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Dear Suzanne

Dear Suzanne,

The past few days, you have been on my mind quite a bit. I have thought about the first time I discovered your blog and how it made me laugh and smile. I left a comment, then wrote you an email telling you how much I liked your humor and photography. You wrote me back, saying you liked my blogs too.

I then gave your blogs-you had three at the time-a special place on my sidebar. I called it great humor and photos from Mississippi. I also introduced you to the people who read my blog, at that time just people from the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio area. You helped my presence on the internet grow. I now get regular readers from Canada, Europe, and Australia, as well as many states.

We became good blogging friends. You would comment on my blog as well as blogs you discovered from our friendship. Your talent got you many friends in-as you would put it-Bloggeritaville.

We emailed each other quite a bit, with jokes, videos, or just to say hi. You got to know a lot about my family and I got to know a lot about yours.

We even talked on the phone some. My how the time would fly when we talked. I was afraid of a couple of things at first, that you would think I talked funny and I would stutter. I loved your southern accent and you told me I had a great voice. And the stuttering? There were times you wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise. But that didn't matter, as I was talking to one of the most popular bloggers around.

You were there for me when I needed a friend. You told me when my brother passed away that you felt like you lost a member of your family. You and Chelle took his photo from my blog and posted it on your's. You made me glad that I shared him with the rest of "Bloggeritaville."

I just wish I could have been there for you when you needed it the most. I wish I could have said or done something that would have eased your burdens. I hope you appreciate the fact that I become friends with your son and daughter on Facebook this past weekend. I think they will grow up to be fine people, and Isabella is going to be every bit as pretty as her mother.

I hope by now you have met members of my family that have gone on and given them a hug for me. I think you and Ricky have probably have had a good conversation about me by now.

We will someday meet and when we do, we won't have internal struggles or physical ailments to burden ourselves. And we will be eating something way better than fried chicken.

Love you,
Cliff

Comments

Michelle said…
This is defiantly from the heart. I'm still crying over the loss of such a good friend. You did a wonderful post and all of us appreciate all the follow up's to this.
Anonymous said…
Dear Cliff,

You are a great friend.
Tim Lones said…
Cliff:
I am sorry for your loss..I never knew Suzanne the way you and others did, though she stopped by my blog a few times. Even as she would likely have no interest in Cleveland TV/Radio, she always had a kind word for me and my efforts..I will always appreciate that..It would have been nice to hear her southern accent as I adore that sort of thing..Take care friend..
Connie said…
Cliff, I'm sure Suzanne considered you a good friend to her just as she was to you. We never really know what burdens the people we meet may be carrying just as they are unaware of our troubles. All we can do is try to be kind to everyone. Suzanne's kindness, creativity, sense of humor and thoughtfulness will be missed. Cliff, I hope you can take comfort in the fact that she is at peace now and no longer struggling with the troubles she was facing in her life.
coltfan said…
suzanne will be missed by all . You are a true friend cliff. She would have been proud of you for these last few days.
Emma said…
*sniff*

Bloggeritaville will never be the same again!
SandyCarlson said…
Beautiful and heart-rending, Cliff. God bless.
Ms Hen's said…
Cliff.... I'm so sorry for your loss. I just started reading Recovery Blogs when I accidentally stumbled upon Syd; and then he wrote a post that Suzanne Horne passed away.

I read her whole blog last night; what a talented and beautiful woman........ I'm so sorry she suffered and thought she had to finalize the end of her life. So very very sad.

What a beautiful post you wrote about her; I'm sure she is smiling and happy you were a 'true' friend even if 800 miles away.

(((hugs))) to you...and I do hope she is at peace.........just so sad...

Al-Anon member of 17 months;

Betty Ann
rdl said…
Your letter gave me shivers - she would love it. I am so saddened/ I will really miss her too.

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