8.30.2011

ROBQUIT

robquit and tielji by tielji
robquit and tielji, a photo by tielji on Flickr.

You all know (well, some of you know) that I quit smoking using the Quitnet.com.

Internet-ANYthing is such a great sociological experiment, but an internet support system for kicking an addiction is another animal altogether. It is very intense. I think it is due to the power of the written word, but also because of the (sometimes false) sense of knowing other people very intimately because you communicate so often.

I have met the finest people on the world wide web. And most of them I met on the Q.

Often the Q will have a huge get-together where people from all over the world will come meet each other in person. These days, meetings like this are called conventions and are not very out of the ordinary. But 4 years ago it was still pretty shaky. Our friends and family were nervous for our safety and questioning our sanity. I mean, really! Who flies (or drives) thousands of miles to hang out with total strangers for the weekend for no other reason except to connect a face to a screen name?

At one such get-together, we all gathered in Chicago. (What a wonderful place!) I road-tripped with my Q-Bud Taceon, stayed in NE with another Q-Bud Courtne, and saw all of Chicago's finest tourist spots with Brnhiker and Spmozart - all people that I would have never known if not for the Q.

And amongst the 100 or so beloved strangers I was blessed to meet, there was RobQuit. Yes, I got to meet RobQuit in Chicago.

What a handsome devil. What a Q legend. What an amazing man, husband and father. What a fabulous friend.

He became my most precious penpal and support from afar - through my divorce, through my dating, through my life ills, and child raising disasters - he was there.

But now he isn't.

And he won't ever be there again.

Rob passed away this morning. From cancer.

It isn't fair.

7 comments:

Jim said...

Oh.....I'm so very sorry to hear this. He looks like such a light and life ... oh, such tragedy. I hurt for you and for his family & friends too.

Life definitely is not fair...

Sultan said...

I am sorry about the loss of your friend. Life is so fragile: very scary.

said...

Oh ugh. I totally wasn't expecting the last part of that post. Brought an instant lump in my throat and tears to my eyes.

I am SO sorry for the loss of your friend, t.

Many hugs to you and good wishes for those he left behind.

Terri G said...

Jim - thank you so much. You are another of my amazing Q people, and I miss you dreadfully. Thank you for reaching out. <3

LOC - Thank you, and yes, isn't it? Another quirk is how noone can predict how they will deal with the loss of a friend, loved one, etc. The heart and mind just kinda do their own thing each time, I guess.

T - Thank you. I know you just went through this exact same thing with your dear friend. And yes...it's just...ugh. Big hugs, my friend.

This is Belgium said...

This is the very first time I look at your blog and am very saddened by your posting. Not a very good time for me to 'meet' you but sending you warm thoughts all the way from Brussels.

Mildred Ratched said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. Like many others, I know how that loss feels and I also know there are no words to alleviate the pain. Unfortunately, that ache in our heart where once a loving friend resided is an ache that will always be there. Please know you aren't alone and you have my full empathy.

Terri G said...

Belgium and Mildred - thank you so much. I feel rather guilty reaping all of your support and good thoughts as it is his family that hurts the most and feels his absence keenly and constantly. But I am accepting it anyway. :)

Oh Haiiiii!!

I was so afraid that my blog had disappeared- I mean, I haven't actually logged in for a couple of years, but still, shouldn't it be...