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I hadn't heard this. Al and I were not Facebook friends, but did converse via email some over the past decade that I haven't been super active here on The Board. This certainly explains why I've heard nothing back. I'm very saddened by this. Al was a wonderful, insightful, and intelligent man who also had a very high emotional intelligence quotient. the world will miss him.

Deeply sorry to see this. People come and go from forum life and so often we never find out why and assume the best, but it's always worth sparing a thought for them and for wherever they might be. Hope he found peace with Laura.

Alura had more influence on this site than most will ever know. All of the above is all totally true, but that was just the forward facing part of his involvement here. He was on the mod team from way back, way before me, and his counsel and approach to things runs all through how this site has always operated. Even after Laura's passing when he didn't publicly post nearly as much, he still kept in touch as a "mod emeritus" and would offer wise words about how to handle this or that situation or the overall direction of the site. A one of a kind, a full and interesting life well lived, there's really not words to do him justice.

PSULioness contributed frequently, thoughtfully and candidly until April, 2021, and then stopped abruptly. (You can check out her profile.) She came back in October, 2022, commenting on a post that posed the question: "Would you sell your sex?" She received aggressive & dismissive pushback from one board member. PSULioness and I exchanged several PMs at the time, discussing the status of her marriage and the bad treatment she’d received. She hadn’t posted since. I don’t have any contact info for her other than what’s here on the board. Perhaps she still monitors the board and you could reach her through a PM.

I found out while checking Facebook at work and sat at my desk crying. I told Mr. intuition on the way home, again, tears welling up (I'm a bit of a crybaby) and he said he was very sorry about my friend. "Ah well," he says, "I'm sure he's found his way through the pearly gates and is getting the same talking-to that his wife got: 'Now like I told Laura, this is not THAT kind of afterlife. You can't do that here.'" I laughed and said the vanillas can keep their heaven. I would rather be roasting my ass on a clothing-optional beach in hell with all the heathens. I'm sure they're better company.

If any of the old goats on SB are still around, we've lost a legend. Al of Alura passed away on the 10th, joining his wife who passed some years before. Goddamned cancer! You may recognize Alura's name around here on some of the older posts, giving sage advice, and blessing us with his earthy sense of humour. I've enjoyed a years-long internet friendship with Al, and I will deeply miss our conversations. I always meant to get down to Oklahoma to meet him in person and regret that I never did. If anyone has memories to share, please do.