The first thing I thought of this morning as I opened my eyes, was that I would not be seeing the familiar link on my sidebar at the top of the page letting me know that as usual David had posted. I admit that's an unusual thing to think of as you open your eyes, but this is a momentous event people. This is something that will change the routine of at least a thousand people around the world. That's huge in the blogging world.
I feel a sadness inside of me that he has gone, but I know he is going off to look after his life, to look after what he wants to do instead of giving his all to the rest of us. I should be happy for him - and I am. But I'm unhappy for myself. I am already missing him and it's like losing a close friend.
No - he's not dead - but it almost feels like it to me.
This is not an obituary folks, this is an ode to a man who showed the blogging world what unselfishness means. David spent his time letting people know about other blog posts he thought people should read and listed them in his Post of the Day. Not just one - but at least six at a time. I have been honoured more than once to make his list. Each time I found one of my posts on his list I felt special - like I had won an oscar for best writing - and the rest of my day would have a glow about it because David had mentioned me.
Besides his Posts of the Day - David showed us what photography is about and he taught us to keep our eyes open and to look at everything. I have often looked at his photos and marveled at how he could take the ordinary and show me how beautiful it could be. Nothing seemed to escape David's attention - not even me.
Once a week David 'roasted' someone and interviewed them, bringing them to the notice of the blogging world with easy questions that let us tell our own story of why we blog. Again David featured me as one of his 'roasts' and I was thrilled beyond belief.
It takes a lot of work to do a blog post every single day. It takes something special to do what David did for us all. Besides his daily posts, David also showed us what being a good human being is all about.
I've read David's book - Vegemite Vindaloo - and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only disappointment was that it wasn't signed by David. I hold out hopes that one day - if David ever visits Canada again, that I might be able to stand in line during a book tour and have him sign it for me.
I envy the fact that he is going off to concentrate on his novels. I'm sure he is going to put as much dedication into that as he did with authorblog. And, after reading Vegemite Vindaloo, I'm sure that anything else that comes from his pen is going to be something worth reading.
What comes to mind as I say my farewell to David McMahon is something that is written in my grandmother's autograph book. This message was written in 1897 by one of my grandmother's friends as she was getting ready to move from one part of Canada to another. I put it here as I think of David's move from blogging back into the world of being an author.
"Better loved you cannot be. Will you not come back again?"
18 comments:
Aims, thank you for expressing so well all the things that I am feeling too and all the things that I would wish for David as he moves on to spend more time with his writing and photography. (As well as the thousand & one jobs he has to do with work, family and garden.)
He is a very kind and gifted man who has always put others in the front line before himself and now it is time for him to do what he wants to do and I wish him all the best with that.
If there's anyone reading this who hasn't read Vegemite Vindaloo then please do and I am looking forward to reading new novels and will be so proud to think that our paths once crossed through blogging!
In my corner of the blogging world THIS is THE Post of the Day for sure. You are a good friend with a dear heart, I know this first hand and so does David .. and he will be back maybe not via his blog but we havent heard the last of Mr McMahon, our Den Mom.
We'll all miss David so much.
I was honoured as his Post Of The Day a few times too and was also a 'Sunday Roast'. I hope he comes back.
Aims, you are so gifted with your writing. I agree with Daryl - the post of the day is this one. No competition!
You echo our thoughts - he'll be missed and I so hope he does, even momentarily, come back again.
It came as a shock to me, too, to hear that he's resigned the blogland to focus on his novels. When he stopped in Vancouver on his way to the Yukon last year, I met him and breakfasted with him at the Fairmont. He had very kindly brought a copy of his book "Vegemite Vindaloo" for me and did autograph it - I will treasure it forever. I hope that his books will be available in Canada, but so far have been unable to track down his second one. He is as great in person as he seems on the blogs and I will truly miss reading his contributions every day. I was also honoured on his POTD many times and as you mention, it was like winning an Oscar for writing or some such thing. Great ode to a great man!
A nice, nice man. Wishing him all the very best and crazy tabloid stalking success!!
Beautiful tribute Aims!!! You have captured David's spirit..and I do believe you deserve the POST OF THE DAY Award!! We will all miss him.
Lovely tribute to a fab blog Aims.
I hate to hear that he is quitting I am out of the loop. This is the first I heard. :( He will be missed!
It is hard when a blog friend leaves the neighborhood. They don't always announce.
Very humbly, very quietly and very unobtrusively, may I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Aims.
I think it says so much about the way my brothers and I were raised by our parents that as I read every word in your post, I found myself thinking just how proud my parents would have been to read your kind tribute.
I am still in the process of replying to every single comment on my final post - and just as I reply to a large batch, it seems there are more comments trickling in.
It's been a great adventure, Aims. But I have not departed from BlogLand entirely. I will still visit bloggers when I can. I will still comment and I'll be available to any blogger who needs guidance.
I might have told you this already, but I won't be deleting my blog.
Maybe one day, when my next novel is done (M A Y B E) .... I could be tempted to return.
You read it here first!
PS: It would give me great pleasure to autograph the novel the next time I'm in Canada.
Tiptoeing away ....
Quietly ....
Unobtrusively ....
I haven't followed his blog Aims but I can understand the loss you feel. When a blogger has to take a step away to concentrate on other things it is hard. Perhaps he will be back and feel refreshed by the absence and have so many more things to share?
I agree with every word, i was a post of the day once and in blogging terms it was as much a thrill as blog of note.
The title of your post certainly got my attention. I'm glad he's off doing what he needs to do, and I hope the rest of your blog buddies can make up for his absence.
Lovely post Aims. You've put into words just how it feels when a good blog friend leaves - happy for them but a little bit bereft too.
I wish him all the very best and will look out for his book.
I didn't know! You're right aims, his dedication to celebrating the best in others was unsurpassed. Off to see if I can leave him a comment. xx
Oh my goodness, this is the first I've heard of David's departure. I've been out of the blogging circle for a while due to illness and this was a big shock. Thanks for highlighting it xx
That is sad indeed, aims. I have read his Sunday roasts too. I will miss him. A lovely, well written post aims.
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