A moment of reflection...

It is striking how the Internet has come to help people in times of deep sadness; and how it has come to alert people far and wide to the most earth-shattering of all events.

This week, I heard of the death of a friend that I hung around with extensively in the late 70's / early 80's. Through e-mail, months ago, I had heard he was struggling with cancer. Jimmy Stuart was a wonderful person. You can read memorials to his spirit from friends and relatives here. [ link ]

A year ago this week, I lost a sister to cancer. Nancy also was a tremendously strong and powerful person. Her memorial too lives on, online. [ link ]

It is striking to me when you read the "online condolences" that people now leave for their friends and loved ones. Decades ago, the loss of long ago friends and family would most often be known only to those within a local community, and to close friends and relatives.

Today, with the speed of e-mail, and the massive connectedness of the Internet, all of us are touched far more often by the realities of life.