Longtime readers of my blog might remember a series of letters from a lovely lady by the name of Julie Drew. This is how Julie introduced herself back in August 2015.
Hello,
My name is Julie Drew and I live in tropical North Queensland, Australia. I often find myself linked onto your magical website, and thoroughly enjoy every moment I spend browsing through your treasures. But today I found your fabulous Aladdin's Cave even better than usual. I made the time to read your entries and feel that we must be kindred spirits, with so many loves which coincide.....
Julie loved many things, her family and friends, her dogs, garden and of course books. She shared some of her life and her books on my blog and more on Pinterest.
Today, I received an email from Julie’s son to tell me she had passed away. I’m sharing this news with a great deal of sadness, together with gratitude for having known her. If you’ve not read Julie’s letters or would like to read them again you will find them here A Letter from Julie, To Talk of Many Things, Dogs and Roses, The Adventures of Be-Wee the Gnome and Gum Tree Brownies and other Wondrous things
Browsing on Julie's Pinterest boards I came across this,
which is very fitting because she was, and she did.
So sad
ReplyDeleteJulie
Yes it is Julie, she was a lovely lady.
DeleteOld Sicilian Saying....
ReplyDelete"To the living we owe the truth..
to the dead we owe respect".
Nice tribute Barbara..Nice..!
Thanks Willie. I just feel so sad for her family, and I worry about her dogs, although I know her son will be there to care for them.
DeleteVery sad news. Some of the people we come across in the blogosphere become very dear to us.
ReplyDeleteSometimes blogging friends become almost more ‘real’ that real friends.
DeleteOh how sad, so many friends gone this year x
ReplyDeleteHello sister, I do feel sad this morning. I never met Julie but felt as if I knew her. I hope you are feeling better today, will email in a while. xx
DeleteSorry you have lost a friend. John Donne's beautiful words came to mind: No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Valerie
Beautiful words Valerie and so very true.
DeleteOh dear friend, I did not know her, but I do know what it's like to lose a blogger pal. Early in the year, we lost a sweet lady who enjoyed being a part of a small group of us who love miniature theatres. It was a shock.
ReplyDeleteWhen kindness seems to "pass away", I have to remember that the remains of this character stay rooted in us like seeds that will one day grow from us, making kindness and love remain, no matter what. Peace to you.
Dear Anita, it is incredibly sad, but you are absolutely right. You will not forget your friend, and I won’t forget Julie, and so they go on living through us. Love and hugs to you dear friend.
DeleteVery sad! Prayers for her family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThat’s kind of you Alex.
DeleteThat is so sad, it was very nice that her son let you know. So many just drop off the pages and we are left not knowing what happened.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Sharon, and I’m very grateful to Julie’s son.
DeleteI am so sorry for your loss, dear Barbara. Thank you so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, I feel so sad for her family as I know she will be missed.
DeleteDear Barbara - what sad news indeed. I will check out Julie's links. In the meantime we certainly need to practice being happy and content with just where we are. Thanks so much for sharing Julie's letter with us. Take care friend. Hugs!
ReplyDelete
DeleteHello Debbie, Julie was such a positive person always making the best of every situation. I so admired her for it. Enjoy the weekend, hugs Barbara
This is indeed sad news. She really did have a great attitude and we are the better for knowing her through your blog. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Darlene. She had a wonderful attitude, and it was a privilege to read and share her letters.
DeleteI'm so very sorry to hear this, Barbara. I remember when you shared Julie's letters. The blogging community certainly is special, the way we all reach across to each other, first as strangers and then as friends. Thanks to your generosity, we can all feel as though we knew Julie a little bit. Sending sincere condolences to her son and the rest of her loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry to hear this, Barbara. I remember when you shared Julie's letters. The blogging community certainly is special, the way we all reach across to each other, first as strangers and then as friends. Thanks to your generosity, we can all feel as though we knew Julie a little bit. Sending sincere condolences to her son and the rest of her loved ones.
ReplyDeleteHello Marcia, the world would certainly be a lonelier place without the connections we all make online. I’m sure Julie’s son will be reading the comments, and I hope he can draw some comfort from them.
DeleteWhat incredibly sad news. I am so new to reading your blog, i knew nothing about her, but I will check out the links you provided. I was so glad you shared the letter you received from her because I could tell she was a very positive and happy person. Although I find words really can't express how one feels when there is a loss such as this, I hope you and her family take comfort in the fact you knew her and cared for her.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure you will enjoy reading Julie’s letters they are just so full of joy. We didn’t know her very well, but her happiness was infectious, and she will be sadly missed.
DeleteVery sad news, but it does make you realise what a wonderful thing the internet is, connecting you with so many 'kindred spirits' around the world.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree more Sue.
DeleteI so very sorry to hear this. I remember reading her posts on this blog and just took some time to reread them. Julie seemed like such a lovely person, the kind you are lucky for knowing.
ReplyDeleteHello Alex, Julie was a genuinely lovely person, and yes, I was very lucky to know her.
DeleteI remember reading the letters from Julie and her posts on your blog. So sorry to hear about her passing. Sending hugs to her family, friends, and you. She sounds like a very special woman.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie, Julie’s posts are memorable, and so worth reading.
DeleteHow very sad. I love her photographs. The frog is fantastic! So happy, though that she found you, Barbara. You are a magnet for so many lovely and/or amusing friends. (Is Willie both lovely and amusing?)
ReplyDeleteHello Colleen, you are quite right about the photographs and the wonderful frog! I feel very honoured to have known Julie and will always think of her with fondness. I’ve found some amazing friends through blogging – friends like you, and I’m grateful for each and every one of them.
DeleteI can vouch for Willie; he is full of fun and very lovely!
So sorry to read this sad news :(
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad Nikki but Julie will live on in the memory of her family and friends.
DeleteOh man...I'm so sorry. :(
ReplyDeleteThank you Robert.
DeleteI'm so sorry!!! Sending healing prayers to you and her family! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm sure Julie's family will be most grateful. Hugs Barbara
DeleteIt's really hard to imagine anyone that we've grown close to from the blogging world moving on, and it makes me so sad. Glad you passed this on, so we're aware. What a special lady. Sending Healing Hugs to you and her friends and family. RO
ReplyDeleteHello Ro, It’s very sad but of course much worse for her family. I was lucky to know her if only for a short while.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this, Barbara. She sounded like a lovely person with a wonderful outlook and a zest for living.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
You are quite right she was a lovely person, and she had a wealth of interesting stories to tell. She will be sadly missed
DeleteOh, my Barbara. This brought tears to my eyes. I'm happy that you gave Julie something to read about during the time. And I do hope you kept up with emailing her. So sad.
ReplyDeleteDear Nasreen, I’m sorry to say I hadn’t been in touch with Julie for some months before she died. Sitting at a computer was difficult for her after she had a fall, and our emails gradually stopped. I always assumed we would be back in touch once she recovered, but sadly it was not to be.
DeleteOh Barbara, I'm so sorry. I do remember Julie, she wrote so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, you are quite right Julie was a gifted writer, with a huge love of books and nature. I will miss her.
DeleteSo sorry to read this, Barbara, she sounded like a lovely person.
ReplyDeleteI think the words from Happy are so appropriate.
My good wishes
All the best Jan
DeleteHello Jan, she was a truly lovely person. I agree with you the words are just perfect.
Hugs Barbara