Maria, Maria.

The loss of a loved one can be painful, but what of losing an "internet friend" to death?

It was only a few weeks ago while watching a dear friends livestream, we viewers witnessed her health visibly fade. In a week she was hospitalized. It seems that in yet another, she was under hospice care.

Time lurched forward and far too quickly, our dearest friend joined with the eternal.

On October 15th, Maria Pycha, (aka: Maria Madness/Maria Maria), passed away from Glioblastoma. As I understand it, she had 3 inoperable, bleeding brain tumors.

Like so many of us do these days, I interact with people via texting, forums and social media. We may go our entire lives and will ever meet but a few of them.

I know Maria from the internet.

We exchanged gifts once: I bought her a book on Kundalini Energy and she sent me homemade cookies last Christmas.

I know her dog, Sammy, who would appear on camera from time to time.

Her laugh was contagious.

I never met Maria.

I livestream a Monday morning music/news program for 2 or 3 hours. As a newer streamer, having Maria’s support and encouragement was amazing and we had become great friends over the last few years.

I don’t know if she knew how many peoples lives she touched.

The people she attracted formed a tight-knit community of brilliant humans, the likes of which I have never known before. And while these relationships grow and bear fruit as they will, the glue that is Maria holds us together in a tenacious bond.

Could losing an internet friend to death be as heartbreaking as losing a friend from “real life”?

After all, you have never held their hand in encouragement, or hugged them in a joyous greeting; you have never shared a breakfast or had a drink together in a questionable barroom; never nursed them through the flu or a romantic break-up.

No. None of that will happen.

I have seen my digital friends when they were sad, angry, or happy; successful in a project; making dinner; playing music; growing a garden.

Maria lent me her council when I was going through tough spots with technical and personal issues both. She never failed as a friend and someone I could count on. I hope I was a good enough friend for her in return.

These amazing things take place and I feel blessed to be able to interact. In doing so, there is an odd transfer of sincere emotion that, I am sure, could be explained as a chemical reaction in my foggy old brain, but I would rather be a digital goat and enjoy having the experience of being human than not.

Chemistry doesn’t make such a fool of me as my preference leans toward the seemingly illogical-ness of being torn to shreds emotionally. (That’s the chance humans take for the sake of love and intimacy.)

The physical, mental, and now, digital energy we invest in relationship has its own reward. The lyrics from The Beatles’ tune “The End” makes more sense these days - “the love you take is equal to the love you make”.

The loss is real, and right now, and there is a large group of beautiful men and women in a warm and friendly corner of the internet that truly loves Ms. Maria Pycha, and they feel the sting of her early departure from this world.

The sorrow is real.

All of my deepest sympathy goes out to her surviving family and her soul mate, our friend, Diligent Escape.

Maria, may the love you so faithfully and effortlessly gave come home to you now as you go bravely on your journey. We love you Dear One.

https://www.millenniumcremationservice.com/obituaries/maria-bertilla-pycha/