Once upon a time there was a blogging site called "journalspace" (JS). This site was just any ordinary site.... the people who posted there were not just normal people, they were special! It was the only site I have come across where those writing there actually became like a huge family, with all the pros and cons of a family.

One of those really special members as "likeisaid" aka Betty. She was funny, charming, and an excellent writer. Once she had also been on the road to becoming a country-western singer, but life's trials and tribulations got in the way.

On "journalspace" she shared her life with us, but in a way that it never sounded like whining. And she was there for all of us... listening to OUR whining! She was so cute and funny... and her entries reflected that.

In spite of being of an "older" generation, she learned html and soon her creative talents went to designing layouts for her blog.... you never knew what the layout would be when you visited, at times it changed almost daily. And they were all simply amazing!

In 2008 I made a trip to Dallas, Texas, to meet a number of journalspacer's. And on that visit I managed to meet Betty and Paul in person! In the photos below, Betty is hugging the orange scarf I had bought on a trip to Egypt and presented to her, along with a German Christmas mug. Paul is the one in the baseball cap.

Others in the above photos: "dkmcb01" aka Kelly (reddish t-shirt); "Gillardia" aka Steph (blue stripped t-shirt); "lowandslow" aka Scot (Hawaiian print shirt); "Dr. Strangelove" aka Bret (black polo shirt); Westy" aka Dorrie (long dress).

After JS crashed in December 2008, Betty, like the rest of us, tried to find a substitute place to post. But no site has the been able to have the same family/community feeling like JS did. Betty tried her best to continue blogging as before at various sites (blogger, KCL, etc.), but it wasn't the same and she began posting less and less. Luckily most of us, including Betty, Paul, and Betty's sisters Sally and Paula, signed up with "facebook" and we were able to keep in contact.

Through "facebook" we found out about Paul passing away. Betty never really recovered from this great loss. And together with her real-life woes, including the poor health of her dogs, her own health deteriorated.

Betty has now joined her dear Paul. I already miss her terribly, but I know she is now in a happier place.

{{{hugs}}}