The breakfast table

The idea of the breakfast table, where all J-landers will meet again once the time comes, can and should be attributed to Rene, whose blog was entitled: Meet Me At The Breakfast Table. We lost Rene nearly twelve years ago after a valiant battle with cancer. She was the third J-lander to pass away within two months at the time, following hard on the heels of Lahoma and Kim whom we lost in December 2007. Rene lost her fight in February 2008.

We remember them all

Cynde Hammond

Only now, just over a year after her passing, have I learned of the sad death of Cynde Hammond a year ago. Born on 12 July 1955, she succumbed to lung cancer just 11 days off her 63rd birthday on 1st July 2018. J-land mourns another loss, too many in the past twelve months.

Cynde was an identical twin, and had been married for 11 years before her husband passed away. She did not have children of her own, but was a devoted aunt and was well loved in her extended family.

It is only at birthday times that we sometimes find out that an on-line friend is no longer with us. I am pleased that Cynde was released from pain and suffering, and is now with her Lord. We take strength from that knowledge to carry on.

Cynde will be waiting at the breakfast table for us all to join her, and the many other J-landers who went on before.

Rest in peace. 

Cindy Sawn

News has reached us that Cindy Sawn passed away on Saturday, 30th March 2019. She had been suffering ill health for some time, moving in and out of hospital. Cindy was a family person, and not just for her own family, but also for her J-land family. My thoughts are with her husband James (to whom she was married for 40 years just a week ago) and all her relatives. We in J-land will remember her with fondness. May she rest in peace.

Jeannette Oatley - a special mention

The idea behind this blog was Jeannette's. Little did she know that at the start of 2019, she would be remembered here herself. May she rest in peace.

Jeannette Oatley

Although I never met Jeannette Oatley in person, she was one of those people you will not easily forget once encountered. Jeannette was one of my oldest J-land friends, alongside Donna Diggins, who left us in November. Although I am very sad and shocked at her loss, I am pleased that she is now relieved of the pain and suffering that latterly afflicted her. My thoughts are in particular with her husband of 48 years, and with her daughter, through whom I learned of this sad news.

Jeannette Oatley was one of the most prominent members of our J-land community. I initially but knew her as jeanno43, but quickly came to know her by her real name. She has not been well for a long period of time, but with the support of her husband of 48 years, Mike, came through each challenge with fortitude and good spirit. I was quite shocked to learn of her sudden passing, and will carry the memory of her strong spirit and kind heart with me.

Jimmy Sullivan

Jimmy Sullivan passed away on 8 December 2018 at the age of 73. He leaves behind a sister, Jeanne, and a brother, Kirt. Jimmy was a well-loved blogger, who last posted an entry as recently as June 2018. Apparently, he died suddenly, of a cardiac-related issue. Jimmy was known as a comic, but also as a singer.

Merry Kenyon (1943-2018)

Merry Kenyon has died in Mason City, Iowa, on 7 September 2018. She was 74 years of age.
She used to write Merry's thoughts, the good and bad, dreams and wishes on AOL, until the J-land shutdown in September 2008. Merry had a multitude of health problems, but bore those challenges with good cheer and spirit. She was a gentle soul, who will be sorely missed by all of us.

Rest in peace, Merry. Your pain is now past, and you are back with those who have gone on ahead.

Donna Diggins 1961-2018

A prominent member of the J-land community on AOL, Blogger and Facebook for over 13 years has left us. Donna Diggins was an outstanding designer of tags and graphics, and took centre stage in our community. When I first joined J-land, in November 2005 (for the VIVI awards), she drew me right into the group, even though I had appeared from nowhere.



I was amazed over the years by the beautiful computer graphics that Donna made, many of them animated and quite a few personalised - on request sometimes. They adorned our blogs on AOL until that was shut down (in 2008), and later on Blogger and other platforms. 



Donna began to experience increasingly severe health problems, and she confided the medical details with me. A diagnosis of cancer was not confirmed until later in the year, but treatments were attempted and implemented as late as the end of October. But when the news came that Donna was in hospice, I knew that the only hope was that she would be comfortable. In the morning of Saturday 3rd November, she was alert to read the messages from her on-line friends, and watch the compilation video.

It was 9.50pm in the UK on 4th November when I read Karen's sad message that a leading light in our community had been extinguished. I thought of Donna when I stepped outside to check for the aurora. The autumn stars lit up the night sky. One of them might have been her.



Rest in peace, my friend. You meant more to me than I realised.
You are greatly missed, by your friends on-line, in real life and most of all by your family. It was only a few days off the 11th anniversary of the loss of your sister Pat. You are with her now.

Donna Diggins

It was announced today that Donna Diggins, nightmaremom on AOL, passed away after a battle with cancer. It is too early to write a full tribute.

Sam Collins (GABoatman)

News has reached us of the sad death of Sam Collins, formerly known as GABoatman, from Savannah in Georgia, USA. He succcumbed following a lengthy illness on 25 June 2018.

Sam worked at the marina in Savannah, and would be out in boats as part of his job. I remember Sam as a true gentleman who I would have liked to meet, but in the end this never happened. He offered to share an adult beverage on that occasion. Tonight, I raised a glass in his memory. Sam played the guitar and sang as well, and would post recordings on Facebook.Until 2008, Sam would blog on "Docklines".

My thoughts are with his wife Paulette and his extended family. Another J-lander has gone. I am very sad.