{{{Maria}}} It sounds like your husband made a huge impact on many lives. I hope you can take some comfort in that. The young man's note was just wonderful and had me tearing up this morning. I wanted to add my voice what the California buffistas have already said, anytime you want to escape, MA is available to you. I'll take you to RI for dinner on Federal Hill anytime you want.

{{{Maria}}}.Just adding my voice to the chorus so that you are as surrounded by buffistae love as you can be.

I don't think my family understands how deep internet friendships can feel. I haven't been active here in ages, but just like far-flung children fly home when something happens to the family, this was the first place I wanted to be (even though Maria & I are friends on FB).

Maria have you made your arrangements? Does Rob's family live near you (and/or near your parents)?

I don't think my family understands how deep internet friendships can feel.

I agree with that, Cindy. I was telling my mother (who knows all about the Buffy friends and even met some at the Providence F2F) about how upset I was for Maria's loss, but I could tell she really didn't understand why I would be that upset for someone I never "met". But I am just as upset for Maria as I would be for any meatspace friend who lost a spouse. Even more so in a way because I can't make an appearance at the funeral or do any of the things I would do for a local friend who lost a loved one.

My Dad is kind of agog at how much support he and I got (and are still getting!) from my "imaginary friends on the computer" (as Mom once described you folks). I know I wouldn't have gotten through last year without you.

Even more so in a way because I can't make an appearance at the funeral or do any of the things I would do for a local friend who lost a loved one.

Yes. So very much.

Jilli, I felt the same way when my father died. You people got me through, for sure.

Yes, that makes it harder, sj, in some ways. I can't stop over with food, or go to a wake, or anything like that. Similarly, I have a sick friend who lives far away. I can't help her in any of the physical ways I could, if we were closer. I remember in college, my roommate and I wished we could have all our people within a few blocks.

I remember in college, my roommate and I wished we could have all our people within a few blocks.

Yes, that would be nice.

In what feels like an extremely first world problem right now, the inspection of the house we want to buy tomorrow at 1:30. I'm worried we will find something terribly wrong with the house.

1/2 hour early (since that's when I could steal a minute to post) job-ma, Jilli! May they fully grasp how lucky they would be to get you.

Inspection-ma, sj!

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Since I said it on FB, but think I forgot to here, much peace and comfort to you, Maria.

Job~ma, Jilli!!

Accurate and thorough inspection~ma, sj. And may the results yield issues that can be readily dealt with via negotiating for current owners to fix, or by suitable price offset.