Plurk paste

My friend, love, life partner @kdfrawg, aka @plurkdaddy (and he was!), left us this week. Any description of him pales compared to who he was in life.

Some of you know him from when plurk was new (it’s how we met!), 11 years ago! He certainly was Plurk Daddy. He was such a presence. And that early group did have fun! (@bigdoc, @nethead, @askatknits, @planetknit, @thoughtwrong...I’m sorry if I missed someone) We chatted on plurk, often into the wee hours, and on plurktalk, the video chat Michael hosted. They were good times.

To say he was smart minimalizes what really went on in his mind. He started reading as a young child and Never. Stopped. He could read a book a day. He could not only hold a conversation about almost any topic that was raised, but usually teach you something about it too.

He was funny. He was at first nervous about showing me himself fully because he was afraid I would think he was weird (clearly he didn’t know ME yet either). The first time he showed me a glimpse of his silliness, I laughed until I cried.

He was a writer. He wrote 3 books that haven’t been published - one of autobiographical fiction, a science fiction novel, and a book about his journey with religion. I hope to still publish them.

He served his country, but under wraps, which was typical for him. He never did anything for recognition. He worked for the NSA and Naval Intelligence, but in black ops, doing counterterrorism in Geneva and helping rescue POWs in S. Asia (after being “kicked out of Europe,” as he loved to say). Because of his position, he was never recognized or honored until Bayada hospice @BayadaBPH performed a beautiful pinning ceremony before his death, complete with an amazing patriotic quilt made by volunteers. He died blanketed in this honor.

We never felt the need to marry. “We bought a house instead.” A beautiful home with a dream view. But in the end we had a lovely wedding ceremony, again arranged and performed by the fabulous people at Bayada. Chaplain Strothers massaged his words just for us and he seemed to be describing how we had been living, rather than how we *would* live. We couldn’t have asked for a more meaningful morning.

Michael was stubborn and could be opinionated, but was fiercely loyal to the people he loved, who included many from a sweet, weathered man in his 80s at the end of his life to a beautiful young woman in her 20s, just getting hers started. He helped raise, influence, love, and protect step-children.

He was kind and caring and loved his pets completely. Tucker, the springer spaniel, who he had to bring himself to say goodbye to; Arnie (the “puppycat”), who chose us and is currently lying on me; and others before my time.

Oh, then there’s his massive knowledge of computers, football, rodeo, riding fences, parachuting, flying fighter jets, cooking…and I’m sure there’s a lot I’ve forgotten or don’t even know about. I KNOW there are good things he did for people that I don’t know about. He would keep that to himself.

All I’ve written here is such a tiny part of who he was. Thank you for indulging me. Michael Jones, Kermit, KDFrawg, Frawgie, you will be missed. Especially by me. ❤️