Thursday, June 16, 2011

Char: More Words From Friends

I am having difficulty typing these words without crying.

As it is, the tears are streaming down my face at work. Today I found out that a dear, sweet friend has passed away suddenly.

She was far too young, far too kind and far too full of life for this to happen. I have known Char of the Ramblins blog since our days on Myspace in a tight knit group of blogging friends which spanned a good five years if you can believe it.

Char was so genuinely kind and gracious that I always aspired to be as decent a human being as she was. In five years of blogging and commenting, emailing and mailing even, I never heard a harsh or unkind word from Char. Towards anyone. It is no exaggeration for me to say that she inspired me to be a better person.

So it is with difficulty that I say goodbye to her. She was a woman who was passionate and kind. She was a remarkably talented photographer and she believed in living each day as though it was your last. She knew this life was precious. As she said, "Life is too short to waste a single day: eat cookies."

If you haven't already visited her photography blog, please do so today. She was a special lady and I will miss her.

Goodbye, sweet Char.


P.S.
Some of Char's blog friends have written posts for Char. If you know of any others, please let me know so I can link them:
























Some of Char's friends in the blogging community have gotten together to make a Char blog badge for your site.






Posted by Mandy_Fish at 10:07 AM
Labels: , , ,

61 comments:

  1. anonJune 15, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    I'm very sorry Mandy, that is just so very sad. It often seems that its the kindest and most decent people who are taken too soon.

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  2. UnknownJune 15, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    I'm so very sorry for your loss! She sounds like a lovely human being.

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  3. Mandy_FishJune 15, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    It's not my loss, I feel as though she wasn't mine to have. I feel for her family with whom she was so close. I hope they will see this and know that she was loved by many in the blogging community and in the world.

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  4. TwillsJune 15, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    I didn't know her, but as with the MySpace community, we have a lot of the same friends. This makes me so sad, I know everyone loved her so much, bless her soul.

    Namaste

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  5. SoobsJune 15, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. And yes, it IS your loss as well. God's blessings on her family.

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  6. Mom to 3, nana to 6June 15, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I was friends with her on myspace but lost touch when I moved to facebook. She will be missed.

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  7. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    I'm really sorry to hear that. My condolences.

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  8. AnothertreeJune 15, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    I am sorry Mandy. Sad story

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  9. KatJune 15, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Sending thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.

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  10. Melissa MarisJune 15, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    :( I just looked through some of her blog pages. Her photography was beautiful. Sending good thoughts to her loved ones.

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  11. La Piazza GancioJune 15, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    I'm sorry to hear this. My best to all concerned.

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  12. That Girl SuicideJune 15, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    This was a shock and a very hard thing for me to read this morning. I knew Char from Myspace. She was one of the people I took from off the internet and considered a true friend. Unfortunately, my life became very hectic and I lost touch with her over the past two years. It stings and makes you realize how short and precious life is. Time for rest sweet lady...

    Thank you for posting this, Mandy.

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  13. PearlJune 15, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    So sorry, Mandy. Strange, isn't it, losing someone with whom you had a long-distance relationship? I have some dear friends via blogging, and I can't imagine the hole they'd leave in my heart should I hear that one of them has passed...

    Pearl

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  14. Not HereJune 15, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Very touching tribute, Mandy.

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  15. Joe SimmonsJune 15, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    I'm sorry about the loss of your friend.

    I'm trying to reconcile your Char with one that used to comment on my MySpace blog oh so long ago. Did she use a cat as her avatar frequently?

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  16. Mandy_FishJune 15, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    She went by "." or ".TM" but I can't make the trademark symbol on here.

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  17. McGillicuttyJune 15, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Omg...I am also a dear friend of hers...online at least...I didn't know!!!!! Im really upset and the tears wont stop,.......

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  18. MobiusJune 15, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Very sad. I couldn't believe it when I got your email this morning. She will be missed. I can't believe it has been six years.

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  19. Mandy_FishJune 15, 2011 at 3:42 PM

    I may be off on the Myspace blogs versus blogging. I did tentatively start blogging six years ago, but maybe only joined Myspace five years ago? Do you remember?

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  20. MobiusJune 15, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    I went back and looked at my blog folder... May 2006 was my first.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnothertreeJune 15, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    "but maybe only joined Myspace five years ago? Do you remember?"
    Well
    I remember the Diva humor when I requested to be on Mandy's MySpace blog. I forgot exactly what it was, but it may have been "You don't seem disruptive as a person, you may join my blog' Something like that. But It was very funny,,,)

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  22. AnothertreeJune 15, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    Actually maybe it was "You don't seem (too) disturbing(or disruptive as a person... You may enter" How funny that comment was at the time.

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  23. Dawn@Lighten Up!June 15, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Awww. So sad! Very, very sorry for your loss.

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  24. Joanna JenkinsJune 15, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    That is so very sad. I recently lost a good blog friend who touched my heart as well. I'll stop by Char's blog and pay my respects.
    xo jj

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  25. JUST MEJune 15, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    So sorry, mama. Sometimes blog friendships are some of the strongest around.

    My condolences.

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  26. Indiri WoodJune 15, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    I'm still in some disbelief about it all. It's such a terrible shock to lose such a wonderful person and I'm thankful for the two years I got to know her in blogland. She was always one of the sweetest and most sincere people I've known.

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  27. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Yes, it's always a shock when someone close to us dies. So much more so when this life is the only hope one has.

    Fortunately, it doesn't have to be the only one, thank Christ!

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  28. la fourchetteJune 16, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    Oh my goodness! I'm in shock. She always left such lovely comments at La Fourchette...and I enjoyed seeing the range of styles she worked with in her own photography...beautiful work. This is such a loss on so many levels. The blogging community is a phenomenon all its own, isn't it? I mean, I think of you and others through the day as if I knew you and yet...it's all at a distance through a rather narrow lens. Powerful and precious these human connections, non? I'm really glad you posted this so we could join you in celebrating Char and sending prayers of comfort to her family and friends.

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  29. Mandy_FishJune 16, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    @powdergirl: She was kind and decent indeed. Thank you.

    @Susan in the Boonies: She was a very lovely human being. I like your words.

    @Twills: I still think of the early days of MySpace blogging as the golden years of blogging. Char was a part of that.

    @Soobs: Thank you, Sue.

    @Mom to 3: Thanks for stopping in to let us know.

    @Michon: Thank you.

    @The Last Santa: Thank you. It is sad, though I'm sure she'd much prefer we remember her joy.

    @Kat: Thank you. I hope her family sees these kind words.

    @Mel: Thanks, Mel. I really did enjoy her photography and watching it develop over the years.

    @La Piazza: Thank you.

    @That Girl: I'm sorry you had to hear it this way, but I'm glad to know you were her friend.

    @Pearl: I was talking with a friend about how sometimes our blogging friends know more about what's going on in our lives than our "real world" friends.

    @Sweet Herald: Thanks, Julie.

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  30. Mandy_FishJune 16, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    @Ali: I'm sorry you had to find out this way. She was a dear friend indeed.

    @The Last Santa: That sounds like me, especially after Myspace turned rather nasty. ;-)

    @Dawn: Thank you.

    @Joanna: Thanks, Joanna.

    @Just Me: I absolutely agree.

    @Indiri: I'm so happy you knew her and that she touched your heart as well.

    @Gideon: It is a shock.

    @La Fourchette: These connections are powerful and precious without which life would have no color. Char certainly brought much color to our worlds.

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  31. Ad AstraJune 16, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I didn't know her, but I'm hurt to know a loss that is effecting others. My healing vibes to everyone coping.

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  32. Se'lahJune 16, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    I am also at a loss for words...you will be missed, Char.

    Great tribute here.

    one love.

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  33. AnonymousJune 16, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    This is so sad! I am sorry you lost such a precious person in your life!

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  34. christinaJune 16, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    i miss her so deeply.
    xoxo

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  35. stephanieJune 16, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Wonderful words. You are more than welcome to link to the post that I wrote about her. She was so special and I have loved reading what others have written about her.

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  36. IsaacJune 16, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Mandy, I just found out myself. Complete shock. I wrote a brief tribute to her. Here is the link. You are welcome to post it if you'd like:

    http://phantomintervention.tumblr.com/post/6594759269/for-a-friend

    ReplyDelete
  37. Mandy_FishJune 16, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    @Ad Astra: I figured you'd probably know her as a Myspace alum. ;-)

    @Se'lah: One love indeed. She will be missed.

    @Happy Enough: I feel so for her family.

    @Christina: I'm so sorry.

    @Stephanie: Thank you. I'm posting all the blogs I can find. Please let me know if you know of any more.

    @Isaac: Thank you so much for letting me know. I'm also posting the links on Char's Facebook page so her family and friends can see them as well.

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  38. bethJune 16, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    by all means link me too.....her sister has asked that i send her all the tributes and your help is greatly appreciated. xo

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  39. Mandy_FishJune 16, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    @beth: Thank you. I've also posted them on Facebook so her friends and family can see.

    ReplyDelete
  40. julochkaJune 16, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    i'm glad you're linking to the posts...i only found out this morning and i've been walking around in shock all day. it is truly a sad, sad thing and i think i still can't believe it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. EvaJune 16, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    This is all such a beautiful tribute to Char. Thank you everyone for your words. And, big thanks, Mandy, for pulling all this together so her family can see all the love and support.

    ReplyDelete
  42. AnonymousJune 16, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    Char touched so many and she will be deeply, deeply missed. I've posted my gratitude to her on my blog.

    http://kateiredale.typepad.com/inspired/2011/06/saying-goodbye.htm

    Thank you Mandy for letting us know via facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  43. stephanieJune 16, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Thank you for posting all the tributes!

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  44. Mandy_FishJune 16, 2011 at 7:23 PM

    @julochka: Thank you for stopping by and for being her friend. I was just telling my husband how moving it is to see how kind and thoughtful all of the people who followed Char as fellow bloggers are ... it seems her own good spirit attracted the like.

    @Eva: It's been wonderful to read all the kind words about Char.

    @Kate: Thank you so much for giving me your link. You've been added!

    @stephanie: Thank you for contributing. I'm sure Char would be embarrassed by all this attention. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Star KickerJune 16, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Char was one of the very first bloggers I "followed" when I started spilling my own words into cyberspace about three years ago. I just went back and reread her last entry. So cheerful, so contemplative ... like her photos. Here's to your kindness and smiles, Char!

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  46. Robert the SkepticJune 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I've had three people I know struck down with heart attacks - their first and only symptom and they are gone! All three were active, jogged or played racquetball, watched their weight and ate well, they did all the right things. One day here, the next they are gone. It is still difficult for me to reconcile.

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  47. ELKJune 17, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    such a lovely space to read more about such a special friend ..

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  48. ELKJune 17, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    i devoted my regular bird friday post to her here

    http://www.redorgray.com/2011/06/23.html

    the amazing thing is that i had created the string of birds earlier in the week before i knew..

    i loved her

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  49. MaryJune 17, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    Hi Mandy,
    I don't know if you have seen this tribute to Char:

    http://chroniclesofacountrygirl.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-charlane.html

    She touched so many lives.

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  50. Mandy_FishJune 17, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    @StarKicker: That final post was full of promise, to be sure.

    @Left in the Woods: I didn't know you were an SBT-er. Nice to se you. I'm so sorry to be the bearer of such sad news. Char was a special person and I'm glad she touched your heart.

    @Robert the Skeptic: Death is difficult for me to reconcile.

    @ELK: Thank you for your lovely words.

    @Mary: No, I had not seen that one. Thank you so much for letting me know. I've posted it now.

    ReplyDelete
  51. UnknownJune 19, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Thank you for compiling these. The loss of Char's sweet voice is going to leave a gaping hole in my days. I couldn't add a great deal to her tribute, but I did write something for her on my blog, if you'd like to add it to your list...

    http://artbydiahn.blogspot.com/2011/06/too-soon-gone.html

    ReplyDelete
  52. Ms SmackJune 19, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    I'm sorry you're feeling sad, honey, but by all accounts that I'm reading, both your tribute and the others, she's worth crying over.

    Bawl, and bawl and bawl.

    Sounds like you were all lucky to call her, your friend.

    Regards
    Cath
    x

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  53. Olivia StClaireJune 19, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Mandy, Thank you for this & thank you for all the links so we may see how many people loved Char. So we can read their words of love. I wonder if she knew how we all loved her so much (tears in my eyes still) - well she knows now. This has taught me to grab life & love in a stronger way than I ever have. If we all felt this way about her, I can only imagine the huge empty spot & loss her family feels. I feel so badly for them - the ones who had her their whole lives. Hugs & love & blessings to them.
    x

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  54. Vapid VixenJune 19, 2011 at 1:40 PM

    What an amazingly sweet tribute. I didn't know her but this brought tears to my eyes.

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  55. Country GirlJune 19, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    I still can't believe she's gone from us. You know how things happen for a reason? Remember when she was out of work, and then moved in with her brother's family in Montgomery? I believe now that there was a reason she had to do that. She was able to become even closer to them, and they to her. I don't know, but it's one thing that cheers me. And I'll take anything I can get to cheer me.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Shannon's Random RumblingsJune 20, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I was Char's first MySpace friend and we always used to joke about that. I was immediately drawn to her wit and incredible sense of humor, and as our friendship grew, there were hundreds of other things about her I admired and adored. Her big heart, her photography, her thick southern accent, her warmth, the way she meshed words together to paint such a vivid picture for her readers, her love of music, life and, above all else, her family and friends. Charlane was a lovely person that left this world much too soon. I only hope that she knew how much I loved her while she was here.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Cake BetchJune 20, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Aw. I'm so sorry. I totally agree with Pearl - if I found out that some of my bloggy friends had passed I would be DEVASTATED.

    ReplyDelete
  58. drollgirlJune 20, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    i have been going to her blog for years. i had no idea she passed away. i am so upset! i cannot imagine what happened, but i will check around.

    hugs to you, and to all those that loved char.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Mandy_FishJune 22, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Diahn: Thank you, I've added it to the list.

    Ms Smack: Thank you. That we were.

    O. Joy: Reading all of these tributes makes me feel the same way.

    Vapid Vixen: As did many of the others to my eyes.

    Country Girl: I hadn't thought of that. What a comforting observation.

    Shannon: She was well-beloved by so many. I hope she knew it. I can't believe you were her first Myspace friend!

    Cake Betch: Friends are friends, regardless of venue.

    Drollgirl: I'm sorry to have been the bearer of the sad news.

    ReplyDelete
  60. GailOJune 27, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Another blogger directed me to this list of tributes to Char and I am so grateful that she did! The overwhelming response to Char's too early death and my strong reaction to it has proven to me the depth of these online friendships! I miss her tremendously......

    Please add my small, humble tribute found at http://picturingtheyear.blogspot.com/2011/06/friendship.html to your list.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Laurel J.July 9, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Mandy, I'm so very sad to hear this news. I knew Char just a bit from the old Myspace days, but I thought of her as such a dear person. I'm so sad to know she's no longer out there in the world making her beautiful photographs and writing her thoughts.

    ReplyDelete

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