I came back from my midday errands today to the sad news now traveling around the e-commerce community. Sue Bailey, one of the founders of TameBay and an all around wonderful person, passed away this morning. Dan from TameBay has written up a brief post about her passing and encourages tributes to her there: Farewell Sue Bailey
I am shocked and upset by this news. I really liked Sue. She was nice and funny and kind and it makes me very sad that she has passed before her time.
And then I think to myself, isn’t that weird? I’ve never met her in person, spoke to her on the phone and we probably wouldn’t have known each other if we’d passed on the streets. We’ve talked many times online but we didn’t actually know each other “for real.” I have no idea what her daily life was like any more than that she knows what mine was like. We were internet friends only. What right do I have to say anything about her when I barely knew her?
Then I was thinking about what Dan wrote in his post. That Sue touched many people worldwide. They, myself included, felt a connection to her through her posts on TameBay, her WordPress business, her Twitter account. While an online connection may not be exactly the same as a “real life” connection, it can never the less be strong and affection can be just as real. Though I find myself now wishing I knew her better that doesn’t change the fact that I’m glad to have known her. Period.
I’m not really sure what I’m saying other than just, when everywhere you see people decrying the lack of human connection, it’s somewhat comforting to know we can still make strong bonds when we’re communicating through the keyboard.
RIP Sue.
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I don’t really know what I’m going on about. I think this post boils down to: I’m sad about Sue. I’m home alone. I’m going to go talk to the readers of The Whine Seller since no one else is around.
Sue was a vibrant personality, she was full of commonsense, outgoing, opinionated, enjoyed life, the pub, a glass or three of vino, a beer, new gadgets, loved her dogs, she wasn’t very old and she is gone. This is unsettling, not only because a major voice in our eCommerce world is now silent but because we feel intimations of our own mortality. We are here today and tomorrow you or I might be gone.
What a lovely tribute. It’s not for nothing that Chris and I included Sue’s many online friends in that Tamebay post. Sue lived an online life, and so many of the wonderful comments and memories I’ve read have been from people who never met her and yet knew her so very well. It’s wonderful.
It proves to me that online relationships are as valid as those in the flesh. And rest assured that these virtual, but vital, relationships are keenly appreciated by Sue’s family and give great comfort.
Dan