Found out a friend of mine passed away. I had never shaken his hand, never went out for beers, never seen his face, didn’t even know his full name. He and I met online 5 years ago playing a video game. He joined my clan and we would play for hours, telling stories, laughing. When he signed into the game he’d say “Hey, Red”. We always had a good time. I had moved on from that game a couple years ago, and we hadn’t really been in touch much. I’m so bummed I hadn’t talked to him recently.

@redbarchetta3 💔 I get it... That's really sad. I am sure you meant a lot to that person also .....

@Klaatu_Veratta_Nectarine thanks, that means a lot. Processing these virtual friendships is so weird sometimes.

@redbarchetta3 It is... But I have friends online I've been friends with for over twenty years if you can believe that. Doesn't make it less real. I know they are real. And then me

@redbarchetta3 This is no joke. A friend befriended me online. He grew up near here, we shared the like of a common author, he did 3 tours in the middle east and went to college to become a writer, he knew I didn't judge. After coming back messed up from being special forces sniper and homeless he finally got his own apartment transgender help and a job online he skyped me and my kids before mothers Day many years ago practicing how to tell his mom.

@redbarchetta3 Anyway his mom was fine with it. His stepdad not so much . fuck him. Mother's Day has always been super hard for me as that is the day my kids and I almost all died. But we did not. By luck or whatever ....