I fully expected this post to be totally different. I was going to babble on about the new website and features or some other things that don’t really seem relevant right now. But this post is going to be something very different than that vision.

This weekend I was told about the tragic, untimely death of Cutter Luik. This got me to thinking about relationships in Second Life and just how deep those relationships run.

I did not know Cutter very well. I will say every time I spoke to him he was a pleasure to talk to and many loved him. He spent a great deal of time in MotorWorld and rented places from me on Route 66 and Loon Lagoon. My partner Motor knew him better that I did both as a friend and a fellow biker.

I did get the chance to spend time and talk to Cutters partner, Katrinna Khandr. Someone I enjoyed speaking to a great deal. I can only image the hell she is going thru right now. Cutter will be missed so much by so many people. I would not be surprised to see a few not come back or change their avatars because of what happened. For someone so young to go so unexpectedly is devastating. The line between worlds is not blurred in this case but nearly non existent.

Cutter Luik, you will be missed.

This brings me to the relationships we have in SL. I know that I live in a protective bubble. The people I keep around me are a part of my life, both SL and RL. I talk to them every day. I know where they live and I have phone numbers and addresses. We share the ups and downs of our lives with each other. When something exciting happens I am just as excited to call my best friend as I am to log in and tell my ‘family’.

The relationships here are just as strong as they are with the people you look in the face all the time. So much so, that the line of the two worlds cross on a regular basis.

I have met a good deal of my friends from Second Life. I even got the chance to spend two weeks vacation with half my staff. In my travels for work I have had the chance to meet with people in London, Rome, Houston and New York City.

I live in what is known as the Heartland of the United States and many times people driving thru come my way. I take every chance I get to meet for coffee or dinner. Once in a while, they come over to spend the night. We even had a friend stay with us a few months until he could get on his feet. My kids know their names and even recognize the avatars on screen.

Those people that say they do not mix the two worlds are missing out. You are missing out on meeting some great people and the chance to spend time with interesting characters that will enrich your world.

I have grown because of the people that are a part of my SL. I am a better person today than I was 3 years ago because of them. This has broadened my world and given me so many things I would not have had otherwise.

Meeting and letting in this digital world is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, I would discourage letting people in as a normal course of action. But I would also say that you can’t help but get attached to the people around you, to feel the hurts and joys of those that are a part of your daily SL.

So when you hear of a disaster like we heard this weekend, don’t forget that there are just as many joys as there are hurts. Live, love, laugh, lust…when you feel it in this brightly colored pixel world, you are also feeling in that world of flesh and blood.

Stop what you are doing, go give someone a pixel hug and let them know how glad they are a part of your fleshy life.

Thank you for listening to my ramble and sharing your time with me.

Melody Regent