Oh no! Please don't go!!! Wishing you the absolute best, Mari. Please come back soon... Are you OK?

I hope everything will be alright with you and you'll be back eventually.

Hang in here with us, Johnmari! Maybe we can help. At least we can be a sounding board (no pun intended.) I think I speak accurately for the group when I say that we're not interested in being just fair weather friends. Just think about it...okay?

Johnmari I am a long-time lurker from Saskatchewan who has read and enjoyed your posts for months/years; I hope your absence is short-lived. Please accept my best wishes if this is health related. As stated above, don't ignore this board if you need to vent.

Mari -- my deepest hopes that all will be well soon -- you know that I'll be lighting the candles for you and your hearth.

Merry Meet!

I "get" the down/away time need. Some people feel better sharing all online ... others need privacy. Do what you need to do to be whole.

You'll be missed. I'll be thinking about you and hoping things work out.

tina

Take care of yourself, Mari. We will be thinking of you.

Whatever the troubles are, I hope they re short lived. Know that you'll be in out thoughts and will be missed.

Deb

Gosh Mari your the reason many people come on here. Gosh it won't be the same without you. You are coming back, right?

You were just posting delicious receips the other day. Hope you have a good labor day, maybe lazing around would be good for the soul.

....Jane

That's not good news, take care and you'll be missed. I wish you strength in all this.

I echo the above sentiments. Whatever it is, I know you'll weather the storm and hope you'll come chat if you feel the need.

Nora

Hope your offline time is brief. You're a wonderful plus to these forums.

Take care of yourself and please come back soon!

I don't come here as frequently as I would like but when I do I make an effort to look for your posts. Your level head, objectivity and wisdom is refreshing. Take care . . .

I'm a little worried about the when and if, if seems so final.

johnmari, there are so many on here that care about you. Could you pick someone you could email and confide in to talk to? I'm sure you have family and friends to talk to, but we just want to know you are ok.

I hope you're not away too long, Mari. I'm also hoping things improve for you.

I'm worried about you now. Johnmari, you can't just leave us like this. A couple hints so we don't let our imaginations run wild would be nice. Have some mercy on the resident worry warts, please!

Please take care. Yours is the first voice I remember when I first found Gardenweb, and I think it had to do with painted lightswitches. Your posts are always THE most fun to read, even when you're being brutally honest. I have missed the old days when you posted much more frequently, and find myself these days saying, "Yay! Johnmari posted on this thread; it must be interesting.
Dee

Good luck. Do what is best for you.

ML

Sorry to hear this JM. Hope everything works out alright.

namaste

I had to google this phrase but since I did, I concur. Namaste, indeed. Thanks Cooper! It helps us too.

Do what you need to do for yourself, but please know that we all care about you, and that you will be missed while you are away. If there is ever something I can do in any way, please just e-mail me. You have been a shining presence here and someone whoÂs posts I always read.

Peace.

WHAT! Have you found another forum? Is that it? You mean you don't love us anymore?! I knew it, I just knew you dump us when you found another forum. We were just a passing fling to you! You're going to throw away 6 years just like that eh? Well,I've got news for you we won't go away quietly. No ma'am! Whaaaaaaaah....now where did I put that damn tissue box...honk...sniff...you haven't heard the last of us!!

I had to google this phrase but since I did, I concur.

Golddust, never would have expected that from you. I'd never heard it either until I started taking yoga classes a decade ago.

(((johnmari))) Kia ora (Maori for be well).

I don't know why but I seem to have a sixth sense for this...I think JM is experiencing marital problems. I know, sounds crazy but I've been right (frighteningly) often on this. If so, I wish you peace and a clear path--actually I wish you that no matter what the problem is, Johnmari.

I thought the same thing but then I questioned myself. She speaks so highly of him and he seems to spoil her so... I'm hoping it's just the economy and $$ is tight. Internet could be deemed a luxury in times of financial stress.

Whatever it is, I don't think we should speculate. She knows, of course, that we are curious (and care) but I think we should respect her privacy and her and not go on about it.
I certainly would want others to do that for me.

Bumblebeez, a post like Johnmari's begs for speculation. If I were to up and leave this forum by announcement, everyone would know exactly why. I owe that much for the friendship given to me here. Just saying and doesn't mean I don't care because I do. I just feel more of an obligation, maybe. I'd feel like I had to explain. That's all.

I find it's unlike her to post a oneliner like that; it was probably all she could bear to post, it seems to me like she was in shock .

Sending good vibes to you JM, take care.

Perhaps she isnÂt sure where things are at, so she would prefer not to make any public declarations about whatever it might be at this point. Marital issues came to my mind as well,only because she is usually pretty straightforward about expressing things. But then, if it is marital, those situations are often in flux - and what one might think is going to happen at the beginning of a difficult time may very well not be the end result.

Good thoughts go with her from all of us, and the hope that things will resolve in a way that is right for her.

It does sound like something major is going on in her life. Whatever it is I'm sure she'll find a way to deal with it; the results will be either good for her or sad.

I just hope she realizes that she can count on us for emotional support.

Hang in there, Mari.

I agree with Bumble. I don't think Mari is "obligated" to share anything with us. It was kind of her to let us know she is not going to be around. It's obviously something private to her, something she may not wish to share on a public forum. I'm often amazed at the personal things people do share on line . . .

A post like this begs for speculation???!!! I'm sorry Goldie, but I have to disagree. I believe Mari's post should be answered with concern and support, not speculation of her personal life. Whatever the case may be, I do hope Mari checks in. I also hope she checks this thread and realizes just how much she will be missed around here and how many are concerned about her.

tina

Whatever her reason, I think we should respect her wishes and not speculate beyond what she has offered. I'm sure she would have written a more detailed account if she had it in her to do so at this time.

Mari stated that it's "stuff in my private life".
Private is private is private. She owes us no explanation and we should not speculate.

I wish you well, Mari, and think of you often. And yes, know how much you're missed. I am hopeful that everything will work out for you.

(((Nora)))

If I were to up and leave this forum by announcement, everyone would know exactly why. I owe that much for the friendship given to me here.

But that's because you're an open book. Not everyone feels the same and it's definitely not something that we "owe" each other. What we owe is respect for privacy.

I so agree. Of course people are going to wonder what's wrong but there could be a multitude of reasons. It could be anything. She stated not long ago reasons that she doesn't post as much as in the past. When one is having a difficult or trying time, or any time, it is very un-supportive and unkind to speculate on the details, and on things so near and dear to her heart. Publicly no less. It's absolutely nobody's business but her own, to disclose when, if, or as she feels. If she had wanted to go there, she would have. Think and worry about her all you like, but at least give her peace from that sort of thing. Sorry, but I just don't understand why people need to do that and pile it on. It can cause so much pain and distress, as most people should know without a lot of forethought.

I hope your personal stuff works itself out quickly and fairly easily, johnmari, so that you'll have the time or energy for more of the things that you enjoy, like writing and visiting with your friends on the forum.

((((Mari))))

D*mn, with all the computer blowouts and changes I've lost your info. I've missed you and loved when you've dropped back recently, but now I'll really miss you. I'll be thinking of you, holding you in the light, and hoping you can do whatever you *want* to do.

If you want to, my address is the same name but now @frontier.com. Hang in there, dear...

(side note to cyn: are you from NZ? HUGE Neil Finn fan here)

I am an open book and actually thought the same of Johnmari. She speaks of things I could never. I wish her the best.

flyleft, don't I wish. We were there for several weeks at one point and then we had planned to move several years ago-found some property on the South Island, had a lawyer there and our real estate agent. DH dragged his feet and didn't retire. Now, we are too old (can't become a citizen unless you are 55 years old or younger). If we had several million dollars to let sit in a bank for a couple of years, it might still be possible. Now, I am thinking maybe just buying something for part of the year, but it is a little far for that. I am still dreaming!

Oh, I'm a Crowded House/Neil Finn fan, too. We are still in touch with a few folks there in hopes of a move someday as unlikely as that is.

Cynthia

Cynthia, look over on another thread in this forum -- didn't want to clog up mari's thread here. I think you'll know which thread I mean...