It’s a sad day around the Ranch Barn. Today we learned that a wonderful blogger has passed. Helen Devries was an extraordinary human, not to mention a brilliantblogger. Our acquaintance began after she followed me, no doubt due to our mutual friend, Max the Maltese’s blog “Within the K Streets” (he now writes “Reiko’s Journey”after Max’s passing) that I followed back in the ‘Sam years’ when I first began blogging. When Sam earned his wings in 2020, she privately reached out to me to make sure I was ok, I was particularly touched. She and I bonded over our dogs and she had many, which she fondly referred to as “The Thugs” (I can only recall Black Tot, Scruffy, Mr. Darcy and Plush, though I know there were several others whose names I don’t recall). When Elsa passed last year, she reached out privately on Facebook to convey her condolences and shared a story about the aforementioned Black Tot who had suffered a seizure shortly after being attacked by a pack of dogs. She had also made a sizable donation to the rescue in Elsa’s honor for which I was particularly touch by her generosity as well as her sympathy.
I spent a fair amount of time re-reading years worth of Helen’s blog posts today. It made me laugh out loud between tears whenever she shared stories about the Thugs. We were nearly three years apart age-wise and given my recent health issue, her passing hit me extra hard. Mortality has a way to bringing things into a crisp focus. She had posted last month yet gave no hint that she was not well. Helen was never one to wax on about personal things, always being stoic and rarely giving mention of a hospital stay except in minor passing. Her Scottish hardiness was embedded in her comments and posts. She never complained beyond sundry dealings of aggravation with the local governmental bureaucracies she experienced in Costa Rica or the ongoing dispute with the ever oleaginous neighbor, Don Luis, and when she mentioned any malady, it was always downplayed. I knew she had been in and out of hospital over the past year or so but she never sought attention beyond casual mentions and always managed to bounce back.
Helen always entertained me with her stories of growing up in the 60’s in the UK on her blog. I always smiled watching her YouTube posts that further entertained me about her topic but often needed to look up the significance of them as I felt like such a plebian. I learned she had been a student of the London School of Economics and Political Science when we became Facebook buddies and her knowledge about historical goings-on and cultural matters was quite impressive. I got the sense she did not suffer fools lightly. One always needed to be on their toes when commenting on her blog and I never wanted to be considered ill-informed. You never casually breezed through one of her posts. You. paid. attention! She was a master with a pen, and I needed to educate myself on more often than not on historical matters lest I appeared to be yet another ignorant American. We’d go back and forth about the absurdity of governmental bureaucracy and she provided me with a wonder about UK history as much as my curiosity about European continent history. She seemed to possess an amazing historical and cultural knowledge of life and I was in awe of her. She and I talked privately about her beloved Leo (often affectionately referred to as a Higher Authority on her blog) and his health decline. She never complained about taking care of him when he was wheelchair bound and when moving him was challenging with her dodgy knee; she let me know about his passing via private message. She never sought any limelight and I so admired the two of them, stout of character with a lifetime of shared adventures. When she mentioned Leo had a property in Spain he was trying to sell, I so wanted to express interest but my life at that time was in a bit of shambles and I needed to make a conscious decision not to pursue it, tempted as I was.
Like those of you were familiar with Helen, I will sorely miss her wit and sardonic observations of life in general and her kind, generous comments. Tonight I will hoist a gin and tonic in her honor and sing the famous poem of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. Rest in peace, dear lady-you will not be forgotten. May all of her Thugs receive a good ear rub tonight.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowan fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fitt,
Sin’ auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin’ auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Sorry for the loss of your friend, Thank you for letting us know what we missed.
Thank you. We wee sad to be the bearer of such sad news. Helen was such a wonderful human.
A wonderful tribute and condolences on the loss to a good friend. Always sad to hear when a blogger passes on.
Thank you. Helen was a beautiful soul and while I’m mourning her loss, I’m so grateful I got a chance to know a little about this amazing human.
I am sure this rare soul will be missed by many, and extend my sincerest condolences. Because I couldn’t understand most of this song, which, yes, I have heard sung, I asked ChatGPT to translate it for me, as well as others who would like to understand it better. Here it is. If this is too long, please feel free to delete the comment. (Don’t mean to be taking over here.)
Auld Lang Syne — “For Old Times’ Sake”
Should old friends be forgotten,
And never thought of again?
Should old friends be forgotten,
And the days gone by?
For old times’ sake, my dear,
For old times’ sake,
We’ll still share a cup of friendship,
For old times’ sake.
And surely you’ll buy your pint,
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll still share a cup of friendship,
For old times’ sake.
We two have run around the hillsides
And picked the lovely daisies;
But we’ve wandered many a weary mile
Since those days long ago.
We two have paddled in the stream
From morning until dinnertime;
But wide seas have roared between us
Since those days long ago.
And here is my hand, my trusted friend!
Give me your hand as well!
And we’ll share a hearty drink of friendship
For old times’ sake.
For old times’ sake, my dear,
For old times’ sake,
We’ll still share a cup of friendship,
For old times’ sake.
(Continuing in comments by ChatGPT:
The final verse is especially warm. “My trusty fiere” means something like my faithful friend or companion, while “a right gude-willie-waught” is essentially a hearty drink taken in goodwill. So Burns is picturing two old friends reaching out, clasping hands, and having a drink together in remembrance of everything they have shared.
Thank you, Amy. The ChatGPT translation is lovely, thank you for that; I appreciate your posting it. Helen was a lovely soul who will be deeply missed on Earth but I’m sure she and her husband Leo are walking hand in hand and rejoicing at being reunited.
I am sure, too.
A beautiful tribute. I didn’t know her well, but am very sorry the loss of such a wonderful lady.
Thanks, Beth. She was a very special human who will be deeply missed.
Our lives and hearts are lessened today after her loss.
That is truly an understatement. Thank you for your kind comment.
My condolences. What a sweet tribute to her. I remember her comments.
Thank you. Helen was truly special and will be greatly missed.
You have my sympathy for the loss of your friend. Your memorial was very touching.
Thanks, Julia. She was one of the smartest people I’ve met online and will be greatly missed.
Monika — I am sorry for your loss. I had noticed Helen’s comments on Tails Around the Ranch, and always enjoyed them. Others have noted what a wonderful tribute you wrote for Helen; all I can do is second that. Take care, my friend.
Thank you, Amy. Helen always was so complimentary whenever I switched my header. She noticed things. She will be missed very much.
I am sorry that you lost a good friend.
I am sorry I didn’t know her, my loss…
You wrote a beautiful tribute for her.
Sending hugs your way to help comfort you in a small way.
Thanks so much, Ingrid. Helen was quite the force. I’m sorry you didn’t know her. She was someone who was very special.
Monika, my wish is that all those cherished memories of Helen bring you comfort in the days ahead. This is a wonderful tribute to her. Condolences on the loss of a dear friend.
Many thanks for your kind comment, Bruce. I will always fondly remember Helen. She was truly a remarkable human.
What a lovely and heart-felt post in honor of your dear friend. Those close to us may “fly away” but they are always in our hearts and the really CLOSE ones in our souls. Losing a close friend always brings us ’round to our own mortality and as I sneak up on 80 I think about it more and more. I hope to see all the friends I have loved and lost all these years again one day – in a much happier place. I’m sure your friend will be waiting for you too…..I have no doubt you made her life more full just as she did for yours.
Hugs, Pam
Thank you, Pam. Helen was one of a kind. I’m heartbroken she’s gone but glad she is reunited with Leo her husband once again. I’m not far behind you and that’s really hitting home now.
Wonderful tribute. I feel closer to some of my blogging buddies than I do to my neighbors. RIP Helen.
Thanks, Kate. I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way.
Beautiful tribute to your friend. I am sorry she passed. XO
Thank you, those who knew her are very sad about her passing.
Well said, my friend.
You’re too kind. Helen was such an amazing human. I’ve been gutted by this loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss. What a lovely tribute.
Many thanks, Debra. Helen managed to touch the hearts and souls of those who read her blog. She was something quite special.
We did not know that special lady, she sounds like she was a grand one. Very sad.
She was amazing, Terry. The world list a great one.
Very nice words and poem.
Thanks, Martha. I wanted to lend a Scottish bend to the tribute and I don’t think there’s anything more Scottish than Robert Burns’ famous poem.
Thanks, Sandee-very much appreciate your love and hugs. Helen was a very special human. The fact that she wrote a terrific blog is secondary.
Blogging buddies become close to our heart and we feel it when they pass, even if we never met in person. I’m sorry for your loss, Monika. 🙏🏼
Thanks, Eliza. The loss was such a shock. The world lost a beautiful human with her passing.
A beautiful tribute to your friend. Some folks are most precious to us and are never forgotten.
Love and hugs to you and lots of scritches to handsome Wilson. ♥