The Best Friend I Never Met!

[Bluestone]

Hello All,

You may be wondering why the UK and Canadian flags in front of the Bluestone Mansion are flying at half mast. Those who have wandered through the gardened hillsides in the back of the mansion might also have seen a very weird sight. If you've seen a pterodactyl alighting with a half dozen shrink-wrapped blonde cheerleaders in his clutches, don't be afraid. You'll notice that he is now sitting with head in hands and weeping uncontrollably. Then, there's me, a little more subdued than normal, waving off Suzi in her upstairs maid outfit and Petra in her barely there silk negligee in order to spend some time alone contemplating the news.

Friends, some of you may know that I am a published novelist in real life. After my first novel was published, I joined an on-line writer's workshop, and the first short story that I posted there for a critique was "A Model for Murder", which coincidently was the first story that was posted to FF's "Pulped Fiction" forum here:

http://www.femmefatalities.com/phpBB3/v ... p?f=8&t=12

Yes, I made it a little more graphic for this site, but the basic storyline, complete with female death scenes, was posted to that on-line writer's workshop. Well, I had the anonymity of the Internet to protect me from the slew of fellow writers who would brand me as a necromaniac. So, I feared no evil, so to speak. Then, something wonderful happened...

I was invited into a close-knit group of fellow writers, both male and female, within that workshop of thousands of writers... and the undeniable, highly respected leader of that group was a brilliant UK writer, let's call him the Prof. It was the Prof who dubbed me "The Canadian Hitchcock". It was he who created the image of my pet pterodactyl who had an insatiable appetite for sexy, blonde cheerleaders, who were carried away to my mansion as delicacies for my prehistoric pet and I. As far as I know, he didn't have the fetish. We never discussed it, but he knew that I enjoyed writing about beautiful women and their murders under erotic circumstances. I felt totally accepted into this group, and had the pleasure of meeting one of the female members of the group in person a couple of years later. I never met the Prof in person, only in cyber-space.

Now, without compensation, and solely as a friend, the Prof edited the manuscript for my second novel. In addition, this multi-talented man thought that a song that I had written for a character to sing in the novel was lame. So, he wrote a wonderful song for me, and gave it to me free of charge for inclusion in the novel... because that's what friends do.

The Prof was a Phd in English, but was so down to Earth that we could correspond like the old friends that we became, and always have a great time in our cyber-space antics. For anyone who thinks that the friendships that we forge on this site and others are not as real as relationships that we have in 'real' life, THINK AGAIN. The friendships that I've forged here and in the exchange of emails over the years with people who I've never met in person are often stronger than those 'real' life relationships.

The Prof met the love of his life through that on-line writer's workshop. I was invited to their wedding in the mid-west, but was on the other side of the planet at the time, and had to send my regrets. The Prof was teaching with the love of his life in Japan for the last several years, and we kept in touch through the wonder of email.

This morning I received an email from the Prof's sister. He passed away suddenly yesterday. I'm sorry. There are tears in my eyes , and I have to go now and console my pet pterodactyl, but before I go, I have to say to ALL of my cyber-friends here that I love each and every one of you very dearly though we've never ever met in the 'real' world! Thanks for being here. I appreciate each and every one of you much more than you can imagine

Blue

[CapgunChuck]

Blue,

Thanks for this informing us. I'm sorry to hear the sad news. I'm watery-eyed as I type this.

I didn't know you are a published novelist, though I suspected your occupation is related to a literary field from your eloquent posts. Thanks for confirming this. I'm copying and pasting the story mentioned above for later reading. (My tired old eyes can't comfortably read long documents online.) I now have sufficient motivation to read all your stories.

I appreciate you, too…more than you can imagine.

CC

[TenderFlesh]

So sorry for your loss Blue. Your friend, TF

[kevin67]

I have lost a good friend recently, and I share your pain. In life you don't have to meet someone face to face to appreciate their substance, or know their true inner feelings. We,in thbis community share our inner thoughts, and have developed a close bond with each other that allows us to feel a mutual kinship and respect. My condolances on your loss.

[elsullo]

My condolences, Bluestone. Deep friendships are rare and precious, and so sad to lose when a good friend passes. Ages ago I knew a genuine Zen Master, and he gave me an ancient, anonymous poem about grief: "Gone, my old fine hopes, and dry my dreaming. But still, iris blue each Spring!"........................elsullo

[Nightposter]

My condolences also, seems we all have a lot to drown our sorrows in a mug of ale tonight. (did that come out right?) What usually makes the whole process worse, is when it happens suddenly, without warning, and you never had the chance to say how you really felt about that person...or even...goodbye....

[Bluestone]

Thanks for all of your condolences, my friends, both the ones posted here and those sent to me by email. It just seemed appropriate to make this post to my dear cyber-friend in cyber-space. The Prof. had long since left the on-line writer's forum as had I, but the good times that we had there have been replaced by the good times and the equally good friends that I have found here. I hope you all feel the same about the bond that we all share with one another, and the cyber-friendship that we have, which is close, and good, and REAL!

Okay, NP, a round of ale on me, but it's gotta be the old Canadian standard... Labatt's BLUE

Blue

[Nightposter]

Ok, just this once, I actually prefer Guinness Stout when I can get it ( I like to chew my ale)

[Rue Morgue]

WOW, Blue, quite a story.

I am genuinely sorry for your loss. It is so rare to find kindred spirits, even cyber ones, in this crazy world. We should honor and cherish those we have while we have them.

Such a loss of one so close, gives us pause to contemplate and organize our thoughts about what is and is not important in our lives.