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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 26 2007, 5:12am
Post #1 of 46
(949 views)
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I just popped over to the Matt Shepard messageboards and found that one of my oldest friends there was found dead in his home, possibly murdered, though the details are sketchy. I met John Patrick Day on the Matt Shepard boards in early 1999. He was always a voice for reason and a peacemaker. In the early days the boards could be pretty contentious, since they were completely unmoderated. But JP was always ready to help people make peace. For many years I have admired and respected him. He was, as one of the posters there just said, a gentleman and a scholar.
It's funny how the people you meet online can really get into your heart, even if you never meet them in person. When I had my surgery a while back, I took a stack of printout with me to the hospital: a thread of well-wishes from TORn, and a thread of well-wishes from MatthewsPlace. And I read those messages over and over while I recovered. John Patrick Day's message was one of them.
I know none of you knew him (or I assume so), so this is entirely OT, but my heart is so full right now.
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
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Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
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RosieLass
Valinor
Mar 26 2007, 5:45am
Post #3 of 46
(793 views)
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((((((((((((Aunt Dora)))))))))))))
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Isn't it interesting how close you can become with someone you've only spoken to online?
So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend.
Children’s Interpretations of the Bible
Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt during the day, but a ball of fire during the night.
The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony.
http://mallika.vox.com/
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Entwife Wandlimb
Lorien
Mar 26 2007, 6:35am
Post #4 of 46
(792 views)
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May you look up from this forsaken world and see a star.
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Kimi
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 26 2007, 7:31am
Post #5 of 46
(775 views)
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A sad loss.
You are the richer for having known this man.
  
Promises to Keep: a novel set in 19th Century New Zealand.
The Passing of Mistress Rose
Do we find happiness so often that we should turn it off the box when it happens to sit there?
- A Room With a View
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Owlyross
Rohan
Mar 26 2007, 8:39am
Post #6 of 46
(775 views)
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That's horrible. I'll be thinking about you.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."
Benjamin Franklin
The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
Horace Walpole (1717 - 1797)
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grammaboodawg
Immortal
Mar 26 2007, 9:18am
Post #7 of 46
(773 views)
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It doesn't matter if our friends and in person, in the mail, or on the screen... the emotions, respect and support are the same. I'm so very sorry for the loss. Voices of peace are so precious and we need them all.
I'm so sorry, m'dear. Thanks for letting us know... {{hugs}}
 
Trust him... The Hobbit is coming!
"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."
TORn's Observations Lists
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a.s.
Valinor
Mar 26 2007, 10:51am
Post #9 of 46
(807 views)
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say...where is the hugs smilie? I believe I only have a kiss smilie, that will have to do!!!
a.s.
"an seileachan"
Some say once you're gone, you're gone forever, and some say you're gonna come back.
Some say you rest in the arms of the Savior if sinful ways you lack.
Some say that they're coming back in a garden, bunch of carrots and little sweet peas.
I think I'll just let the mystery be.
~~~~Iris DeMent
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dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Mar 26 2007, 12:10pm
Post #11 of 46
(774 views)
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Oh no, I am so, so sorry! It doesn't matter that we didn't know him; the silencing of a voice of reason and compassion is always devasting. My heart goes out to you and all others who knew him from the 'net or in life.
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"Confusticate and bebother these dwarves!"
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 26 2007, 12:39pm
Post #12 of 46
(780 views)
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Thanks, everybody. I knew I could count on you.
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You guys are so wonderful.
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
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Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
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Morwen
Rohan
Mar 26 2007, 12:49pm
Post #13 of 46
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I'm very sorry for your loss, Aunt Dora.My thoughts are with you and this gentleman's family.
I wish you could have been there
When she opened up the door
And looked me in the face
Like she never did before
I felt about as welcome
As a Wal-Mart Superstore--John Prine
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Lily Fairbairn
Half-elven
Mar 26 2007, 3:09pm
Post #14 of 46
(764 views)
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One thing that consoles me in this crazy world is what others have said -- through nothing more than pixels on a screen, we can come to know and appreciate our fellow travelers, and learn that we're not alone on this journey.
I'm so sorry for this terrible loss. We desperately need voices for reason and peace.
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Wynnie
Rohan
Mar 26 2007, 3:37pm
Post #15 of 46
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so very sorry for your loss /nt
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Owlamoo
ink drawing by JRRT
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Elberbeth
Tol Eressea
Mar 26 2007, 3:49pm
Post #16 of 46
(746 views)
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{{Aunt Dora}} So sorry to hear that./
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"There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark."
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weaver
Half-elven
Mar 26 2007, 3:55pm
Post #17 of 46
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Adding my support to the list...
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Aw Aunt Dora...here's a virtual hug and thoughts from me, too.
As you learn more about what happened, I hope it leads to peace and healing for you and all who knew your friend -- he sounds like he was a real "gift" to you and others, and those are the kind of folks hardest to lose, especially in a sudden and tragic way like this.
I recently lost a family member and asked for a toast to her at a Fiesta -- I had never done that kind of thing before, and can testify to how much the response from the caring folks around her helped me deal with my grief. The fact that even an online community can help in times like this really says something to me about the power of friendship and connecting with others to help people grieve and heal -- we need each other. Glad this community could be here for you, and glad you are part of it.
Weaver
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linkin-artelf
Lorien
Mar 26 2007, 4:05pm
Post #18 of 46
(753 views)
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Peace to you and John's family, though it sounds like that may be a long time coming for them .
Online friends can ba a wole other kind of anchor, can't they? I'm very sorry this one was pulled up for you.
"I walk along the shore and I gaze
At the light that radiates down
Will it travel forth to you
Far across this shimmering sea?"
formerly linkinparkelf
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Celandine Goodbody
The Shire
Mar 26 2007, 4:41pm
Post #19 of 46
(743 views)
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More hugs and well-wishes, dear friend.
Many on-line friends are real friends and their loss is just as painful as "flesh and blood" friends--I think everyone here will attest to that! We have all known people on line that we connect with, admire, and love. And we are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet people this way--whom we would have never known otherwise. I am so happy you had this wonderful friend for so long and I am so sorry for this terrible loss. It reminds one of how fleeting life can be. 
***********************************************************************
The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him!
But I will not have him slain. It is useless to meet revenge with revenge: it will heal nothing.
---Frodo Baggins
Quite an inspiration, our Frodo.
***********************************************************************
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 26 2007, 5:05pm
Post #20 of 46
(758 views)
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Here's a verbal image of John posted by someone
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who knew him in person:
"Jim, last summer I remember seeing John out for a walk on one of the busiest
intersections in
central Edmonton. He was conducting the music he was listening to as he walked
along.
Somehow, that seemed to be John. Out of a lot of noise and chaos, he heard the
potential for
order, and I think he really wanted to help conduct a more peaceful, more
equitable, more
caring world society.
Gary"
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Curious
Half-elven
Mar 26 2007, 5:43pm
Post #21 of 46
(761 views)
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I don't usually do this, you know, but anything for you.
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{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Aunt Dora}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Mar 26 2007, 6:05pm
Post #22 of 46
(752 views)
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That means a lot. I'm tempted to use a smiley here, but I know you denisons of the RR aren't fond of them, so I'll just say thanks.
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chance Meeting at Rivendell: a Tolkien Fanfic
and some other stuff I wrote...
leleni at hotmail dot com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Tintallë
Gondor
Mar 26 2007, 6:23pm
Post #23 of 46
(739 views)
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What a thoughtful reflection on a random outward observation reflecting the inner nature of the individual.
I am so sorry you lost your friend, Aunt Dora. May these many hugs and a virtual cup of tea comfort you somewhat.
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Altaira
Superuser
Mar 26 2007, 6:40pm
Post #24 of 46
(757 views)
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I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend, John. 
You know my thoughts and prayers are with you and if you need anything at all, you only need to ask. 
HUGE HUGS!!
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the boards that are given to us"
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
TORn Calendar
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Ciars
Rohan
Mar 26 2007, 6:45pm
Post #25 of 46
(742 views)
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that must have been quite a shock! I'm so sorry for your loss and hope that the shock fades in time and you can remember him without the sorrow,, hugs again
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
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