Network of Support

I am continually amazed by the generousity and kindness on SL. I have been fortunate to have several experiences where people went out of their way to be helpful to me, even though I didn't know them. Today, however, I experienced a new facet of the support network on SL.

I put in my profile online earlier in the week a note in my picks about Sandy Clary, creator extraordinarre of Pillow Talk. I might have included it in a blog post as well - but since my memory is extremely short today - I'll not commit. Anyway... She had sent out a note about her pending surgery to remove a large brain tumor and - not to alarm her group - but rather give her customers a point of contact if they had concerns or questions about her products. Totally amazing. But, it doesn't stop there.

This afternoon she posted a simply message. It was something along the lines of "Please don't forget me while I'm gone." I was stunned. How in the world would we forget her? Almost immediately, some replied wishing her well. I couldn't help but do the same. I saved the posts to show how amazing the kindness of strangers can be:

[13:05] Ande Slade: god bless you sandy, my prayers are with you
[13:06] Stormy Moonlight: Mine as well all of us are are rooting for you!
[13:06] AprilStars Flannery: Gods Blessings Sandy, we will NOT forget you, and wait for your quick return~!
[13:06] Suteruni Susanto: mine are wth you too Sandy, Im not sure what is wrong , but be back soon , huggsss!!
[13:07] Kimala Kohime: good thoughts and prayers are with you Sandy - hurry back to us in SL!
[13:07] Minea Auer: you're in my thoughts, Sandy <3
[13:07] AprilStars Flannery: We will tightly hug your pillows till you get back and start with some new designs..." Hugs n Prayers"
[13:07] Aryon Dagger sends angels and good thoughts to watch over Sandy and her family at this time and always. God speed, Sandy.
[13:07] Belle Milland: Best wishes Sandy :) you will be in all our thoughts :)
[13:08] Soleil Beam: our hearts and prayers are with you for a swift revovery . . . god be with you and guide your surgeon . . . god bless
[13:09] nadira Bailey: my prayers are with you as are my Masters sandy...see you when You return to us
[13:09] nadira Bailey: my prayers and good thoughts to you sandy as are my Masters thoughts and prayers with you
[13:13] Sabrina Hoyer: Prayers and wishes for the best Sandy...hb

I'm familiar with RL prayer chains. They can be powerful things. My husband's parent's church has a notoriously successful prayer chain :) at least when it comes to the requests we have made for our friends and family needing spiritual support through illness and surgery. They have an A+ record. I'm sure there are other prayer chains that are equally powerful. Collectively sending good thoughts and prayers can make a huge difference. If you don't believe me, I dare you... try it :)

Anyway, there are so many silly things that happen on group IMs, and so many maddening things that happen on group IMs, and spam and and and... BUT, how often, do you see that kind of outpouring. SL is an amazing connector of human beings from all over the world. Today was a day that I was really proud to be a part of the SL community.

Heavenly Beds

Find your perfect sleep number. Decide the right temperature. Have just enough covers - but not too many. Drug your children. (joke) Snuggle in and let your body do the rest. Zzzzzzzzzzz

Just thinking about that soft snuggly bed, the light airy comforter pulled all up around my face, the pillows positioned just so - one to lay on and one to snuggle in to... even thoughts of my daughter cozying up to my back telling me "I'll rub your back Mama" instantly transport me to a happier place.

Why tell you all this? Why do you care? Ironically, I woke up thinking about this amazing experience and how the heck it all connects to my SLife. After all, I try to obey a decent SL bedtime (except the non-school nights - Hooo!). Saying good night to each other on SL seems to be important. People are always ready to offer an enthusiastic g'nite, sleep well, or sweet dreams as you leave a club or venue - even people you don't know. I like that. I love sleep. I can appreciate the fact they are wishing me well - even if superficially - LOL. Then, there is the act of going home from the club or venue. New avitars, mind you, don't really have this option unless they move into a furniture store. It is funny to think about - I take my little Kimala self home and then log off. In the beginning, I even went home and went to the bed I had purchased for myself. I was so excited to have found one I loved.

Beds are a particular craft on SL. I had a freebie bed at first. The mattress was so hard all you could do was sit properly on the edge. I was too new to realize that it was worth the lindens to buy a good bed. Then... I found Pillow Talk. Oh man. The BEST SIM EVER! Everything there was about sleep and snuggling. The store was on a cloud and made up primarily of PILLOWS... pillows for one... pillows for two... pillows for snuggling... pillows for massages... pillows for... em em. I was in heaven. Heck, the sim store even looked heavenly. The sim creator Sandy Clymer MUST have been friends with Westin and the Heavenly Bed RL people. She MUST have connections. I was enthralled with my find... a Heavenly SL Bed. The sheets were the perfect texture, the mattress was the perfect firmness, and, better yet, there were spots for 2.. to snuggle. What about it WASN'T heavenly? Needless to say, it was a purchase I made without thinking twice.

As my time on SL has evolved, I found I wanted to be more creative with my island space and did away with my bed altogether. Most of the time I log off quickly to return to RL and try to make good use of my RL bedtime. I have plenty of perfect snuggle spots but the SLeeping ritual has lost its lustre. I no longer feel the need to tuck my avitar in to that warm Pillow Talk bed (shhh don't tell Sandy) and I rarely even put on my SL pajamas any more unless it is for an event. (Please note though - good nights are still very much appreciated and enjoyed!)

So... I woke up this morning in my RL sleep number bed... (i'm a 35 btw) snuggled under the flannel sheets (I know - how lame is that - we live in Phoenix!!) and the comforter, next to the pillow, and thought ... "WOW! I LOVE SLEEP! I love my bed. I need to remember that!" LOL Now why in the world would I need to mentally note I need to remember that? Well.. because that little nagging thought of SL pulls me away from sleep sometimes. Keeps me up. Draws me in. Wakes me up at random hours to try to lure me away from this amazingly warm comforting RL spot. I thought about people who don't need as much sleep - my husband being one of them. Ok you secret middle of the night SLers... you know who you are. It pulls you away from sleep - a good RL sleep, now doesn't it!

My thoughts jumped mentally around remembering research on sleep - loss of memory from lack of sleep, drugs to help you sleep, sleep walking, and my personal favorite - sleeping in your own bed (yes, small friends in my home - that one has your name ALL over it!). We should honor sleep. My dad taught me the best way to solve problems - really tough ones - is to ask yourself to figure them out - just before you fall asleep. It works, btw. But I digress.

I'm glad some on SL have decided to honor this very important part of being human. Sure it helps they come with sexy poses and menus (em em). But ultimately, all of us, at one time or another, in our SLives need to power down and wish everyone else good night.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz