On Monday I wrote a blog entry and posted photo's of a little needle felted cottage I'd made which had been strongly influenced by my love of Gretel Parker's needle felt designs. I also gave a link to her beautiful blog, Middle of Nowhere;
http://allaroundus.blogspot.co.uk/
which I have been following for a number of years.
Today I learned that Gretel's partner of 21 years, Andy - the man who she has just bought her very first owned home with, died on the very day I published my last blog entry.
I don't know Gretel personally, neither did I know Andy, yet her blog has allowed me to follow their lives together in such a way that my heart goes out to Gretel as though she were a personal friend. Strange how blogs work like that sometimes.
Andy died without a will and Gretel doesn't have the support system a lot of us take for granted - no parents, no siblings, no wider family to help cushion the blow, so friends have taken it upon themselves to set up The Gretel Parker Project and are asking that those who are able, kindly promote the project via facebook, twitter and blogs. It's hoped that by doing so, the project will be able to raise enough money to see her through these dark days. As they so succinctly put it
'Meanwhile, life does go on and there are still bills to be paid -- funeral expenses, mortgage payments, electric bills, trips to the grocery store, and all the other costs of daily life.'
More details of the project can be found here;
http://www.indiegogo.com/gretel-parker-project
I'm not normally a fan of promoting anything that asks for money, but in this instance I gladly make an exception.
Someone whose blog I followed, and who followed mine, died quite recently, and it was quite a shock. I still find his very intelligent comments all over my past postings, and always make a point of re-reading them. Blogging definitely creates friendships, even when we have no idea who is on the other end of a (often fictitious) name.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite uncanny how closely connected blogs can sometimes make us feel to people who we've never met. I found myself in tears yesterday so strongly was the impact of learning this awful news.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you've lost a blogging friend recently, Cro. In a way though I also find myself comforted by the thought that it's not just me who recognises the strength of friendships and attachments formed in this virtual world we inhabit :-)
I was upset by this news too.
ReplyDeleteIt was horrible and so hard to imagine what she must be going through.
The demons within us are frightening.
I hope you are well, take care xx