I don’t usually start at the beginning on #ThermalThursday, but just to be clear for any startled rollovers: I have lost two good online friends this past week, Ekaterin and CameronProf. That’s what this diary will mostly be about. I am not, AFAIK, going anywhere, anytime soon.
Today’s Topic: Like many of you, I have been reading here with a heavy heart for the past several days. First Ekaterin passed, with a sendoff by Horsefeathers for the ages. Her real name was Rose. And hopefully that diary has been or will be read by her nephew and any other surviving relatives.
Then today, we found out that CameronProf passed. You may know him by his previous user name, BFSkinner. His brother let us know of his passing in a diary under CameronProf’s name and hopefully he’ll be back to read those comments. His real name was Jeremy. Jeremy was so sick for so long, but probably would not go until contact with us was promised. I can see him standing at the Pearly Gates saying “I’m not coming in until my brother posts that diary!”
So there are tribute diaries already loaded with comments, but those are for the families. And so I thought let’s have this one for us. They were real people in the real world with real connections. But we didn’t quite know those people. We knew who they were here, with us, how they presented themselves to us. So let’s talk about them.
So full knowledge of our friends cannot really be gleaned online, or not always. I will always think of Jeremy as BF because of his original user name, and because I have a background in psychology. BF wrote some diaries about Jewish issues and LGBTQ+ issues, and those are part of his identity IRL. He also let us know about his struggles with health, finances, and finding a place to live outside of a nursing home so that he would be able to keep his cats. He was in and out of hospitals many times during his time here. He always tried to let us know so that we wouldn’t worry. We sent him two community quilts over the years. He asked questions from the profound (purpose of life?) to just about everything superficial (favourite song? food? movie? etc.). He loved his cats, and we laughed at his name for them — the Overlords! Because all us cat lovers know how cats are, don’t we?
There was some sort of dust-up about all the questions BF was asking just to get us hanging out and chatting, so he put the BFSkinner identity to bed and reappeared as CameronProf. One of the few members allowed to do that, so you know he’s a good guy, and popular! And yet there were times he wondered about that. But yes, BF, you were amazing!
As for Ekaterin, did anything Horsefeathers wrote surprise you? It did me. I had no idea she was a church pastor! She preached every Sunday! But that’s not the Ekaterin we knew. We knew her as caring enough to post fundraising diaries, especially for Scamperdo when she was working 3 jobs to care for her extended family. We knew her as loving her and others’ pooties. We shared her heartbreak when we lost cats. She had amazing cats, but the one I remember the most was her last but one, MiMi. You can see them all in Horsefeathers’ diary.
We really get to know the regulars on Daily Kos, or at least that part of ourselves that we choose to reveal, at least during the times we typically make it online. I saw them both around the blog a lot, and I already miss them SO much! They are two of my favourite fellow aminal lovers, and over the years we shared losses and health issues and pain. And funny memes and fun times. And hope for Democrats in charge, and a future when this would be a better world IRL.
So please sit with me a little while and share your stories of BF/CP and Ekaterin/Rose. Remember that you can go back and look at their old diaries and comments any time, so a part of their spirits are still here at your fingertips. Links above are to their old-style profile pages, from which I think it’s a little easier to find previous writings.
Maybe their families will find this diary, maybe not. But I think of this one as a bit more for us, their online community; focusing on how they were with us online, and how we were with them online. And of course if you knew them IRL, please feel free to share those stories too! It gives them intriguing depth.
Finally, please note that Jeremy’s brother suggested a donation to aminal rescue. I think Rose would be delighted by the same, if you are so inclined.
UPDATE: In one of the diaries, 2thanks linked to an old post of BF’s where he says he would specifically like donations to Tiger Lily Cat Rescue. I’m sure that would also please Ekaterin.
I’ve mentioned this in several comments, but want to diary it too: When I was recovering from anesthesia, I had an out-of-body experience, and it looked to me like so did everyone in that Recovery Room. Our souls hovered over our beds, but they were not human, they were fluffy kittens! And a light like the rays of the sun shone in and around our bodies. We were all beautiful! (I didn’t have to squint, apparently the soul’s eyes can look toward the light without a problem.) And I heard God reassure me that “It all works out in the end”.
I know, I was high. There are logical explanations. But I perceived those fluffy shining kitten souls as metaphorical manifestations of how we exist under our skins in this life and how we move on into the next life. Emotionally, that experience felt more real than just about anything I’ve really experienced. And real or not, that’s how I like to perceive our collective future.
So BF and Ekaterin//Jeremy and Rose, may your fluffy shining kitten souls transcend over the Rainbow Bridge, where you can reunite with those of your departed loved ones of the too-short lives. Greet our former pets too with lots of hugs sent from us, until we get there and join you all. We will miss you, but farewell and fare well. Enjoy the blessings of whatever comes next. If you want to send back a sign — maybe a little kitten fluff blowing by on the wind on a mild sunny day — we’d appreciate that too. But it’s never goodbye. It’s see you later.
And finally as always, we still need to elevate our Community Cred and repost The Needs List! From Aashirs nani (with permission) on Helping Humpday — when half measures aren’t enough:
PLEASE NOTE:
When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end. Be aware, both donor and recipient, that GFM not only charges fees, but also money received through that platform is treated as taxable income. If you are requesting help through GFM, also be aware that there can be delays in accessing the money.
COMMUNITY NEEDS LIST AS OF 6/14/23:
Fundraisers who want a diary to be or stay on the list: PLEASE kosmail requests and donations received to njm5000 by Tuesday evening to be included on the Wednesday morning updated list.
Living on the financial edge—need help? Check out the Helping Directories before your next emergency.
Housing and Living Expenses Fundraisers and Other Links
When sending via PayPal, be sure to select “Send to family/friend” to avoid fees on either end.
anotherdemocrat—has a diary up: Anyone know where I can find a 2nd job? She’s in Austin and is suddenly $24000 in debt, mainly due to an HOA assessment! From the diary: “So, $24,000 is more money than I can ask even a big community like Daily Kos to donate. I have a venmo: at Becky-Helton, Cashapp: $B3ckyHelt0n, and GoFundMe, if anyone wants to help with next month’s payments but for a big total like that, I need a 2nd job. My day job is M-F from 8-5, so it would have to be evenings & weekends.” and “Skills: writing, 20+ years of customer service work, super reliable…” Kosmail, if you can help.
BMScott posted this: From a Daily Kos Guild tweet about Christopher Reeves:
“Christopher's house burned down early in February. An insurance dispute has made it difficult to access his funds for necessary items, so we're trying to keep him and his family sheltered, fed, and clothed. PLEASE help however you can.” There is a GoFundMe that currently stands at $15,360 15,385 15,585 towards a revised goal of $20,000.
jtg—needs about $7,000 6150 5760 5460 5435 5185 4935 4500 4100 3900 3700 for dental work.• GoFundMe • KoFi• PayPal• Patreon • Amazon Pet Supplies •
michelewln—needs $400 towards rent, utilities, meds, and the increased cost of having to have groceries delivered.
bluePNWcats—Woot!!! Was going on the list, but some generous soul already met and exceeded her ask.
morgansmom—Woot!!! Will be able to get the work done and drive safely!
Thanks, as always, to the donors.
Kos Katalogue 2022 is here—please Kosmail BeadLady if you have corrections or additions
Please note also that Chef Bobby Neary, “@nuevopioneer,” passed away January 14, 2023. We will continue to post his favourite charity to honour him — please consider a donation to the Satos, the street pets of Puerto Rico! Bobby adopted his own Sato, Missilu, as well as raised funds for PR’s Satos.
I’m in for a mickle each week toward a variety of DKos members on the Needs List. I hope you’ll join me. Always glad to see the needed amounts gradually decreasing!
If helping financially isn’t the right choice for you at this time, you can still help. Tip and rec the diary so it stays visible. Share on social media: Twitter, Facebook, whatever platform you use, to bring the attention of others outside our daily readers. And offer words of encouragement to people who are struggling. It can be scary to be struggling, and it can feel lonely. Let them know we understand and are here to help.
If you have time, please visit the diaries above and leave comments for their authors. Those words of encouragement are vital!
If you don’t like fundraisers, please just move along. They are a longstanding tradition at DKos — Until we vote in enough progressives to create a much stronger social safety net! (Maybe in 2024!.)
And finally, please note: I am sole caregiver for my Mom, so I will likely be back and forth, here and gone shortly after this posts. If I am out, please chat amongst yourselves, take a coffee break, post aminal photos, food/drink and tunes, spread the word and invite your friends, etc.! I hope this diary is not too much of a downer, but feel the need to sit with our losses a little longer. I will engage in Comments as time and Mom’s needs allow. Thanks to all!