Leigh Charleville

Is there a way to send a message to a person that hasn't logged on in a long time? The person is still in my friends list. I have tried to send IMs, but how can I be sure that the person is getting the messages in their email? Or can SL somehow forward a message to the person's email? This person was nice and I'm just wondering what happened to them and if they are ok. I wish I had asked more information before so I could keep in contact in other ways too.