I have been unsure whether I should write anything or not.  By now you've probably read or heard that the person who operated the Ginny Talamasca avatar has passed away.  If not you can read the words of his best friend and business partner here.

First, let me say thank you to everyone who's offered their shoulder or condolences. I know Ginny touched so many lives. Some in small ways, and for those of us lucky enough to know him better, in very real, very big ways. I have no words to express how devastated I am by the loss of my amazing friend. I know I'll never find another to replace him and my life is forever changed from knowing and losing him.  Second Life is a different place for me without him in it and I can't begin to guess what my role in it will be now. I won't even try at this time.

Nothing I can write can encompass this person, what he meant to me, or my feelings in the wake of his loss. I can't describe how heartbreaking it was for me to make the first trip to see my friend under these circumstances. To his funeral, I wore a dress that he helped me pick out and that he talked me into spending way too much money on. At the time, he told me that a dress so fabulous would find the perfect occasion. I never dreamed that it would be this.  Somewhere I'm sure he laughed and said "I told you so!".

I got to see where he lived, the laptop he worked on with the touch pad almost worn through from drawing on it with his finger. (Yes, he designed his clothing with his finger on a laptop touch pad!) I met the person behind Katterina, who I'd heard laughing in the background a million times on the phone. He was so kind and gracious to allow me, a virtual stranger, into his home so I could see those things.  He was also so very kind and generous as to allow me to take some of Ginny's art home with me.  Maybe some day I'll scan it and share it with the SL community. For now that's a piece of him that I'm selfishly keeping all for myself and close to my heart.

It feels callous to address business matters in a post of this nature, but I feel I must also say that I take full responsibility for the decision to close the sims.  I received the news on October 30th that my friend was gone. The decision to close was made in those early moments of utter shock and grief.  The reasoning behind it being that I wanted to take one thing off the list of many things to worry about for Ginny's partner.  The last thing Katterina needed to worry about was Second Life.  I also hustled to make the necessary arrangements here, got in the car and made the drive to attend Ginny's funeral.  The last thing I wanted to worry about was Second Life as well.

Quite honestly, the decision was also partially made in that moment to "turn out the lights" in honor of our great friend who was no longer with us. I very sincerely apologize to anyone who feels misled or mistreated in any way by that decision, but it did give Katterina more time to get ready before tackling SL, so I don't regret making it.

I will be scarce in SL for awhile, logging in only to address customer service issues. If there's anything I can do for those of you grieving as I am, lend an ear or a shoulder, let me know. If someone wants to organize a memorial or event let me know, I'd be happy to provide one of my sims for it. I just don't have it in me to organize anything myself right now.

I apologize for the length and rambling nature of this post.  As I said to start with, I'm unsure if I should even be publishing it, but when I began it just started pouring out.