Mar 2, 2011

DEAR STITCHY FRIENDS

When I plant myself in the chair to write this silly blog I do so without an agenda or thought or care in the world (as is evidenced by the ridiculous rambling that usually takes place here.) Every now and then I journal something vaguely related to stitching, and, if I'm really lucky, I'm able to take a digital photograph that doesn't make you want to gouge your eyes out because of its lack of proper lighting, focus, and/or composition.

This blog has always been a total escape for me. I get to let it all fly without worry that y'all will find out what a boob I really am and that you will continue to let me play in your sandbox. I would love to tell you that every single episode of my life has unfolded as I've related it to you, but all I can say is "There might be a little bit of embellishment or exaggeration here and there."

The last several days I've been thinking a lot about perception and legacy and contribution, and it occurs to me that if I read this blog I would think that it was written by a self-indulgent, air-headed, tunnel-visioned spoiled woman who hasn't a clue as to what's going on in the world. There's no mention of the troubles that are hitting this globe left and right, and subjects that are so eloquently talked about on other sites are normally left unsaid here.

I can't come close to the lovely tributes that have been posted out there in Stitchy Blogville about the loss of Judy Harper and Lisa Roswell, but I can try to echo the sentiment of sympathy for the families that are left to mourn their passing.

When our stitchy world loses someone, whether it's a designer, teacher, friend, mom, dad, sister, brother, son, daughter, or fellow stitching pal because of illness or accident or natural disaster or another tragic circumstance, this thing of ours is changed forever. I didn't know Judy or Lisa personally, but I knew and loved their work and I mourn their loss with others that also might never have known them. I tried to articulate this to Aunt Chrissy yesterday as we talked about the sadness that the families must feel today, but all I could come up with was some idiotic rambling about the profound impact that stitching has on thousands of people who might never meet. We stitch and blog and read and laugh and talk and sometimes never have the opportunity to tell someone how much of a difference they've made in our lives.

I suppose that all of this is the result of my continual astonishment by the connection that I feel to other stitchers out there who either write to me or laugh at me or encourage me or challenge me to clean up my act. I've never laid eyes on you, but somehow feel that we've known each other for a million years and that if you walked in my front door I'd know how you take your coffee. Is it strange that I stalk and follow your lives and feel like a mother hen clucking over her brood?

So today I'm thinking about the families of Judy and Lisa and I'm hoping that they know how many of us are sad for them and are sending our prayers and thoughts their way. Sometimes it's nice to know that your loved one mattered in ways that you never could have imagined, and that they will be missed by people you've never met.

42 comments:

  1. said in the perfect way that i wasn't quite able (or brave enough) to express. i'm so glad that you put it out there...

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  2. Very eloquently put. I too read the story, like so many others, and was just saddened beyond belief that anyone in our lives can be gone in the blink of an eye and in such a tragic way. Those who don't stitch truly have no idea how tight knit the community is, whether we've met those people in person or not. I don't think I would still be stitching or blogging or doing half the stitchy things I do if it weren't for all of the wonderful people I have encountered and heard/read/seen their wisdom, stitchy pieces and whatnot.

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  3. Beautifully written - thank you.

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  4. I have felt so inadequate at expressing my thoughts about how interconnected we stitchers are -- how we are inspired by one another's accomplishments, and saddened by the loss of members of our community. Thank you so much for this wonderful tribute, and for putting into words what so many of us were thinking...

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  5. Wonderfully written dear friend....I call you dear friend, because we visit with one another, lend an ear, offer advice/opinions, encouragemnet and not laguh at you but with you almost daily. We are a wonderful world of people to belong to. This recent event has affected all of us. We do not have to know someone so personally to care, to feel a loss. I am proud to be a part of our blogging world.

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  6. I can't imagine that anyone would mistake you for a boob! I look forward to reading everything you post and most times think (as in this last post) that I could never articulate my feelings/thoughts like you do - always with humor, kindness, etc. Keep up the good work!

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  7. Thanks for the beautifully written post.

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  8. couldn't have put it any better myself .... thank you for that .... I love coming to visit and am so glad I do :) love mouse xxxx

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  9. There is enough written, posted, and You Tubed about all the goings on in the world today... your blog takes us away from all that. We join your Stitchy World day after day to embrace the good in life - and to laugh, love, and love. That is YOUR legacy to the world, my Stitchy Friend. Never undervalue that!
    May God bless the families of Judy and Lisa - and may warm memories wash over them like Sunshine.

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  10. Coni, I've only been following you regularly for about a month and you bring a smile to my face every time you post! Each post just cracks me up beyond belief! heehee
    Today's post was very, very nicely put. You obviously have a way with words that make each one of us glad to have just a little peek into your fun life. Thanks for the beautiful post today. I'm thinking that all of us feel this sadness and your words are a comfort that not all of us can put into words. Thank you! HUGS!

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  11. I, too, have only been visiting your blog for a short time. But I have to tell you that I was an instant fan. You have such a wonderful way with words. I do not know of Judy Harper, but because of your words know she was a good person. I had just become aware of Lisa in the last month or two, and appreciated her talents. I only wish the families of these ladies could read your words because I believe that would give them some solace. Thank you for giving us this post.

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  12. So beautifully said - thank you.

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  13. so true my friend and well said

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  14. A beautiful post written with the love we all feel. Thank you.

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  15. Superbly written as always - thx

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  16. Conni,

    I couldn't have said this any better myself. I don't have a blog but I read all of the wonderful ones out there written by folks such as yourself who choose to share a little of your world with the rest of us. I think it's good we can all come together in such a place as this in a time of need to comfort the families and each other. {{Hugs to all}}

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  17. Very well put Connie. We are an amazing, connected community of caring individuals and we all feel it when we lose one of our own. This feels especially tragic this week.

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  18. Beautifully written.
    ~~~~
    I'm hopeless at words, but I found this and I thought it summed up our blogger community quite well:

    Friends I’ll Never Know by Raymond A. Foss

    A wide open world, the ether,
    the web, the connectedness
    the world so small,
    touching so many lives
    friends I will never know
    finding me in the language
    of the internet, discovering
    perhaps a jewel for their eye,
    their mind, hopefully, blessed
    in the words I
    have been called to write
    to post to the world,
    published in bits and bytes
    sent out to points unknown
    to eyes I will never see
    to friends I will never know


    April 25, 2008
    ~~~~
    We will surely miss those two very talented ladies. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends.

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  19. Thank you - I read SO MANY stitchy blogs and love them all. They all fill needs, yours especially. Thank you for articulating the connectedness - never forget Howard's End..."only connect". Stitching and the internet have helped us all do that.

    Mary in MN

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  20. My day would not be the same without your blog. You are wonderful and I want to let you know I care what happens to you.

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  21. Makes you realize how fleeting life is, and how fast things can happen that change our lives, or the lives of the people around us, forever.

    We love your blog BECAUSE of the embellishment and/or exaggeration, and because "There's no mention of the troubles that are hitting this globe left and right..."

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  22. how sweet and profound. Thank you Coni Well said! (Tell Stewy I said that)
    Rooth

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  23. You expressed in much better words what I was trying to explain to my husband last night. Even though we may not know each other personally, we still feel a little like family because of our interests . . . thanks you for you sweet sentiments!

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  24. My sentiments exactly! Thank you Coni.

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  25. One way I define family is "a group of individuals that share a common bond, accept differences, and provide a refuge." That includes our furry friends, BTW.

    You provide much cheer, and help to bring smiles when so many media outlets seem to be all about the shouting. I've been reading your blog for a while now, because it speaks to me above the din.

    Thanks for your sweet words, AND your exaggerations!

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  26. Never let it be said that you don't have a wonderful way with words. You have said what many of us feel but couldn't articulate. We are all diminished in some small way with the loss of these two talented ladies, and I too wish their families solace.

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  27. Very nicely said - you have a natural way with words that makes your blog a delight to visit.

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  28. You put into words what we are all feeling.... simply said, Thanks. Faye

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  29. It is amazing how "close" you can feel to others that you have never met. Your sentiments are spot on and perfectly convey the way many of us are feeling.


    Definitely praying for the families!

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  30. Well said, Coni. Very well said.

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  31. I think you put what we all are feeling into words. Thank you. And Thank you for all the fun, amazing, informative, life affirming, hilarious blogs you write. It takes a very talented person to write the way you do. I think you are the Irma Bombeck of the blog world. I check your blog many times a day in hopes of another entry! You are one of my favorites!!!! Rose

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  32. What a beautifully written post. Just beautiful. You said it better than I ever could.

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  33. Your words are a comfort to us all by expressing what we all feel. Thank you.

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  34. What a beautiful post Coni...you said just what I have been thinking since I heard of the death of Lisa Roswell. I too feel like I know you and so many others through the cyber stitchy world...some days I am grumpy that so much of my time is eaten up by the computer, but most days I just feel blessed for the connection with friends.If you are ever in Colorado Springs, i`ll have your diet coke on ice.

    Kisses to Stewey...

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  35. But don't you see it is because you don't write about "the troubles that are hitting this globe left and right, and subjects that are so eloquently talked about on other sites" that I love coming back to your site and reading what you have to say.

    The sun will rise and the sun will set regardless of what goes on in our daily lives. All we can do is to learn to live with the loss that we feel when someone we love is late.

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  36. Well said Coni, I couldn't agree more. I am very attached to my stitchy friends, who else could possibly understand?

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  37. I didn't even write anything on my blog because I felt so inadequate and presumptuous because I didn't know them. But I WAS touched deeply and continue to be so at their loss. You've explained it and voiced it so well. Thank you. Cathryn

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  38. What a lovely tribute to these ladies and how perfectly written about how we become "stalkers" of one another's blogs. I always leave your blog with a different emotion (mostly laughing WITH you), you write beautifully. My thoughts and prayers join yours as we lift up the families of those lost. *Hugs*

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  39. Thank you, Coni, for writing so eloquently what is also in my heart.

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