Amazing how all the little pieces eventually make a whole tapestry of our lives before we realize it's happened. ~ Mike Shain
When I started blogging more than six years ago, I couldn't guess how much certain people would come to mean to me. Folks I would only know in the limited way of knowing online. Yet I came to consider these fellows from cyberland friends, as we posted, quoted, photoed, joked, and disagreed with one another.
One of the people whose blog I've read a long time left the earth a month ago. I've been casual, at best, with keeping up on Facebook lately. The blogs I usually read get very few looks. I should have checked on Mike sooner, though, because for years he has sent me (and who knows how many more friends) a quote of the day, often an inspiration or chuckle worth saving. But over the past year or two Mike's sometimes been less regular with the emails, and I was involved with my parents and things at church lately, and so only today did I look at his FB page and find he won't be sending any more quotables.
I miss you already, Mike.
Besides the quotes, he sometimes passed along to me writer and book information. He attended Yale and may have had several degrees; he wrote for publications; he lived and adventured in Japan. Mike didn't put on airs about any of that. His internet tone was down to earth and always respectful.
Tim and Mike became Facebook friends. I smiled at their connections, despite different political views. Before the two of them "met," Mike sent me this picture, "Fer da roomie":
My last direct correspondence with Mike was in late June. He messaged me, saying, "Deanna, been following along with your quest for understanding. I commend you..." We had a great discussion about religion, broadcasting, and bridal showers. That was Mike S. That's what I will miss.
[caption id="attachment_6186" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Mike with a new grandbaby.[/caption]