Ship of Fools: Boards to close for funeral today

Thread: Boards to close for funeral today Board: Erin / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Simon (# 1) on :

Please note that the boards will close between 11 and 12am EST today to mark Erin's funeral (between 4 and 5pm GMT). Please check in then for a special page and for the link to the Cafe, where there will be a vigil. Please take time to remember Erin and her family, and for her family here around the world. Thanks.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

Nicely done, Simon. Seeing Erin's photograph was a blessing.
[Votive]

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

We made it work, despite all the glitches, and gave her a true ship-style send-off. [Votive]

Posted by Simon (# 1) on :

Thanks, Chorister.

Just to note that the photograph was sent to us by Jason Etheredge and used with his specific permission and blessing.

Posted by TonyK (# 35) on :

Great to see the photo, Simon. Thanks

Cafe vigil was good (my first time in there!) despite being 'kicked out' for 10 minutes!

Thanks, Shipmates

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

Though I could only see scattered shipmate avatars, I knew I was in a community of mourners.

And thanks to whoever remembered deuce2. Two years on and the pain is still sharp.

I was at a memorial today for a little boy I helped. He drowned just before Christmas, and this was put on by his class for the whole school (with some adult input). I prayed for Erin there too

Thank you for closing the Boards, Simon.

Pete

Posted by Ecclesiastical Flip-flop (# 10745) on :

I tried unsuccessfully to log-on to the café vigil. I did not know Erin and I assumed she was an elderly person; but the picture of her brought home to me the enormity of the sadness of her great loss. I was even moved to take a print-out of the poster and have it in front of me during this time. RIP

Posted by St. Stephen the Stoned (# 9841) on :

Yes thank you, Simon, and thanks to whoever else arranged the vigil. It was a truly moving experience.

Posted by East Price Road (# 13846) on :

Thanks to everyone there in the cafe - it was a wonderful hour.

(Even though I got kicked out for a while.)

Posted by Smudgie (# 2716) on :

Simon, I know that you struggled long and hard with the decision about whether or not to go to the actual funeral, and despite the fact that you know you made the right decision, you probably still feel a sense of unease. I just want to say how special it was that you were there in the cafe for the hour - it made the community feel complete (or as complete as it will ever be again now Erin is no longer with us in person). If others felt the same way as I did, then you can be sure that your decision was a comfort for many people.

It also felt good that, in our mutual loss of one friend, several old friends were brought together again for an hour and happy memories were evoked.

Thank you to those who led prayers.

Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
If others felt the same way as I did

This other did.

Posted by starbelly (# 25) on :

I almost cried seeing Erins picture today. Anyone who knows me will know that is quite something.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

At first I was cross and frustrated that I couldn't see who was posting what. But then I realised that it didn't actually matter. What did matter was that we were taking part in a corporate event, where everyone contributed by being there regardless of who said which parts and who kept silent.

Posted by Zacchaeus (# 14454) on :

Sadly I couldn't get into the cafe. But closing the boards seemd so much the right thing.

Posted by luvanddaisies (# 5761) on :

Couldn't make it to the cafe vigil today, but it's good to hear that this special community keeps showing that online community can be as real in its way as any other kind - something that does credit to the work and time Erin put into it, and in itself is a testimony to her. So sorry not to have been there.
[Votive]

Posted by Simon (# 1) on :

Smudgie... thanks for saying that. My heart was in Jacksonville today, but then, whose wasn't? It was a huge privilege to be in the Cafe alongside shipmates old and new, and with one absolute newbie there too – which was especially appropriate.

It was as moving and funny and spine-tingling as any church service I've ever been in, and I wouldn't have missed it. At the end, as we all furiously keyed in (I was going to say "belted out", but it amounts to the same thing) the words of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, I couldn't see the keyboard for tears. There was bitter grief and audacious words of hope, but above all there was the healing of togetherness as we remade our community.

I think we've seen that happening all week, as people have posted so movingly and with such amazing thought and eloquence on these boards. We have together been through a rare few days, touched with glory and pain. I'm so glad to have been here this week. It's been a genuine meeting with each other and with God.

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Simon:
It was as moving and funny and spine-tingling as any church service I've ever been in, and I wouldn't have missed it. At the end, as we all furiously keyed in (I was going to say "belted out", but it amounts to the same thing) the words of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, I couldn't see the keyboard for tears. There was bitter grief and audacious words of hope, but above all there was the healing of togetherness as we remade our community.

I wasn't intending to stay for the full hour as I had an appointment, but I had texted my customer I was supposed to meet at 5pm to say I may be late as I had a feeling I might just hang on til the end.

It was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced here on the Ship. Whenever someone posted a prayer, dozens of people posted "Amen". The hymn singing - well how can anyone describe that who wasn't there? Sitting at my desk, it was awe inspiring to know that I was praying with people from all over the world.

[ 07. January 2011, 23:28: Message edited by: Spike ]

Posted by Spike (# 36) on :

quote:
Originally posted by starbelly:
I almost cried seeing Erins picture today. Anyone who knows me will know that is quite something.

Same here, but no "almost" in my case

[ 07. January 2011, 23:25: Message edited by: Spike ]

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:

quote:
Originally posted by Smudgie:
If others felt the same way as I did
This other did.

Same here.

Posted by jlg (# 98) on :

Me too. Thanks, Smudgie, for putting words to what many of us were feeling.

Simon, you had a unique relationship with Erin for all these years. Perhaps one day you'll make another trip to the States and will be able to meet with Erin's family. And it will be a time when they aren't stressed out and overwhelmed with people and funeral and grief.

Given Jason's little "helled" joke and what we know of Erin, I suspect a delayed get-together and story-swap will be a wonderful event.

(PS: If it happens, could you MW it?)

Posted by marmot (# 479) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
...What did matter was that we were taking part in a corporate event, where everyone contributed by being there regardless of who said which parts and who kept silent.

A robust internet connection is a rare thing out here. Rather than fight with it and be frustrated, I went back out to Fr. Damien's St. Joseph Church and sat alone, with only the sound of the surf and birdsong for company. I thought of you all communing in various ways, and added my silent contemplation to the ether.

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