I cannot remember why I clicked "follow" on your Twitter account. I cannot remember the first time I replied to one of your tweets. All I remember was that it was about three years ago; you were called @IamLilythePink and you had the word efficacious in your biography!
What I didn't realise at the time was how much of an influence on me you were going to have over the next three years; indeed, how much of a positive and precious impact upon my life you would have.
In the beginning we shared so many jokes about all sorts of topics (to be honest I was never as witty or as quick on the draw as you were!). It took me a while before I actually felt like I could confide in you about certain events in my life; I think it was a series of messages about one of your impending trips to the "Tail Shop" where I realised suddenly how important you were to me. I found myself worried; and I think you sensed that.
The Venn Diagram which makes up my Twitter is comprised of the following six circles: a) People who can help me in some way. b) People who I can interact with about any topic. c) People who I feel I can confide in. d) People who made me smile and laugh. e) People who are caring and thoughtful and f) People with strong self-efficacy(!). You appear in all six circles!
Through the different incarnations of your Twittering I have always looked out for your name. This may sound silly, but I rarely ever re-tweeted you. This was totally on purpose. The reason for this was because I never wanted anyone else to find you and follow you! (a bit like when you find a really cool underground band and then see them promoted to stardom!) However, from just glancing at my timeline and the endearing messages left for you over the last day or two confirms that you were already a bona-fide superstar!
I hope you understand how much those messages you sent to me meant. Like the DM you sent me out of the blue on Christmas Day; or the time you sent me a thoughtful "just thinking of you" message when I hadn't logged on for a week when I was completely under the weather. You knew exactly how I was feeling at that precise moment in time. I cannot thank you enough for that. I will never forget those gentle acts of kindness. (I still have the card you wrote me; safely tucked away).
I do wish to write something like this for each one of the tremendous people I follow. There are some calm, collected, beautiful souls on Twitter; and you, Super Lily are one of them. Continuing to beam ever so brightly!
I will miss you so much on Twitter. There will be a Lily shaped gap in my timeline now. You have made me laugh and cry and I feel completely safe when talking to you. I feel like I have shared so many different aspects of my life; through highs and lows and joy and pain (and no, I'm not just talking about Manchester United matches!). Whenever I have had to "offload" about personal things like grief and loss and even job stress; you have been there for me, and have been so supportive. I still go back to read your blog from time to time. The recent entry about the swans is so beautiful.
I wish you (and DH and the cats) so much joy, good health, peace and happiness for the future.
Love, Rich @foxyinthebox
ps. Whenever I hear "this" song, I always think of you! And it always makes me smile!
