Blogger EOW

blogging, Faith, Friendship 56 comments

I happened to look at an old post today…from April ‘24…that somebody found and liked. I re-read the words, and then scrolled to see with whom it had registered.

One was a blogger here in our WP fam, leturos. A pseudonym, as many of us use… but glimpses of the real guy were not hard to see; sunbeams poking through lunar mountain ranges during an eclipse.

I used to enjoy Leturos’ low-key, slice-of-life vignettes from the heart of Retirement Land in FL. He had commented on my blog: “This hit me.” I was glad. But I was saddened to learn just a few months later in September that he had suddenly and tragically reached his EOW (End of Watch).

It prompted me to take a look at my “subscribed to” list and realized there many bloggers I hadn’t heard from in months. The only reason I knew about Leturos was that someone had posted about it.

I got thinking about some of these folks. Many were/are fighting health issues, abusive relationships, challenging life changes. I wonder how they’re doing… I really feel close to some of them and pondering their current status gives me pause.

I get it that some folks just get tired of blogging.

But for the others… who are so tuned in to this community…would it be wrong…? disrespectful…? for others with knowledge of their whereabouts/status…to let our WP fam know of their situation? The alternative is a FB page that was “last updated in 2017.”

I dunno. Just noodling. Thx for any feedback 😎

56 comments

  1. I think with the world being flipped upside down lately, it’s natural that something like this would hit even harder. I can’t speak for others, but I know I’m questioning my own future welfare and even mortality nowadays.

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  3. Thank you for your post and for a very thought provoking question. I know for myself I haven’t been blogging as much as I used to. I’ve had some health problems along with life issues and I am beyond grateful to my fellow bloggers who have reached out to check in on me. With that being said, I have wondered where some of those I follow have been. I have reached out to most with little return or response. If something did happen to them I know for me I’d like to know.

    I had a conversation a few weeks back with my partner and I told him if something ever happens to me to please post it to my blog site because there are those I’ve become friends with, though we’ve never met. I personally feel they would want to know and I feel they deserve to know.

    I feel for the most part fellow bloggers do try and let their readers know, but sometimes life does happen or they just forget to make that post that they are taking a break or maybe their taking a break post gets lost in our shuffle of emails.

    I think we as bloggers have become a community of friends, so yes, for me at least, I know I’d like to know here on our platform verses finding out through a Facebook post. That’s just me though.

    Hugs my friend. Have a great evening.

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    1. Dawna, I’m so sorry about the delayed response here…didn’t mean to ghost you and everybody else, lol, sort off the point. I had some stuff to do and company and I’ve been off WP for a few days…my apologies.

      But thanks much for weighing in. I’m sorry about your health and life issues 😢 I hope you find the right docs to help you get on the mend and that your life issues resolve peacefully ❤️🙏

      I think most folks were like you, would be nice to know… a few folks have requested prayer… and we’re hoping things turn out OK but there’s no real way to tell. Some folks were thinking it’d be better to respect our fellow bloggers’ privacy.

      As you’ve done, perhaps I’ll reach out privately to those who were struggling or I haven’t for posted quite a while. Like Rosie up in her new digs in Cumbria, UK…or mtqggartwriter up in snowy Maine, who used to crank out his cool poetry.

      Thanks again for your thoughts, my friend 😎❤️

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      1. Hi Darryl, I hope you enjoyed the time off and your company.
        I appreciate your well wishes. I am getting some great medical help and overall, I am hopeful I’ll be up and writing more and more.
        I hope all is well with our absent fellow bloggers. If you hear from them, please keep us posted, that is, if they are okay with it.
        Hugs to you my friend

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  4. Honestly, I always have a desire to give up on this, because I feel that I’m writing in a vacuum… but when I get some feedback, positive information, it encourages me. You have a heart Darryl.. the fact that you wonder how the rest are, why you care about other bloggers, because I am like that too.. I hope that my words reach their hearts and change them. I hope that I am that little light in the midst of their darkness, a hug that erases the wounds.

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    1. Rojie, sorry about being MIA on my own post 😑 I was off for a few days with projects and company. Didn’t mean to leave you hanging.

      Thanks for reading and the kind words. Hope you’re doing well, my friend 😎❤️

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  6. Sorry to hear about your friend, Darryl. I’ve also known people on social media who become noticeable by their absence, and wondered what happened. Sometimes word gets around, sometimes not, and I’ve never got too concerned because so far it hasn’t been anyone I’ve got close to – also because my life has been one of moving through a constantly- changing community, so I tend to expect it to be that way. It’s always good to know if possible, however. All the best to you. 🙂

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  9. I used to follow several women who lived full time in RVs. Once upon a time that lifestyle was a dream of mine. Sometimes they would just stop blogging. It was always a sad relief if somehow we found out what happened vs just wondering.

    The friendships made in the virtual world are just as real as those we make face to face. In fact I have met several of my blogger friends and found them just as nice and as interesting as they are online.

    I’m sorry that your friend died, I think bloggers, especially those that have been around a long time, should consider having a plan to have someone write a final post when the real end comes along.

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    1. Dawn, sorry for the delayed response! I took a few days off.

      Agree that the friendships we make in the virtual world are as real as those we make face to face. And somehow, perhaps even stronger here where bloggers are so candid about their struggles and victories.

      Thanks much for reading and commenting 😎

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  10. OMW Darryl. This is so on point and I can certainly relate to every word. Firstly, thank you for caring so much about our WP Fam. I am, in comparison to many other’s, quite new to this world, but already I am becoming “attached” to my new www friend’s. We get to know each other by the stories and post’s we tell and I look forward to hearing from you all. I agree, it is hard to be consistent and write daily when one is battling against the war’s of our times, as I am, the struggles of ill health, abuse, bad relationships, rejection from “real living family siblings”, in real life, but we I think we all write to let the demon’s out. I think we all have our reason’s for “venting” one way or another to escape the so called “real world”. I do not think it is rude, disrespectful, to enquire as to the whereabout’s of other WP family members. It is so kind, thoughtful and shows compassion, concern and we miss not hearing anything from some we’ve grown to know. I find that a lot seems to depend on our “Stories, blog’s”. If, as the world dictates, we put on false facade’s, the painted smile, pretentious happiness, then we attract many viewer’s, but if, on the other hand, we tell the truth of our suffering, traumas, in the hopes of reaching and helping others in the same situation, then follower’s back away into the distance and do not want to know, so one is then left wondering whether it’s worth continuing with our telling our stories. I know I have questioned myself a lot but I have a story to tell and if we have the “need, desire, purpose” to do so, then so we should, whether it be liked or not. It is cathartic to our need to write, to reach out, with compassion and love and if others want to share, read, open up, then we’ve can only pray we have helped another soul along our path. If we dont hear, then maybe that is beyond our control, but it would be nice to keep in touch with the outside expanse of word’s flying around the inestimable expanse of the technological airwaves and bump into our WP fam who are also flying around in the expanse of the www looking for comfort, answers, friends, support, that we dont have in the “real, physical, world”! Keep writing Darryl and thanks for caring. 🙏❤️

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    1. White dove, thanks much for the thoughtful and kind response. I think peeps on WP tend to be more open and realistic with their struggles than those on, say, FB. And in return, the WP community tends to generally be supportive and helpful. You’re right, some do shy away…”I don’t want to get involved here”…but from what I’ve seen, it’s mostly kindness and concern. Thx again for the comment 😎❤️

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      1. Thank you Darryl, you’re most welcome. Was a lovely post. I agree. I’m not on FB (thank goodness) but WP fam does seem a lot more friendly, open, honest, supportive and kind. It’s a pleasure to be a part of the WP community. Love your posts. Thanx again for kind comments. ❤️🤗

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  12. Leturos was one of the first bloggers who actually read and commented on my posts when I was brand new on WP and I like to think we had a bit of a friendship. I faithfully followed his as well and was fascinated by his life, travelling by golf cart to run errands! He seemed like a super nice guy and I was also sad to learn from Stephanie that he was gone.
    Some bloggers do seem to just fall off the map for whatever reason but yeah I wish they’d post “over ‘n out” before they do. I suppose some people are just more private and don’t feel the need to explain themselves.

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    1. CJ, think you nailed it. Used to love his posts that included doggy friend Fremont, with pix. If I recall correctly, his wife was supposed to be launching some new business and Leturos was stoked 😢

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  13. it’s so true. Life can really change in an instant. You think you know someone really well and then they have changed instantly. So saf. God is the only being yiu can count on

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    1. I’m sorry for the delayed response… Got busy with projects and had company… Didn’t mean to leave you hanging.

      Your last sentence was so impactful… It’s true. One thing we can always be sure of.

      Thanks for reading and leaving such a thoughtful comment. 😎

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  14. Over the years, a couple of the bloggers I followed faithfully here passed on. If you know the location of the person, one (maybe morbid) way is to check the obits from that place. That’s how I found out about the two I mentioned. I noticed their absence for several weeks, and none of their other followers commented except to ask on their last post, “is everything ok?” Of course, this is only possible if the person shares even a part of their real name. I’ve met a couple of online friends in person, and they’re exactly as they represent themselves.

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    1. Terry, good idea. I’m on this word game team where everybody uses a screen name. We’ve been playing for about four years and we have some pretty close friendships. Last year, I gave the game up for Lent… and my bad here… neglected to tell anyone. When I returned, they were a combination mad/relieved. Apparently they had been checking the obits in the Raleigh area, trying to see if anybody had drowned while surfing, or any of the other stuff they knew about me. I apologized for my thoughtlessness and was eventually let out of the dog house 😎❤️

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  15. As someone who is relatively new to the WP family, one of the most surprising and delightful aspects of blogging is discovering this family. I started the blog because I missed writing/managing a newsletter for a group of foodies from our church that was one way we kept community during Covid lockdown (and our church stayed online longer than most). I invited the people who were part of that group to read the blog, and a few of them do. But mostly, my subscribers are people I’ve “met” here in the ether.

    I find myself, when talking about the blog, referring to my WordPress friends, and that’s truly how I feel about people like you, Darryl, who read and take a real interest. I’m not surprised by your concern and sympathy for leturos, and, from what you’ve said, I wish I’d known him. When I started the blog last summer, I figured I’d give it a year and see if I wanted to continue. Now I can’t imagine life without this family. Thanks for putting into words how I feel about being here.

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  16. I totally get it. I have over the course of the last nearly twenty years spent on various blog ventures lost so many of my writing friends, and I’d bet there are many I don’t even know about. One of the beauties of blogging vs social media, is you are not required to give more of yourself than you are comfortable with- and I think if we started doing updates on people’s station in or out of life- we would lose the elusive quality of choice. That’s just my thoughts on the matter.

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    1. Violet, thx much for the feedback. Totally get the privacy/anonymity thing. Guess there’s nothing we can do, anyway… just concerning when someone suddenly goes silent.

      I was following a guy who was living out of his vehicle (the “Adventure Truck”) and he some really interesting posts from the SW desert, all these state parks, big storms, wildlife, etc. He just dropped off the map… Hope he’s doing OK

      Have a great weekend 😎❤️

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  17. I’m ashamed to say it, but this hadn’t occurred to me before. I have been shocked at the amount of contact I’ve had through WP, almost without exception some of the most positive and thoughtful emails and engagements I could imagine. Some are so regular that I would be quite concerned and puzzled if they stopped. I’m sorry to hear about this loss, and it is a good question.

    –Scott

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    1. Scott, agree about the positivity and thoughtfulness… so many props when someone reaches a milestone, or has something published, or a great review. I look forward to your posts! And every time I drive by an abandoned house, I think of you and that cabin 😉

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      1. Much as I’d like to, I can’t take credit for that cabin; that’s my buddy Charles, one of our contributors. Awhile back I had nudged him to check out your page, as I thought he would really enjoy and appreciate your style and stories. I was right! You have another fan in him.

        Have a great weekend!

        –Scott

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  18. Leturos was one of the people I most looked forward to hearing from. His presence still missed.

    I appreciate when people let us know they’ll be taking a break, since we do come to care about others’ presence and lives; we get to know one another.

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    1. Stephanie, same. IDK why… perhaps it’s just the nature of this community… zero drama, 100% talent: Writing, painting, photography, cooking. Thx for your thoughts! 😎❤️

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    1. Ana, thanks for weighing in. No doubt this is true… or the novelty wears off, they’re not attracting new subscribers, they don’t get many likes. I guess I’m thinking of more about WP folks who post regularly and have a lot of interactions via comments. But your point is well taken.

      Hope you have a great weekend! 😎❤️

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    1. Jacqui, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you hanging. We had some company and I got involved with a few projects… My apologies for the delayed response.

      Thanks for reading and commenting as always 😎

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    1. GenEx, thanks for your comment. Agree completely. Life with canine bud Fremont, wry observations about retirees, everyday stories about working at the deli. I was really bummed… but understood why he’d no longer be posting and gave me a little closure. RIP, indeed.

      Look forward to your posts. Very thought provoking and well written 😎👍

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  22. I can understand what you are saying Darryl. After seeing and connecting with people in certain groups, you get to know when they have not been around in awhile. I feel that it would be touching to know when someone is missed but the persons family might not even be aware of the group they were a part of. Hugs to you.

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    1. Pennie, i’m so sorry for the delayed response. We had some company and I got involved with some projects and was off of WP for a few days. I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.

      Thanks for your thoughts… Definitely worth noodling. Thanks for reading and your comment. 😎❤️

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  23. I really strongly understand what you mean on this post. There are so many bloggers that became friends that left WordPress and no one has any updates on them. The sad thing about meeting someone on an online platform such as this one is that we never really know about their personal life. They may disappear one day and we may never know if they’re okay or not. I would love if there was a page or something so we can know what’s going on and if the blogger is safe etc.
    RIP Leturos I had no idea he was no longer with us.

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    1. Thanks, Pooja! I guess it’s one of the casualties of living in the digital age, the ephemeral nature of our friendships… much wider (and often, deeply personal)… but also much more victims of the winds of fate. Here today, gone manyaña. FWIW, if I ever decide to quit blogging, I’ll post something expressing my appreciation to this very cool community 😎 Or if not me, my better half, living in Maui on my life insurance payout 😂 (kinda)

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  24. Sorry for losing a fellow blogging friend.

    When I don’t hear from fellow bloggers for a while, I always wonder, especially when they have shared concerns about their physical or mental health. Like you (and many others), I don’t consider fellow bloggers anonymous followers and have become close, even across a distance.

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