For weeks I've been dreading that call. I spoke with Nona just last week and she was not filled with sadness or regret. She knew she was at the end of her time but said it was a good end to her story. We spoke of the memories we shared, the goblin soup, the crazy chicken hunts, exploring the shrouded isle together. She made me promise 1 thing, and it was the hardest thing for me to promise. She asked that I not mourn for her. She said If I mourn, she'll come back and kick my butt. That's Nona folks. She was the strongest woman I've ever met and I can only hope to be as confident in life at the end as she was. She was not scared, not regretful, she was happy. She grateful and thankful for the life she had.
Back when we explored Camelot together she ventured into a game called Star Wars Galaxies and shared many fun tales of her adventures there. In addition, she ended up getting dragged in to play World of Warcraft on the Horde side. She loved PVP and often times gave the other factions in the games she played some hard times with her mischievous ways. She had the quickest wit and was a pleasure to be around.
Every year at our Gaiscioch Celebration at PAX West she'd take the ferry across to come see us all. Never missing a party. This year, unfortunately, our party came just months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. A few weeks ago on her 71st birthday, she was rushed off to the hospital with a cardiac problem only to discover cancer had spread to the point it was a matter of days not weeks or months.
Nona was our community 5th member. She always supported us and my crazy ideas. She supported this community in every way she knew how even referring players to us that were from distant worlds we never ventured into. When WoW classic was announced I decided I'd give it a try based on the accolades Nona had given it over the years. Nona was one of the first to jump on board and just a few weeks ago she joined me for a run through the deadmines. Many of our WoW players know of Nona and had time to spend with her.
Over the next few weeks, I will plan a Celebration of Life for Nona in the form of a Walk from Stormwind to Thoradin's Wall in Arathi Highlands.
As Nona laid in a hospital bed on her birthday she asked Kaytlin to give me a message:
"Nona needs support at the border walls. She will send reports on possible Horde Invasions soon."
Referring to Thoradin's Wall in Arathi Highlands. Even in her darkest moment, she was still thinking of us. Well, We're coming Nona, we're coming!