# Bye, Opal **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666 "2013-03-11T23:59:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/161 "2013-03-12T05:12:25Z")
Oof. I hadn’t interacted with her in years, but she was gracious enough to host my stupid little website of _Drew Carey Show_ quotes & pictures of my high school theater company. And there were plenty of evenings spent here or on FFF, and in chat. MY condolences to everyone who still knew her, and as said above, I hope she finds peace on this next plane. ---
**Author:** ![slackergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@slackergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slackergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/162 "2013-03-12T05:14:10Z")
I just logged in here for the first time since March, 2005. There are not a lot of people who would bring me back after all that time. Her reach was huge and she’ll be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/163 "2013-03-12T05:15:51Z")
This is sad news. **Opal** is part of SDMB lore. My condolences to her friends and family, and I hope they know that my thoughts are with them. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/164 "2013-03-12T05:15:53Z")
Our condolences. Most of you knew her better than me, but she and I interacted here a couple of times. May she rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/165 "2013-03-12T05:15:53Z")
> [@](#): > > **Twixter** : Let’s give everyone a chance to process the news without turning it into a prurient scandal. Prurient? Are you serious? There is nothing scandalous or “prurient” about the illness that can become, for some, terminal. Yes, clinical depression can often be a terminal illness. Maybe this is how we lost our Opal. No one is claiming to know for certain. But we do know that she struggled with a chronic and serious illness. And she was very open about it. Maybe she died in an accident or of another illness such as cancer. If we speculated about that, would it be also scandalous or “prurient”? Speculation about someone’s death is the most natural thing to do when someone you care about is gone. And suicide isn’t dirty and just to be talked about in whispers and with raised eyebrows in private messages. Have you ever _loved_ someone that you knew only on line, Twickster? If so, why in this world would you try to **control** what is in our hearts and minds at a time like this? This **is** how some of us process our grief! In the early days, I was part of the forum she had elsewhere. There are others here who have met her or shared messages with her. We are grieving at our loss. And you want to “manage” us? That effort is so totally lacking in emotional intelligence that I am aghast at your lack of insight. **Opal** , “May the longtime sun shine upon you, all love surround you and the pure light within you guide you all the way home.” You will be so missed. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/166 "2013-03-12T05:16:07Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/167 "2013-03-12T05:43:18Z")
The world is less bright. Pax. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/168 "2013-03-12T05:58:35Z")
1. ☹ 2. ☹ 3… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/169 "2013-03-12T05:58:51Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OYA16z2-xFg/hqdefault.jpg "Grateful Dead - Birdsong") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYA16z2-xFg) Here’s a link to Birdsong for Opal. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/170 "2013-03-12T05:59:06Z")
So very sad. On this board I never really had much interaction with her but I joined her board a couple of weeks ago to talk with her about some personal things. And now this. Ugh. Love her postings or not, she will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/171 "2013-03-12T06:01:10Z")
We have lost an icon of the SDMB. Few have had the impact that she did. RIP, **OpalCat**. > [@WhyNot](#): > > Edited to add: [my favorite self portrait of hers](http://www.katherinehowardartist.com/images/being%20art%20self%20portrait.jpg). Damn, she struggled with that thing, remember? I followed the blow-by-blow she posted as she worked on that, and enjoyed watching it come together. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/172 "2013-03-12T06:10:00Z")
Very, very sad. Her unique contributions will be missed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/173 "2013-03-12T06:46:11Z")
1. Balls. 2. Just fuckin’ balls, you know? 3. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/174 "2013-03-12T06:53:57Z")
Damn, my condolences to her family. She will be missed… And one sign of that is we are already on the 4th page of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/175 "2013-03-12T06:57:32Z")
**Opal** was part of the culture here. I’m so sorry to learn of her passing & her family & son will be in my prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/176 "2013-03-12T06:57:35Z")
1.- Please let it be someone’s cat and not OpalCat… 2.- Damn ☹ 3.- Bye, Opal > [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Via con dios, muchacha. My condolences to the family at home and here at SD. Vaya. Sorry, it’s the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/177 "2013-03-12T06:58:42Z")
My condolences to her family. Awful news. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/178 "2013-03-12T07:04:57Z")
I didn’t really know her but she seemed like a cool person. Sorry to hear that she’s had a lot of inner demons to battle. I hope she took some of them down with her ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/179 "2013-03-12T07:15:18Z")
Well _fuck_. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666/180 "2013-03-12T07:15:51Z")
I opened this thinking it was going to be snarky, or completely different, not at all expecting this. Dammit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-opal/652666.md?page=10)