I will start this post by saying I don’t know Jennifer. I just read her blog and have followed her on Twitter for some time. Jennie’s husband Mike passed away very, very suddenly this past Sunday night and for some reason it hit me hard, considering I don’t even know them. Part of me feels like a jerk for even writing this post, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I needed to share.

There is a massive group of wonderful well-known food bloggers who are great friends, travel together, go to different food, cooking or blog related events together, etc. Food has brought them all together and it is so inspiring and heart-warming. I admire and watch them all interact online on a daily basis. I may not be a part of that world, but it reminds me so much of all of the wonderful and ongoing relationships we have with our printmaking, gigposter and craft friends all over the world. It is incredible what technology and the age of the internet has done for relationships near and far. In the age of Twitter and Facebook, I find myself being able to stay close and grow even closer with the friends I have had for many years, some of whom are halfway across the world. It has allowed me to meet so many amazing new people I never would have otherwise met and I also find myself attached and connected to people who likely don’t even know I exist. It’s weird.

Over the last few days I have seen many posts to and about @jenniferperillo both on Twitter and the many food blogs I read regularly, filled with sympathy, sadness and a desire to help. Even though I have never met Jennie or her husband, Mike, my heart hurts for her and I cannot help but feel her pain. I also find myself thinking more about my single worst fear, of losing my own husband, Mark. In reading all of the beautifully written blog posts and twitter messages, I can not only see that I am not alone in the way I feel, but I have also witnessed the power of the internet amidst a tragic and personal event in a stranger’s life. In Jennifer’s sadness, we are all finding a need to take a step back from the craziness of our own lives to appreciate who we have, the love we share and how short life is.

I admire the strength and courage it must have taken Jennie to write this beautiful tribute to her husband. It is so real. Something as simple as his favorite pie. Please read it, even if you don’t know Jennie.

In Mikey’s honor, in addition to the peanut butter pie recipe that Jennie shared, I am going to make Mark the no-bake cookies he has been begging me to make for some time now. Admittedly, he has been asking for probably 2 years and I just haven’t made the time. There is always some other recipe I am testing or experimenting with that is “more important”. Nothing is more important than those we love. Nothing. Make Mikey’s pie on Friday or your own true-love’s favorite recipe and enjoy each day to the fullest. Life is too short and we are so blessed for every day and every bite that we share with the people we love.