Not long ago, I was talking to my mother about blogging. She’d recently started a blog of her own — at age 70! — and was worried about comments… commenters… privacy… all the natural concerns someone might have who’d never ventured online.
I told her that through the comments, by reaching across to other bloggers, one can engage a network; find like-minded people; argue or share ideas; even make friends. I told her that the online community is what gives life to this strange medium.
That’s never been more real to me than tonight, as I try to come to terms with the loss of Ashley Morris.
I didn’t tell her how deep the connections can be… because I didn’t know.
It’s been probably a year since Ashley and I have interacted online… so why am I crying?
Because I am crying.
It’s more than knowing he left a wife and three young children, or that a truly passionate human being is gone. In this strange new blogging medium, we’ve created something new — something hitherto undefined.
Day in and day out, we share ideas and thoughts that stem from the depths of our souls and minds. These aren’t ordinary conversations; they’re carefully intellectual, frequently emotional… and even though one might never discuss personal details or family, blogs are — at their very core — deeply personal.
And beyond all of that, sometimes the circumstances that create a blogging community are emotional in and of themselves — as in this case. Because Ashley was an integral part of the NOLA bloggers, and the bonds created in the post-Katrina crucible are very, very strong.
So it is that I find myself mourning someone I never met, but knew well.
Farewell, Ashley.
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Thanks for that, Poli. There is a photo/link on my blog to the memorial site and fundraising for the family. Please feel free to publicize it, they’re gonna need some help.
Also, feel free to email me privately if you’d like. You’re not alone sitting at your monitor crying.
Well said. Ash’s voice will be greatly missed in the blogosphere. He was an original.
Charlotte/TM