Absent Friends

[lawnrrd]

I got my LJ in March 2002, and one of the first people I followed was roadnotes. Looking back, I see that her first comment in my journal was in May 2002-I hadn’t remembered her following me back so soon afterwards. By January 2003, I was singing regularly with a group of friends, including Velma, at Rose’s Turn on Thursday nights

Comments

[redstapler]

Thank you for posting this. <3

[mallorys_camera]

Scraps is actually the person who turned me on to LJ. He posted about LJ somewhere on the Well, and I thought, Well, that sounds interesting. Even in its dotage, LJ remains my very favorite Internet haunt so I feel as though Scraps had a profound influence on my life, without every knowing about it.

Velma was one of the first people I followed on LJ, too. There was just something so enchanting about her writing -- I mean, I could just see her in the pen store, puzzling over just the right shade of ink -- apple green or pale turquoise? -- to purchase. I loved her practical whimsicality.

I never met her, can't really pretend to be a friend of hers. Nonetheless, at 4:46 p.m. yesterday, I got what felt like a text message in my brain: Velma is dead. It was very odd.

The whole Scraps and Velma saga throughout the past decade has been chilling and sad, and continually reminds me that I have nothing to complain about ever, really.

[kizlj]

fucking hell. I hadn't heard :( She was an indelible presence in the universe.

[fimbrethil]

Thank you for sharing Jon.

[rosemarymint]

My jaw is still on the ground over this. I had crossed paths with her multiple times over the years, but had (as in most of my relationships) drifted away. I still don't have words, other than thanks for writing about your memories with her.

[smtigger]

I have known Velma for years, but haven't seen her in years. I am sad to hear of her passing. Thanks for posting.