How does one begin to post again on the triviality of the world so shortly after an unexpected death? That has been my dilemma over the past few days. I haven’t run out of trivial things to say, I just haven’t felt quite up to talking about things that don’t seem to matter. And yet, on this day when we join in spirit with those in New Jersey to celebrate Jenn See’s life I realize it is those little things that brought us together. The very idea of Following My Fish came from a line from the comic book character Delerium in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, an interest that, before blogging, I shared with only two other people. We (and I mean all of us who blog together) have come together, at least at my site, over the most trivial things: music, movies, comics, books, and art. These things that give our lives flavor, the interests that we have that we long to share with others. So what on the surface can look really trivial is in fact quite meaningful in that our interests reflect our inner passions. They are physical manifestations of slices of our personality and quite frankly it is the literature and art of this world in all its many manifestations (movies, music, photography, etc.) that make living that much more entertaining, interesting, and exciting.

Continue reading Remembrance Day →

It is with great sadness that I share with you that a friend in the blog universe has passed away. Jenn See apparently died of a heart aneurysm early this morning.

Jenn See was part of the triumvirate of the Following My Fish site along with Mysfit and Oldben. I cannot begin to express my sadness. It is hard to describe what a relationship is when you do not meet someone in person but converse solely through the internet. Are they a friend, an acquaintance, what? There is an absence of completeness to a relationship in which you do not see the person face to face and yet there is a depth of relationship that is achieved when you share of yourself with others and have them do the same with you.

Part of my goal in starting to blog was to meet others with interests similar to mine…interests that are not necessarily shared by everyone around me…and in turn to discover new interests through my interactions with others. That in a nutshell is exactly what happened with my relationship with Jenn See. Shared interests in the work of Neil Gaiman is what led me to her site in the first place.

Jenn See was…is…a constant source of inspiration. Her photography site Tourist of Everything never ceases to amaze. Jenn See was a girl who carried her camera with her everywhere and could not only see but capture beauty and wonder in the most simple things. Her portraits of people were always so candid, and so real. Jenn See wrote incredible poetry as well and had an artistic soul. When I told Mary about Jenn See’s death this morning she commented on the opening image to today’s Friday Favorites. The heart picture turned out to be an oddly appropriate visual representation of just what Jenn See was. From her heart poured inspiration and artistic expression that grew and blossomed and sowed seeds into the lives of those who came into contact with her. At least that is what happened to me in the context of this online world and I’m sure it was that way for those she really knew and who were a part of her life.

I have ached all day. Not for my loss, it is selfish to even consider that I have lost anything. It is for Jenn See’s family, her friends (especially you Mysfit) and for Oldben. All I could think of today was how I would feel if I lost Mary. I couldn’t imagine life without her and those thoughts have had me hurting for you all day. I wish I knew words to say to make things better…to make things right…but I don’t know anything to say that will comfort you. I’m so very, very sorry.

Its is strange how the world works. The first comment that I could find on my site from Jenn See was her recommending the music of Regina Spektor (something I am extremely grateful for) and in an odd bit of symmetry one of the last posts she ever made was about Regina’s latest album, Begin to Hope. The last “conversation” that I had with Jenn See was in regards to the Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett novel Good Omens, a book that will forever be associated in my mind with her: “carl v! good omens rocks!
okay, that’s enough exclamations, but seriously, i just reread it for the first time in awhile (gave away every paperback copy i’ve had, & hadn’t picked up the new one i bought to be signed because i was enjoying its pristine condition for awhile…) & it really is smashing.”

I don’t know what Jenn See was doing during her last hours on earth but it hurts to think of a book laying by the bedside table never to be finished. Poems not yet completed. Pictures on her camera that were meant to be posted. Treasure life people. And treasure your relationships with others in person and online. You never know how much you can touch people with what you say and do. That has come home so strongly today. Love those around you and live, really live, because no matter the years you have on this earth life is short. I will miss the inspiration of Jenn See’s life and art tremendously. Please send your thoughts and prayers out to her friends and family. They desperately need them in this hour of devastation.