sad news of late. My best to you at this tough time.

  4. 4.

    NaijaGal

    Condolences on your loss, Emerald’s sister. Thank you for being a wonderful caregiver and for honoring her wishes for her last BJ post. I hope that you do come back from time to time to let us know how you’re doing.

  10. 10.

    Alison Rose

    A reply comment on Cole’s post linked to a post from a few years ago where Emerald talked about her love of Dickens, and said this in response to someone:

    Highly worth the time though! Go and read just the description of the fog at the beginning of Bleak House. Head spinning stuff!

    Bleak House is my favorite Dickens novel of the (I think) seven books of his I’ve read, and I agree wholeheartedly with this comment about the beginning. When I picked that one up, I was a bit intimidated because it is quite long, but immediately, within the first page, I was sucked right in by just how wonderfully Dickensian it was.

    She had good taste!

  17. 17.

    SpaceUnit

    Let’s do a BJ meetup in the next life.  I’ll buy the first round.

     

    Assuming my debit card works there.

    ETA:  I’ll even pop for a veggie tray.

  18. 18.

    Hoppie

    Blessings to her.  We cared for Ms  Hoppie’s  aunt who had PD and it’s a tough one. May her spirit live on in someone she touched.

  19. 19.

    Ohio Mom

    My deepest condolences to Emerald’s sister, family and friends.

    I don’t have the skill of others when it comes to googling old comments but I did find this one from Emerald in this post about Dobbs:

    FiGHT BACK by MisterDancer

    104.
    Emerald
    JUNE 24, 2022 AT 8:05 PM
    I’m against violence, but would throwing rotten tomatoes at them really be violence? Rotten tomatoes are not lethal or even dangerous. They’re just unpleasant when they land on you. Or maybe mashed potatoes? Anyway, something squishy and messy. Especially if you see them in a restaurant or, say, anywhere in public.

    Clearly, a very sweet sense of humor has left the planet.

  20. 20.

    KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))

    @sralloway: I came here to express sympathy to Emerald’s sister, and I see your fresh loss. I’m so sorry for both your losses. A sister is a precious thing. They know our secrets (well, sometimes they just think they do) and they share our history. I know this is a hard time. I’ll be thinking of both of you tonight.

  25. 25.

    Gretchen

    Condolences to Emerald’s sister. I lost my dear Uncle Larry to ALS. I hope they’re both dancing in heaven.

  27. 27.

    stinger

    Emerald’s sister: I am so sorry to hear of your sister’s passing. I lost my father to ALS many years ago. Emerald was a valued commenter here, and Monica sounds like a wonderful person. Sincerest condolences on your loss.

  28. 28.

    stinger

    @sralloway: Please accept my sympathies on the death of your sister. I can’t imagine how different your world must look right now. Thank you for telling us.

  29. 29.

    brendancalling

    I didn’t know Emerald, but I wish her safe travels. If she was a jackal, she was OK in my book.

  31. 31.

    Yutsano

    Now when we look at Mars there will be a small glint of green for Emerald. Much love and healing light to those who have had profound loss.

  33. 33.

    Anne Laurie

    Condolences to you and the rest of her family, Emerald’s sister. May the thought of her soon bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eyes…

  35. 35.

    LesGS

    • @Ohio Mom: Thanks for finding this snippet of Emerald’s voice. SO jackalian.
    • So sorry for the loss of your sisters, Emerald’s sib and sralloway.
    • Our siblings make us so much of who we are.
  36. 36.

    TriassicSands

    What terrible news. My deepest condolences to all her family and friends. ALS is among the cruelest of diseases. I had two relatives — my great aunt and her son — who succumbed to ALS. I never knew him, but I met him once after symptoms had set in and it was very sad. The thought that Emerald had ALS makes me very sad.

  37. 37.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    My condolences to Emerald’s sister and family, she will be missed by all. That her name is on the Rover is beyond cool. Rest in peace, Emerald. I want to add that it is appreciated that she was able to find a way to let us know that she has departed. Thank you very much.

    @sralloway:

    My condolences to you for your and your family’s loss. I lost a brother 10 years ago and it hurts to this day.

  38. 38.

    kalakal

    My deepest condolences to Emerald’s sister and family. I truly hope you find joy in your memories of her

    @sralloway: My condolences also to you and your family, it’s awful right now but I hope when you think of your sister in the future you smile

  41. 41.

    divF

    In Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea universe, everyone has two names: a public use name, and a true name. The latter is given to you at puberty and is known only to at most a few trusted friends, since knowledge of someone’s  true name gives you power over them. At death, though, your true name becomes known publicly.  You can become fully known to the world, because in death, you have gone beyond the world’s power.
    We have a similar ritual / practice here, in which we have use names – nyms – and our true names are revealed at death so that we can celebrate our brothers and sisters fully one last time.
    So farewell Emerald / Monica D. Wyatt. I am happy to have known you, and may your memory be a blessing.

  42. 42.

    Anne Laurie

    @sralloway: Four hours ago my nephew called me to let me know my sister died at 7:15 pm. I am having difficulties with all the sad news of late.

    For what it’s worth, you are certainly not alone.  Condolences to you, and to your family.

  46. 46.

    Betty Cracker

     

    Rest in peace, Dr. Wyatt and sralloway’s sister, and condolences to their siblings. Sisters are irreplaceable.

    @Yutsano:

    Now when we look at Mars there will be a small glint of green for Emerald.

    So beautifully said!

  47. 47.

    JPL

    @sralloway:  I’m so sorry for your loss and we’ll all be thinking of you during this difficult time.

    Adam, Thank you for sharing with us the death of Monica/Emerald and may she RIP.

  49. 49.

    Spanish Moss

    My condolences, Emerald’s sister and @sralloway. Your sad news made me think of an article I read in The Atlantic, entitled The Longest Relationships of Our Lives. Here is a snippet from the conclusion:

    … for a lot of people, sibling bonds are the longest relationships of our lives. We know siblings before we meet our partners (and before we have our own kids), and we’ll know them after our parents die. “I tell my students this all the time,” said Van Volkom, the Monmouth psychologist. “There’s only one person who’s been there from the beginning. Not my friends, not my spouse, not anybody but my sibling.” Siblings are a living part of someone’s history and a form of memory that lives outside of ourselves.

    I am so sorry for your loss.

  50. 50.

    lowtechcyclist

    I do believe that in the next life, we will all take part in a greater, more marvelous dance than anything we could imagine in this life, and so I believe that Monica Wyatt, whom we knew as Emerald, is shining in that dance already, now that her earthly ALS-afflicted body has been left behind.

    To Monica’s sister, I know that the loss of someone so close to you is difficult to bear, but I hope that thought gives you comfort.  Blessings on you for having done so much for her during these past few years.

    I have read a couple of Dickens’ novels along the way. I haven’t read Bleak House, though(with a title like that, it’s hardly the first one most of us would reach for!), so I will now read it in her memory.

    And sralloway, I want you to know that my thoughts are with you in this difficult time.  May her memory be a blessing to you in the days ahead.​
    ​
    ​

  52. 52.

    zhena gogolia

    Oh, I am so sorry. I very much enjoyed Dr. Wyatt’s comments here. She will be sorely missed.

    Thank you so much for letting us know.

  54. 54.

    mg_65

    I am so sorry for this loss. My condolences to Dr. Wyatt’s faniliy and may her memory be for a blessing.

  55. 55.

    BruceFromOhio

    Take me now back to the earth
    from which we spring and then return.
    I shall cross over, now it is my turn.
    I am not afraid, remember me.

    May you dance in the Summerlands, Emerald.

    As said elsewhere, will remember her whenever Mars visits the night skies.

  56. 56.

    Ben Cisco

    Condolences to the Emerald family on her loss.

    @sralloway: Condolences to you and your family on the loss of your sister.

    @Ohio Mom: I hope this isn’t out of line…

    I’m against violence, but would throwing rotten tomatoes at them really be violence?

    In Emerald’s honor, nominated.

  57. 57.

    Honus

    I’m sorry to hear about Emerald and sending love to all.  ALS has taken some beautiful people in the past few years.

  58. 58.

    NetheadJay

    Condolences to Emerald’s sister and and family. ALS is a tough disease, I know someone who’s dealing with as caregiver for family.

    And condolences to you too @sralloway

  59. 59.

    Miss Bianca

    @sralloway: My condolences to you and to Emerald’s sister and family.

    Losing my favorite sister has been hard on me over these past two  years, so believe me…I feel you both.

  60. 60.

    raven

    I’m so sorry to read this. My doctorate from UGA is in Adult Education with and emphasis on adult literacy and I took several courses in reading ed. I’m sure Emerald’s work was before mine but I’m sure she was top notch.

  61. 61.

    StringOnAStick

    I wish peace to Emerald’s family after her loss and after such a difficult time.  I’d like to thank her sister for letting us know we hadn’t seen her voice here.

  63. 63.

    Torrey

    To both Emerald’s sister (“Emerald” is a lovely nym, and, from the picture on her obituary page, I think it fit Dr. Wyatt wonderfully) and to @sralloway, I am so very, very sorry for your losses. As usual, I am late to the thread, and everyone else has said all the things, so I will just reiterate that our siblings are truly our companions through life, and you have both been fortunate to have such close ties with your sisters. Dr. Wyatt’s name on the Rover is truly a wonderful memorial–I will look at Mars a little differently now.

  65. 65.

    dnfree

    I’m sorry for the loss of Emerald/Monica.  Thank you, sister, for caring for her and reporting here.  Touching last words to us.

    I graduated from Northern Illinois University, but I’m a little older than Dr. Wyatt, so I would not have known her.  But I can picture where she taught, and thank her for her years of service at that very diverse school. I too will look into Bleak House in her memory.

    @sralloway: , I’m also sorry for your loss of a sibling.  It is a uniquely difficult loss.

  66. 66.

    chrisanthemama

    @sralloway: Oh, so sad to hear.  I don’t know you, and I didn’t know your dear sister, but your Balloon Juice community holds you in our hearts.

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