The sky is bluer
The clouds marshmallows
Rick has gone to his glory.
Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
As you're aware if you visit my blog regularly––or try to visit––I haven't blogged much this year. In fact, I haven't blogged a lot for a couple of years. When I did blog regularly, something I counted on every day was reading Rick Watson's blog posts.
But I didn't blog much for quite some time. When I resumed posting recently, I kept wondering, Where's Rick? I went to his blog and read that he'd had an infection back in July. Then he seemed to disappear.
I tried to email him as I had so many times before and didn't get a response. I didn't think to visit Jilda's blog. Then I asked the big question in the comments on my most recent blog post: Where's Rick Watson? Elephant's Child very kindly answered to let me know that Rick had died and Jilda is struggling without him.
Rick and Jilda met in high school and were married for close to 50 years. I know that she adored him, and he absolutely adored her. Based on my dealings with him, I'd describe Rick as kind, compassionate, calm.
I'm glad to be able to say that I reviewed and promoted his books and sent a few friends to read his blog and they became his followers. His writing was a cool, gentle breeze in a blazing world.
After I read Jilda's description of his illness and death, I sobbed. Simply sobbed. Cried harder than I had in years. Someone I never met, yet he was such a good friend.
Rick Watson was the kind of man who made the world a better place. It is a lesser place without him.
Rick, I haiku you.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
So sorry. :-(
ReplyDeleteYou're sweet to comment when you aren't blogging.
DeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteHe was a very good man, and is missed and will be missed by people who knew him and by people who were never lucky enough to meet him.
The world has an empty spot.
DeleteThanks for this, dear Janie. You express well the feelings I had when I learned of Rick's passing.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm glad.
DeleteI hope Jilda reads this post because you gave a great post about this true gentleman. He loved life and not in a loud, bountiful way but in a quiet, strong way often speaking about veterans and the world around him. He always took such beautiful pictures that were of his home or near where they live. I was I. Shock when he passed and am so sad still. I now follow Jilda who struggles which is very, very normal considering how much they were soulmates
ReplyDeleteSoulmates is the right word.
DeleteSo sad to read your post. We have made such friendships in our blogging world. We are all people each in our own little spot of the world but by writing and sharing, we all become friends. I am sorry for the loss of your great friend. x
ReplyDeleteI love my blogging friends as much or more than the friends I see in person.
DeleteI'm so sorry for your loss of your friend. It's so true that people we meet on the blogs can become just as close as those we know in our physical lives. The ones we can touch, I mean. Sending love to you.
ReplyDeleteMy blog has been my therapy for such a long time.
DeleteVery sad news. It's always hard to lose a blogging buddy, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed. Don't ever go, Debra.
DeleteSuch a beautiful tribute. I wish I had known him.
ReplyDeleteI feel certain you would have liked him. He had a lovely sense of humor, as you do.
DeleteI am so sorry for your loss and the loss of his other friends and family. He sounds like he was a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteIf I can feel 100% certain of something it's that Rick Watson was a good man.
DeleteI found out last week and it really bothered me as well. I've been praying for Jilda - seems I think of her almost daily. Such a loss.
ReplyDeleteYes. A huge loss.
DeleteSo sorry for the loss of your blogger friend. I have lost a few as well, and it comes as a shock, because you are just getting cozy and laughing or commiserating, and they leave. It is life.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
DeleteI know he is missed, Rick's blog was one of my favourites and he is deeply missed my many
ReplyDeleteI think he was a favorite for many of us.
DeleteI've had similar sensations when not in-person friends disappear into the other kind of ether. They were there, then sort of, and they are gone. It's a loss. We seem to be losing all the time, don't we. :'(
ReplyDeleteLife is a series of gains and losses.
DeleteThank you, Janie.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Joanne.
DeleteDamnit. So sad. I'm very sorry.
ReplyDeleteLove you.
Love you back.
DeleteI didn't know him but he sounds like someone I wish I had. So sorry.
ReplyDeleteYou would have liked him.
DeleteHi Janie - sad to lose blogging friends without realising - but part of life ... he was obviously a much appreciated blogger. Take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHe was much loved.
DeleteThat is really sad, Janie. I'm really sorry. I used to visit his blog from time to time. Such a kind soul.
ReplyDelete"Kind soul" sums him up.
DeleteMy condolences, Janie! ♥ It's always sad to lose a friend, whether online or in the real world. I didn't know him, but he was obviously well thought of.
ReplyDelete