The Broken Dreams Project

By Deaflegacy

I came upon a memorial recently.  I took a look all over the location.  There are so many monuments here, and they are all about people whose lives were taken away before their time.  There are young people who passed on from AIDS, cancer, and suicide.  Some of the monuments pass out notecards, describing about each memorial.  There are some memorials about certain young adults.  Some memorials are about groups of people. 

These memorials have names on them. Each memorial comes with a notecard, giving us a description of what the particular memorial is all about. While the memorials are sad, they also serve as what they are meant to be – a memorial to those who passed away.

I have gotten notecards from three memorials.  The first one is from Jamey Rodemey's memorial.  The first paragraph is, “Jamey Rodemeyer (March 21, 1997 – September 18, 2011) was an openly bisexual teenager (although he referred to himself as gay on Tumblr and some You Tube videos, known for his activism against homophobia and his videos on You Tube to help victims of homophobic bullying. He committed suicide as a result of constant bullying and being called gay.”

The second one is from Ryan White's memorial.  The first paragraph is, “Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13. He and his mother Jeanne White Ginder fought for his right to attend school, gaining international attention as a voice of reason about HIV/AIDS. At the age of 18, Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, just months before Congress passed the AIDS bill that bears his name – the Ryan White CARE (Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency) Act. The legislation has been reauthorized five times since – in 1996, 2000, 2006, 2009 and 2013 – and is now called the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.”

The third one is from 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting memorial.  The first paragraph is, “During this difficult time, we offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the 49 victims who lost their lives during the Pulse tragedy. To the families and friends of the victims, your city is with you and will continue to be with you as you deal with this unimaginable tragedy.”

The memorial is there for a reason.  It's to help us remember people who have passed on.  As I head out from the memorial, I leave with a feeling of sadness. So many lives which ended too soon.


https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Reckless/202/41/22

Deaflegacy

Editor's Note: Somehow the wrong SURL got put it. It's been corrected.

Journey Across the SL14B on Day One

By Gemma Cleanslate

Sunday was a good day in the sl14b regions. It was very crowded at the stages, and at the builds. So lag was present. I took a couple of pod rides just to read the description of the build and hopped off at a couple places to look more closely at them.

I stopped by the Cake Stage to see the party going on . There were some interesting avatars enjoying the dj. Mikati Slade , the builder of the stage, was there checking out the party also.

I spent some time in two parcels that were very meaningful to me. The first was a memorial to Ladyslipper Constantine.

              

 LS as she is known passed away last year in September and is fondly remembered by all who knew her. She was also active in the Virtual Ability Group, Burn2, White Tiger Mentors, and so much more. The Drum, “ DRUM's goal is to bring the world to you via the power of drumming” was her love as she was profoundly deaf. Her unselfish help to so many in sl is well known. She served as a volunteer in many roles at the previous slbs and they are recalled here in the peaceful corner.

 

The memorial is a build of Darkstone Aeon and BB Woodford. It is lovely and reminds us so of Lady. Pictures of her real life and Second Life and all her SL Birthday badges surround a sweet little pool.  It is a restful pause in the clamor of the event. She was a good friend and I still miss her.   http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL14B%20Enchant/217/247/22

But, over in Astound I found another beautiful tribute area to Lady. This one by Dream Wrexan and Darrk Gothly as co-builders..

Here you can see the memorial service that was held at Virtual Ability and pictures of Lady in her different roles.  

 It is lovely and shows how much Lady is missed. Her favorite flower and the reason for her name rises from a fountain. It is so fitting. Play the drums for her  if you visit.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL14B%20Astound/43/185/22

 There is another memorial in Spellbound. I spent some time there too remembering my first years in Second Life when I was determined to learn how to do something with a prim. This parcel is dedicated to the creator of the Ivory Tower. Lumiere Noir who passed away in 2015 gave the Ivory Tower to Second Life to help all newcomers understand the power of the prim.

 Here Kennylex Luckless has built a history of the Ivory Tower and a history of Lumiere. There is a quote from Lumiere that embodies his work,” I seem to be hardwired to teach and explain. When I learn something or figure out a thing my first and most natural response is to try to pass it on to others.”  

Wander through and learn about someone who is also missed in second life for his generosity of spirit and kindness to all. The Ivory Tower is still in sl and if you have never  been there pick up a landmark at the door and go visit. Here is the landing point for the memorial.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SL14B%20Spellbound/197/186/22

Gemma Cleanslate