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You are here: Home / Absent Friends / Our Absent Friends

Our Absent Friends

by WaterGirl|  April 20, 20254:55 pm| 56 Comments

This post is in: Absent Friends, Balloon Juice

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Medium Cool – Equilibrium!

A post in honor of all our absent friends.

If Steeplejack were here, he would have immediately let me know that two letters were transposed in  “resemblance” in the first line of my earlier post.  I miss him every day, though not for catching my errors before anyone else saw them.

And Ozark would have photos or stories for us in the Garden Chat.  I know we all miss Ozark.  And Amir.  And debbie.  And the list goes on.

To all our absent friends, you are not forgotten.  Love and light to all your families and friends who are missing you on this day, and all days.

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    56Comments

    1. 1.

      bjacques

      April 20, 2025 at 5:01 pm

      A friend and former colleague died two days ago, so on Good Friday. Peace be upon him.

      Reply
    2. 2.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 5:07 pm

      Well said.

      Reply
    3. 3.

      Tim C.

      April 20, 2025 at 5:09 pm

      To quote Admiral Adama, “SO SAY WE ALL!!”

      Reply
    4. 4.

      Booger

      April 20, 2025 at 5:12 pm

      @Tim C.: “SO SAY WE ALL!”

      Reply
    5. 5.

      Dangerman

      April 20, 2025 at 5:12 pm

      Raising a glass and having another Peep in their honor.

      Reply
    6. 6.

      SiubhanDuinne

      April 20, 2025 at 5:13 pm

      Missing efg.

      Reply
    7. 7.

      prostratedragon

      April 20, 2025 at 5:14 pm

      Heard some Robert Cray the other day and thought of Amir. Yes, they are all missed.

      Reply
    8. 8.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 5:19 pm

      @SiubhanDuinne:

      If there were ever a time for efg, it’s now.

      Reply
    9. 9.

      sab

      April 20, 2025 at 5:21 pm

      All these years where we think that we know someone we have never met but whom we converse with almost daily.

      My significant loss is Steep, who coaxed me through Dobby the Demon cat to lovable Dobby.

      There are others nearly as significant

      ETA I am old, so others are legion.

      Reply
    10. 10.

      trollhattan

      April 20, 2025 at 5:30 pm

      Our Irish neighbor had a bad coronary on Christmas day and never emerged from the hospital, lingering a couple weeks more into the new year. On the upside, did not have to watch Trump being inaugurated. Easter has me remembering him today.

      Miss him a lot and especially the stories. Diarmuid embodied every stereotype of an Irish storyteller and from the testimonials at his wake, I know now that I only scratched the surface. What a life but alas, there will be no more stories.

      As a cautionary tale, his wife is facing a messy probate because they never got around to setting up a trust and as there are two exes and children from those marriages, this is going to be a long slog for somebody still dealing with her fresh grief.​

      ETA a song featured during his wake was Tom Waits’ Come on up to the House, which contains the line “Come down off the cross, we can use the wood.” Captures Diarmuid’s spirit quite well, I think.
      https://youtu.be/1oyo3JelhxQ?si=e2ly1y07CnIXRBBp

      If Tom’s growl doesn’t suit you, find the Sarah Jarosz version. Worth a listen.

      Reply
    11. 11.

      narya

      April 20, 2025 at 5:33 pm

      I miss them all, but, for me, especially OH. Dunno why; still awes me how much people we’ve never met in meatspace feel so close.

      Reply
    12. 12.

      zhena gogolia

      April 20, 2025 at 5:38 pm

      Yes, I miss them all.

      Reply
    13. 13.

      raven

      April 20, 2025 at 5:39 pm

      @narya:

      For he was always known
      To lend a helping hand

      Reply
    14. 14.

      Dangerman

      April 20, 2025 at 5:50 pm

      @Baud: Yup. FEA.

      Reply
    15. 15.

      raven

      April 20, 2025 at 5:51 pm

      I miss Alison Rose

      Reply
    16. 16.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 5:52 pm

      @raven:

      Me too. But in case people start worrying, she didn’t die. She just left.

      Reply
    17. 17.

      Nukular Biskits

      April 20, 2025 at 5:52 pm

      Missing family:  some passed, some physically distant, some another kind of distant.

      Momma would still make Easter baskets for all three of us (me, my brother and sister), even though I was well into my 50s. I miss that.

      Reply
    18. 18.

      dnfree

      April 20, 2025 at 5:53 pm

      I miss Bemused Senior but am glad her husband has joined.

      Reply
    19. 19.

      WaterGirl

      April 20, 2025 at 5:54 pm

      @Nukular Biskits: Well into your 50s, that’s so sweet.

      Reply
    20. 20.

      NotMax

      April 20, 2025 at 5:55 pm

      Absence recently of JAFD is concerning.

      Reply
    21. 21.

      raven

      April 20, 2025 at 5:55 pm

      @Baud: Yea, there are some other folks who “just left” who I miss too.

      Reply
    22. 22.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 5:56 pm

      @raven:

      Same. We’ve lost a lot of folks.

      Reply
    23. 23.

      Nukular Biskits

      April 20, 2025 at 6:01 pm

      @WaterGirl:

      She really got a kick out of doing that at Easter and stockings (with one orange, one apple, nuts and a stupid little toy) for us at Christmas.

      And for the grandkids and great-grandkids when they came along.

      Reply
    24. 24.

      Danielx

      April 20, 2025 at 6:06 pm

      @Baud:

      Kay among others. And GreenNotGreen and so many others.

      Reply
    25. 25.

      AliceBlue

      April 20, 2025 at 6:12 pm

      I haven’t seen TBone around lately.

      Reply
    26. 26.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 6:12 pm

      @Danielx:

      I still miss Jim, Foolish Literalist, Roger Moore, and Immanentize.

      Probably others I’m forgetting.

      Reply
    27. 27.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 6:13 pm

      @AliceBlue: She left. At mistermix’s place.

      Reply
    28. 28.

      zhena gogolia

      April 20, 2025 at 6:20 pm

      @Baud: What happened to Jim, Foolish Literalist?

      Reply
    29. 29.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 6:25 pm

      @zhena gogolia:

      Don’t know. He just disappeared.

      Reply
    30. 30.

      zhena gogolia

      April 20, 2025 at 6:26 pm

      Now Joe Rogan is on the front page.

      He was also in the NYT puzzle today.

      Can I get away from him somehow?

      Reply
    31. 31.

      eclare

      April 20, 2025 at 6:36 pm

      Missing them all, especially Burt, aka Steep.  Damn, someone just started slicing an onion.

      Reply
    32. 32.

      Kristine

      April 20, 2025 at 6:55 pm

      ::raises a glass::

      To Absent Friends.

      Reply
    33. 33.

      Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

      April 20, 2025 at 6:58 pm

      @Baud:

      Me too. I know Immanentize is still around on other SM, but the other two have disappeared without a trace, as least under those names, AFAIK.

      You know who else disappeared who I miss? Brachiator. His last comment here, as far as I can find, was early June of last year

      Reply
    34. 34.

      Baud

      April 20, 2025 at 7:00 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):

      Good call.  Haven’t seen them in a long time.

      Reply
    35. 35.

      WaterGirl

      April 20, 2025 at 7:01 pm

      @NotMax: I wrote to JAFD a week ago, no response yet.

      Reply
    36. 36.

      Soprano2

      April 20, 2025 at 7:02 pm

      I miss them all, but especially Ozark. I miss people who have left, too.

      Reply
    37. 37.

      Ruckus

      April 20, 2025 at 7:09 pm

      We make friends here.

      We may never met them in person but we still get to discuss stuff with people from across the nation and around the world. Not a bad time to be alive, even with all the BS.

      I’ve been here around 20 years, how long have you been here?

      Reply
    38. 38.

      sab

      April 20, 2025 at 7:12 pm

      @raven: She isn’t dead, just chose to be gone. I miss her too and hope she comes back someday.

      Reply
    39. 39.

      sab

      April 20, 2025 at 7:13 pm

      @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): I miss him too.

      ETA Cleverest nym ever

      Reply
    40. 40.

      Jim Appleton

      April 20, 2025 at 7:24 pm

      Didn’t always agree with him, I miss Kevin Drum.

      Reply
    41. 41.

      kitfoxer

      April 20, 2025 at 7:27 pm

      I definitely miss Amir, and distinctly remember the gut punch post when greennotGreen revealed her immanent death within days.  The strength to post that… I am in awe.  I tried to search on BJ for it but don’t know if it survived the big meltdown.

      Reply
    42. 42.

      Ben Cisco

      April 20, 2025 at 7:38 pm

      Missing Steep. He always delivered on the music threads.

      We’ve lost so many here. I have not and will never forget how you all responded when I lost Mrs. Cisco. I remain hopeful that we can persevere and survive the current stupidity.

      Reply
    43. 43.

      Currants

      April 20, 2025 at 7:43 pm

      Anyone else still making sourdough? I am…

      Reply
    44. 44.

      NutmegAgain

      April 20, 2025 at 7:47 pm

      @SiubhanDuinne: Fuck ’em! (not him, or you)

      Reply
    45. 45.

      NotMax

      April 20, 2025 at 8:22 pm

      Can’t for the life of me come up with her nym at the moment (shame on me). Remembering the kind soul who took in Higgs Boson’s Mate.

      Reply
    46. 46.

      worn

      April 20, 2025 at 8:29 pm

      @NotMax: Long time ago, but from memory was it MaryG?

      I suppose I should go look it up.

      Reply
    47. 47.

      Geminid

      April 20, 2025 at 8:38 pm

      I wish MisterDancer would come back by. It sounded like MisterDancer was staying very busy though, so I could see why he would drop out.

      Reply
    48. 48.

      NotMax

      April 20, 2025 at 8:39 pm

      @worn

      Yes, that’s her!

      Reply
    49. 49.

      Heidi Mom

      April 20, 2025 at 8:39 pm

      I can’t begin to express how much I admired Amir–someone I’d never met or spoken to!  His decency and kindness shone so brightly across the miles.

      Reply
    50. 50.

      WaterGirl

      April 20, 2025 at 8:39 pm

      @worn: I think it was MaryG.

      Reply
    51. 51.

      Mr. Bemused Senior

      April 20, 2025 at 9:34 pm

      @dnfree: thanks, I’m glad to be here [cue Groucho “I’m glad to be anywhere”]

      Reply
    52. 52.

      CapnMubbers

      April 20, 2025 at 10:13 pm

      I’ve not read every thread but haven’t seen humboldtblue for too long. They may be taking a hiatus or ??? but they’re missed.

      Reply
    53. 53.

      narya

      April 20, 2025 at 11:39 pm

      @Currants: I have four loaves in final fermentation in the fridge right now. No idea why there’s a 1 below this.

      Reply
    54. 54.

      Sherparick

      April 21, 2025 at 6:04 am

      @Ruckus: I have been lurking for over 20 years, since the start of the Iraq War. It’s been a good community.

      Reply
    55. 55.

      Paul in KY

      April 21, 2025 at 2:05 pm

      @Ben Cisco: My hope also! Best wishes to you!

      Reply
    56. 56.

      Debbie(aussie)

      April 22, 2025 at 1:07 am

      What a truly wonderful amazing place this is.

      As  I’m is not totally departed, I found him on Bluesky and left a message. I have a great deal of respect for almost everyone here. But for some reason he and the Imp often come to mind.

      To Amir, efg, OH, steeplejack ………… we miss you💜

      Reply

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