I see you, and you're beautiful.
We lost a kind, clever, and creative member of our community on Sunday. By all accounts, Alex was the very best of us, and it really, really sucks to have lost her this way.
In the discussions following her passing, one sentiment has kept appearing.
"I wish she knew how much she was cherished while she was still here." "I wish I had sent her flowers more often." "I wish I could just tell her one more time how much we care for her." "I wish she knew how many people appreciated and loved her."
"I wish she knew the impression her life left on others."
Please don't blame yourself. You know she wouldn't want you to blame yourself.
The remainder of this post is a collection of love letters to various members of the GLoG community.
aconspiracyofravens - Thank you for bringing me into your excellent Nine Rivers setting. I hope you know that your willingness to engage with everyone on the server in both their creative works and their personalities is appreciated.
Archon's Court - The adventure you ran for me was wonderful, and you routinely demonstrate kindness by sharing what you know, what you've collected as reference, and what you think about projects and ideas. I don't know you as well as I'd like to.
Arnold - I greatly admire the way you've stepped back to allow the GLoG to flourish. This can't have been easy to do. Furthermore, I hope you recognize that when you do participate in a conversation on the server, we're not just enthused that a local celebrity is in our midst.
beeptest - I'm proud of you for doing the important work of being more kind to yourself. Shit's hard out here sometimes, and the fact that you've remained kind, open, and interested in others is a victory in itself. Your concise style of humor makes me laugh, and your blog is wonderful too.
cellar gelato - I don't know you well at all, but I can tell you have a knack for writing and an admirable zeal for life. Thank you for showing me the Snorb. I love Snorb.
CyberChronometer - You feel like such a pillar of the community to me for reasons I can't explain. I like your blog and hope to see the story you've been working on soon. I appreciate the help you've given me in proofreading and in working out ideas. I don't think I know you as a person hardly at all, but I expect those who do are better for it.
dead-delver - Going through old messages to reflect on what I wanted to say reminded me of a lot of interactions we've had that've made me laugh and feel seen. Thank you for engaging with my relentless Bionicleposting. Can you believe I only just now realized you have a blog? I'm thrilled to see what's on there. Also: Cool jacket.
purplecthulhu - You do have a lovely voice! Thanks for being someone I could talk about my gender transition to. You strike me as probably being cleverer or at least better-read than I am, and I think you're funny in a way that belies a recognition of the inherent absurdity of life and also a deep love for it. I'd love if you blogged more!
deus ex parabola - I don't think I've ever encountered somebody with a more palpable and fascinating aura. I don't understand you at all, but sometimes it seems like I can see past the swirling depths and catch a glimpse of someone in there. Someone full of joy and anger, perhaps. Either way, it's obvious you're in the upper echelon of creators in this space for output, impact, and style, and I hope you stick around even as you could surely go anywhere you wanted with the skills you have. I thank you again for the thoughtful gesture of sending me Rose's Protoplastic preview. I am genuinely touched that you thought of me when you saw it.
Hilander - I really admire the warmth and security you bring to the community, man. I remain in awe of your output, and think you're very good at rules writing and have good and interesting taste, but I would hate to leave unacknowledged the way it feels to recieve a Hilander message, because they're always so earnest and glowing with straightforward goodwill. Thanks for being here. Also, you really do have a lovely singing voice!
Alright, y'all. I'm far from done, but I need to get myself ready for work. I can't stand to let any of this languish in drafts, so it's going up incomplete. I'll get to the rest of it another time.