R.I.P.

By popagandhi | Published: 1 December, 2005

I remember the first ‘blogger’ death I came across, years back, an American site I used to follow. The blogger stopped updating for weeks. Hundreds of “what happened?” comments later, his family member informed us: he had been hit by a car. I was shocked, he was so far removed from me, and yet, I cried.

Then there was that brave Grace who set up a blog to document her struggle with cancer. When she eventually passed on, we expected it; yet still couldn’t quite deal with it.

And when it’s somebody you’ve known for years, even if merely online, who became someone you’ve worked with in “real life”:http://www.tomorrow.sg/. It’s just crushing, and I can’t deal with it. One last “ominous post”:http://www.idledays.net/?p=686. Weeks of not hearing from her. Finding out, this morning.

Sondra, you are greatly missed. I still owe you a pin I said I’d make back in 2003, but never did. Words fail me now.

See the page at “Tomorrow”:http://tomorrow.sg/archives/2005/12/01/la_idler_passes_away.html.

*2 Dec:* I still can’t believe she is gone. We weren’t close, and yet.. I keep running through the images of her sitting next to me at dinner at BloggerCon. Talking about Cambodia, how she hoped to visit the Angkor Wat soon, how I offered suggestions on the trip. I can even see what she had for dinner that day. I can’t.. I just can’t. I hope she’s in a better place now.

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  • I’m closing this thread.
  • Precisely.




    The guts to speak out for what we believe in: Fuck off.
  • T.L
    Is there really a time and place for everything?




    Maybe there are things which should be present everytime and at every place.





    It is sad to see that there are so many who do not believe in the sanctity of human life. It is painful to see that there are so many who are such cowards that they do not dare speak-out about the atrocity of taking a person’s life.





    I am not shy, nor do I regret using this as a platform for raising the awarness of the importance of life. At least I have the guts to speak out for what I believe in.





    The problem with the human race is that we try to attached diiferent values to different lives. One life is neither less precious, nor more precious than another.
  • Raz
    Tactless. As much as your intention was good, you have offended many. Don’t bother to explain. Just quietly go.




    There is a time and place for everything.
  • jude
    hey that’s nasty. AYL was trying to make a point about DEATH in death penalty. He didn’t phase it as nicely as he should but if you get his point, he is talking about premature death. AYL, better learn to be more tactful with your language too.
  • dagger
    You know what? Just shut up. Don’t explain. Bugger off to whatever hole you came out from.
  • AYL Nat Exec.
    First of all, I would like to apologise for not being more tactful with the airing of my views.




    However, I would like to say that I had no intention of being political. I sincerely believe in the sanctity of a human life. The only reason why I signed off as AYL Nat Exec. is because I firmly believe that the organisation shares this same belief.





    A loss of a young life is always a sad and tragic. I must say that Sondra death has had much impact on me, even though I do not know her at all. Looking at her blog and her photos has got me thinking and reflecting over the past couple of days.





    This year I attended 2 funerals and was affected by the death of John Paul II, however, non of them got me thinking as deeply as Sondra.





    Once again I would like to apologise if I have offended anyone. But I do not shy away from my belief that the death of a young person is painful and sad. My belief in the sanctity of human life is only as political as you want it to be. To me, it is not political at all, because life is too precious for it.
  • Thanks for remembering the dinner. I will visit Angkor Wat with her in mind.
  • mis_nomer
    I’m sorry Adri, for your loss. Yet I believe she may be in a place “more kind than home, more large than earth”. Do take care..
  • Australian Young Labor National Executive: go to hell.
  • Aussie too
    Oy…your post is opportunistic and bias. While others are grieving about loss of a friend, you come and spit your propaganda crap. Instead of persuading others to see your view, you have dragged other Aussies into your mud pond!
  • mb
    Australian Young Labor National Executive: It is incredibly sad that you would come here and use my friend’s death to make your political statement.




    Sondra didn’t die for you to use her to make a point about the death penalty.





    Fuck off.
  • Australian Young Labor Nationa
    //post removed.
  • Thank you, Adri, for posting this incredibly important and incredibly sad information. I have followed her blog, and was very concerned when she thought she might have dengue fever, because my father got that during the Pacific War down there, and suffered from it for the rest of his life. But he lived till age 92. I’m just devastated that it has turned out to be something far worse for La Idler than what my dad experienced. Bless you, Adri, for letting me know, and for your wise words about this dear, lovely person. I’m bowing my head in prayer…
  • I guess in a way, she is immortalised through her blog, like what Cowboy said. That is the only comfort for me now, who have also followed her blog for more than a year.
  • That’s terrible. I read her last post and the comments below… so sad.




    Thank you for passing on those words.
  • Thaddeus
    The fragility of life. These could be your last days, and not know it. Sondra never suspected she was running her final lap.




    Live life well. Live it the way you want it to be, not what others want it to be. Live it, such that you maximise the joy and excitment of living each day.
  • I’ve come across another before, it really came unexpectedly. And made me wish I’d tried to get to know her a little better. Or made her a little happier. Her blog’s gone, though. Unfortunately.




    RIP.
  • It’s hard to deal with a blogger’s passing because her life is written right there and when you visit the site..somehow..you wish it’ll be updated once more.
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