Reader Submitted: Tribute to Rita in Palworld

 

From Marusame Ari, whom has been playing the game Palworld, and did a tribute to the late Rita Mariner.

 

Events This Week In SL Clubbin'

 

Here's what's going on at the Sunweaver-Angel, Montecito Bay, Furry Fashion, and Urban Furry clubs.

Club Cutlass: Temporarily Closed

Happy Vixen: DJ Charlee, DJ Scratch, TBA, DJ Khyra

Club Zero Gravity: DJ Snowy - TBA

Xanadu: DJ Jesse 

 

Montecito Bay:  DJ Moni, DJ Cookie, DJ Chucklepuppy, DJ Moff

 

Furry Fashion: TBA

 

Urban Furry :  DJ Charlee, DJ Emma, DJ Emma

 

Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'

 

Discussion on Tactics At Aether Salon

 

In Bixyl Shuftan's article for today, which was postponed due to reporting about the Second Life Birthday and the passing of Rita Mariner, he reports about last month's discussion at the Aether Salon in New Babbage. Over time, there have been many topics in these meet-ups that take place once a month most months, organized by Ceejay Writer. For July, it was "Tactics," with Jedburgh Dagger as the speaker, So how did it go?

Read more in Events. 

Words of Goodbye and Condolences to Rita Mariner

 

 As word of Rita Mariner's passing spread last Sunday and Monday, well wishes came around. There were numerous short comments from many, but some stood out. Among the usually quiet Sunbeamers, Logi WIldSpirit Arizona (logan Weder), "Rest in Paradise, Dear Rita, you are at peace now." Rififi Resident, "... I've wandering alone in Rita's huge mansion ... listening to the echoes. The echoes now sound even more hollow."

Zidders Roofurry (Zidaya Zenovka) would say, "I just wanted to offer my condolences to all. While it's been a long time since I last spoke to Rita when I first came to SL she was kind, warm, and welcoming in her own way. I appreciated it a lot as well as all the friendships that came about as a result of her welcoming me into her community. I'm so grateful for all the kindness she and other weavers have always shown me. I know she loved all of you a lot, and you all loved her. Again...please accept my deepest of sympathies.

"The Sunweavers were some of my first friends here in sl. I found SL at a pretty rough time in my life. Rita helped save my life. I'll always be grateful for that."

 

Comments came not just from the Sunweaver group, but also from the Relay for Life. Among those that stood out, Sandie (Sandie Loxingly), "So sorry for your loss, Cynthia and all of the Sunbeamers." ϿϮ Kαrmα ϮϾ (mariposa4242 Resident), "My heart goes out to the Sunbeamers."

 

MamaP (MamaP Beerbaum) would say, "Oh my God, my heart breaks.  Rest in peace dear Rita.  I can not imagine Relay without her. We continue to fight for her!" Vickie (Vickie Maidstone), "This is so sad, one of the sweetest Relayers I ever met."

 

Vicki Wildrose (Victab Resident), "I just saw the notice Sunbeamers, so sorry to hear of Rita's passing. " [Bill Wheelwright, "Sad. we will continue to relay until there is a cure." Kitty (Prettykitty Gumbo), "It makes me want to Relay more!! We will miss our dear Rita!! ... My heart goes out to you all!" 

 

Alison Flow, of Roos With a Dream that took part in many events with the Sunbeamers, would say, "So sorry to hear of Rita's passing. She was a wonderful friend of the Roos and a staunch supporter of RFL. Hugs to all who loved her and most of all to the Sunbeamers.♥️"

 

Selene Jashan, "I so hate to hear this.   You all are in my thoughts and prayers.   Please let me know if there is anything I can do .. Rita will be very much missed as she was an extremely big part of our Community." Duchess Trikassi , "Deepest condolences to Rita's family and the Sunbeamers.  Rita was a very big part of the RFL community...she will be missed dearly." Wateru Kohime, "She will definitely be missed. Sending hugs to all the Sunbeamers."

 

On Discord, Lia (WarbloodCityCancerKickers) would say, " It is with heavy hearts that we, the Warblood City Cancer Kickers, extend our deepest condolences on the passing of Captain Rita Mariner. Rita was a true force within the American Cancer Society in Second Life community, touching countless lives through her kindness, dedication, and unwavering spirit. She will be deeply missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her. Rest in Power, Rita."

 

This was not all that was spoken. There were numerous smaller comments, and others who felt they had no words to express their sadness
 

Bixyl Shuftan 

Walk Around The Grid: Pet Pharmacy's Sixth Anniversary

 

Netera Landar was recently at the anniversary party of a venue known as Pet Pharmacy. Attendance was heavy, with everyone well-dressed, and dancing to swing music by the DJs.

 

See Netera's screenshots of the anniversary in Events.  

 

A Farewell To A Friend And Community Leader

 

Saturday August 1 at 6PM SL time was Rita Mariner's memorial service. The event for the Sunweaver's departed community leader was held at Sunweaver Air next to Farshore Field, with Shockwave Yareach and Cynthia Farshore being the organizers. Unfortunately our sadness was mixed with frustration as despite this being a full sim, the capacity was capped much lower than it should have been. Cynthia tried restarting, but that didn't work. So Nydia had to broadcast it on her Discord channel while Lom copy-pasted the chat onto the Sunny group.

 

For those who missed it, I'll soon have a more detailed article of what those who could be there spoke about Rita. 

 

 Shockwave would also add Rita Mariner to the Sunweaver Memorial in Sunweaver Eclipse. He would comment on Facebook since she was the community leader, she would get the biggest flame, which went up like a beam when the sim was viewed at night. 

 

She joins others whom have passed on, Zorro, Alleara Snoodle, Jessicabelle Dayafter, Akea Gromet, Artistic Fimicloud, and several others. Time has taken it's toll on the community.

 

But while memorials are supposed to be lasting, sadly this may not be the case. With the future of the sims in jeopardy,  it's very possible that the memorial will fade away into the virtual nether. 

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Reader Submitted Picture: Thanksgiving With The Sunweavers And Angels

 

 From Marusame (Marusame Arai). This picture is probably from the mid to later 2010s, an inworld  Thanksgiving dinner with a number of Sunweavers and Nydia's Angels, with Shockwave Yareach playing the part of a dancing turkey.

 

Maru head the news of Rita's passing late, and regretted not seeing her in her later days online. She would comment, "Sometimes, a relationship can be like having a book on a table that you read a sentence or two or even full pages at a time, and over the years you keep the book open and read a few passages, it collects dust, you dust it off. Then one day you go to continue the book and it was suddenly closed and put back on the shelf, you forget the book and what page it was, but you remember enjoying it."

 

SL Video: "Sunweavers Say Good Bye"

 

 (click here if the video does not play)

 

From Nydia Tungsten on July 31, "We lost our Cheiftess, Our Friend, our Loving Friend Rita Mariner. Another Angel went home We Love You Rita."

 

A Few More Articles About Rita Mariner

 

 

Rita Mariner and The Sawyer Squad (2017) - read in People. 

 

Rita Mariner, Head of The Sunweavers (2013) by Grease Coakes - read in People. 

 

Interview With Sunweaver Leader Rita Mariner (2021) by Penny Shuftan - read in People. 

 

Rita Mariner and the History of the Sunweavers (2014)

 

With Rita Mariner's passing, the Newser has written about her about every day since. Some readers might be asking "So who is she and how did the Sunweaver community start?" I would interview her in 2014, asking her those questions. 

 

Since then, a number of things have changed. A few sims were added. A road network, then a railway, were laid out. Nydia Tungsten and Cynthia Farshore ended up swapping sims. And sadly, some people would pass away or their real lives took over and they were seen less and less until gone. 

 

Read the 2014 interview in People.  

 

Taking A Few Pictures

 

 With the future of the Sunweaver sims in doubt, been going around taking pictures of the place. One was the Sunbeamer HQ where Rita would hold occasional meetings, and place items that brought back memories.

 

 

An ariel view of SunWaterOne

 

These are just a couple of those I've taken, and others have been taking some as well.

 

In the meantime, efforts to save a little of the land continue.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Musical Tribute To Rita Mariner

"Our Little Purple Star"

 

(Verse 1)

She was a flash of violet in the morning light,
A gentle soul who made the world so bright.
Our Rita Mariner, with ears so soft and long,
You filled our quiet house with your own sweet song.
You hopped into our hearts, a wondrous shade of hue,
There will never be another bunny quite like you.

​(Chorus)
Oh, Rita, our wonderful purple friend,
We held your little paws right to the end.
Though the shadows fell and you had to slip away,
Your colorful spirit in our hearts will stay.
Rest now, sweet Rita, beyond the pain and tears,
Thank you for the magic of these beautiful years.

​(Verse 2)
It was a heavy storm that came to take your strength,
But you fought so bravely down the journey's length.
Even when the sickness tried to steal your spark,
Your bright purple light guided us through the dark.
You never lost your sweetness, never lost your grace,
Leaving tiny paw prints that time cannot erase.

​(Chorus)
Oh, Rita, our wonderful purple friend,
We held your little paws right to the end.
Though the shadows fell and you had to slip away,
Your colorful spirit in our hearts will stay.
Rest now, sweet Rita, beyond the pain and tears,
Thank you for the magic of these beautiful years.

​(Bridge)
Now we picture a meadow where the sweet clover grows,
Where the sun is always shining and a warm breeze blows.
Hop free, little Mariner, across the endless green,
The most beautiful purple bunny that heaven's ever seen.
No more tired days, no more battles to be won,
Just endless fields of dandelions sleeping in the sun.

​(Outro)
Goodnight, our dear Rita, we'll miss your velvet nose.
Sleep softly in the starlight, where the peaceful river flows.
We will love you always, our little purple star.
Rest in peace, sweet Rita, wherever you are.

 

Masane Amaha 

 

Link to music on Suno (here).

 

Reader Submitted: "One Last Picture: Midnight at the Tapestry of Time"

 

From Camden McAndrews, "Here we see XanaduCinema Resident, the projectionist at Xanadu Cinema, being whisked off to Neverwhen by the temporal distortion field of the Tapestry of Time just as the SL23B regions are shutting down.

"Footnote: The Tapestry of Time was built by Ancient Mole." 

 

Announcement: Memorial Service For Rita Mariner on Friday

 

Event: Memorial Service for Rita Mariner

 

When: Friday July 31 at 6PM SL time

 

Where: Farshore Field, Sunweaver Estates 

 
https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunlight%20Bay/115/87/23 

 

Developing ...

 

The situation in the Sunweaver community and Estates is still developing, with more than a little chatter between residents, sometimes people who haven't spoken to one another in months, or years. We are mourning the passing of our community leader and friend, and wondering what happens next with this place online we've called home for years.

There is talk that a couple sims *might* be saved. Nothing is certain though. Much depends on Rita's family in real-life, and Linden Lab. But there's reason for cautious optimism.

 

Stay tuned for more information.

 

Bixyl Shuftan