French Respects

A beautiful buddhist bell was tolling in the wide and serene plaza on Francopholie grid, where a new build was inaugurated on Saturday.

Among those present were Edenette Catherinette, Ladyka 007, Minord Loup, Prodyck Theas, Pierre Segrov, Max Well, Nadir Rae, Sweety2 Jefferson, Vanessa and Vlad Vanhelsing, Athena Fira, Baal and Hina Starfall. Tristan Dehaie was the master of ceremonies.

Tristan, Nadir and Minord, among the first to arrive

People arrived gradually from about nine pm Paris time, beginning with Tristan, Nadir, who was in charge of the streamed  music for the event, and Minord Loup, owner of Francopholie which is a tiny grid aimed at helping French language users of Opensim to connect with each other, find resources, answers to technical queries, and the community generally. Gradually, the group grew. Here they all are, the lady with the wings is Edenette, more of her later.

The whole group assembled in the main plaza area

Tristan took a moment to thank Ladyka and Minord for using their building skills to create the memorial complex, and to thank also the many other people who have contributed to the structure and the displays inside. Among the group were people from FranceRP grid, Osgrid, Ignis Fatuus Grid, Bloodmoonpack grid, PerfectLife grid, and SV3D. Very Hypergrid friendly.

LadyKa in front of one of the twin loggias

Twin loggias in elegant pale stone frame the horseshoe shaped plaza, and the inscription reads ''They have lived two lives, they have gone, but they remain forever in our memories."

Tristan in front of the classical statue at the heart of the plaza.

Tristan Dehaie: You will notice on the left and right, two buildings that are full of thoughtful expressions and messages that speak of that which life can be in opensim, the double - and triple lives , thinking of SL, that we have. 

Tristan Dehaie: There are things that come to an end, it's sad but it's part of life, and we want to remember those who sadly we have lost. In SL they do these things better perhaps, as far as I know there are not many places like this in Opensim. I thank those who have made this event possible.

These writings, whether original poems, quotations, or word pictures, convey thoughts that go right to the heart of the human condition, the things that bring us together as people, and as a community. Read in the moonlight they become even more rich with a sense of the moment. Everyone took a few minutes to read and reflect.

Nadir Rae: Thank you for this selection of texts, they are very touching.

Pierre Segrov: I agree

Vanessa VanHelsing: very beautiful texts - very moving.

Baal Starfall: good humor comes across, too.

Sweety2 Jefferson: yes, very good idea

The it was time to move on to the next part of the event. The main plaza area is surrounded by a low wall that overlooks a forested slope down to the sea. On this wall are personal memorials, and we were there to see the inauguration of the first four.

Trista Dehaie: Now please follow me, we will go and see the plaques set up to memorialize certain people we have lost. If you click on the plaques in some cases you will receive a notecard that will tell you what they did in opensim. it's a final way to celebrate these ones who have left us.

The first memorial was to Ambre Ulrik. Ambre was the partner of Max Well, and was a talented builder, together with Max she put together so many beautiful creations on Ignis Fatuus Grid. She passed away in 2012. 

Max of Ignis Fatuus Grid

Max read a lovely poem about all the good things - flowers and about a new realm where memories and smiles and birdsong all come together. 

Nadir Rae, who's Max's wife of about two years, reminded us of something important, that people like Ambre, and the others who are gone, also shared with us their knowledge, their know-how. That information, those lessons, they continue to live on, and to help those left behind. Making the sharing of knowledge a special sort of immortality.

The next memorial, a futuristic green marker, contrasted strongly in style, but the sentiments expressed were very similar. This plaque remembers Rebecca Cartauld who, together with Mario, founded Perfect-Life, a Canadian grid. Ladyka and Minord both took the initiative to speak about their memories of Rebecca, recalling long and fascinating conversations with her, on all kinds of subjects, she was a bit of a polymath. Minord remembered meeting her years ago back in SL, and being always impressed by her region which was a workshop, always full of new creations, ideas and inventions. Minord says she was always ready to teach him about building, and Tristan agreed, she was a great teacher. 

LadyKa 007: Mario is from Quebec. He was the one who brought Rebecca onto Opensim because they had a common project: to propose a Star Gate universe on Opensim.

Tristan Dehaie: It was so much fun it was to be around Rebecca, and it is so good that we're able to share our happy memories of her.

Edenette by the two memorials to her rl family members

Finally, we arrived at two red hearts, marking memorials for two loved ones of Edenette. 

Tristan Dehaie: Here we remember the daughter, and the husband of our dear friend Edenette

Max and Nadir both spoke about what a lovely lady Eden is,  a very close friend loved by all. Her loss is heartbreakingly recent.  Again a very moving piece of poetry was read, a poem about all the things that will last even after the loved one is gone, the good memories, the good actions, and of course, the love. her feelings ... makes you really reflect about how real and how loving the people behind the pixels are. 

Tristan concluded the event thanking all for coming, and reminding us to hold close the good memories and to perhaps use this place whenever we want to spend a little quiet time remembering. Of course, we all hope that it will be a long time before another memorial plaque will be set up, but there is something very comforting in knowing how much the community cares about one another, and like the other commemorative gardens in Opensim (Safari tourists will remember visiting Haven of Memories) this is a very special place, and a credit to the French speaking community.

HG Address: hop://francopholie.fr:8000/Francopholie/784/763/38