Today I learned Ann Marie, A.K.A. Warrior Queen passed away last night. Todd, her husband, called me last night to inform me she was in hospital. This morning he called with the terrible news. Oh the pain. Truly.
Of all the bloggers buddies I have ever encountered, she was one best and always one ofmy favorites. I often call Spo-fans ‘dears’, but she truly was a dear. She regularly called me to say hello, and at my birthday she never failed to send a card. She always left comments, even on the lame ones that deserved no comment.
I don’t know anyone whose heart was larger. She adored all her blogger-buddies. She was like a den mother to a bunch of boisterous blogging boy scouts – especially the gay hirsute ones.
What I liked most about her was her courage. She faced things straight on and she take no prisoners. She was unafraid nor hesitant to call out bullshit – I use that word as she would- and she didn’t care tuppence what others thought of her – although she used for more salty words.
I had the ongoing joke about my disappointment at never getting a pony for Christmas. WQ, who was a ferocious knitter, made me one. I cherish it, and when I put it out at Christmas time, I will whisper it her name.
And now she was dead; I am weeping as I write this. She gave me so much joy, and more important, she comforted me; she stiffened my spine.
Dance like the world is watching.
Thank you, Anne Marie, my Warrior Queen.
62 comments
May 28, 2021 at 7:16 PM
Sixpence Nonethewiser
Oh dear.
These news are wrecking me.
Gonna miss her so much!
XoXo
May 28, 2021 at 7:24 PM
Urspo
Many will miss her – certainly all who interacted in the blogger community will.
May 28, 2021 at 7:21 PM
Jennifer
WHAT?!?!?!?! WTF….I never got past the first couple of sentences here. I’m in absolute shock. I just can’t believe it.
May 28, 2021 at 7:26 PM
Urspo
I feel the same; many more will when they hear the dreadful news.
May 28, 2021 at 7:39 PM
Debra She Who Seeks
I just read the terrible news over at Fearsome’s blog a couple of hours ago. What a shock — what a loss — I feel so bad for her husband Todd. Anne Marie was indeed a Warrior Queen and will be missed by all of us here in the blogosphere.
May 28, 2021 at 8:09 PM
Urspo
I will find out if Todd wants cards or calls and pass this on.
May 28, 2021 at 8:20 PM
Mistress Borghese
Well my dear Spo, all I have is a quote from the Golden Girls. ” Would it be wrong of me to ask for a group hug”
I’m still in shock and sadness on this end, from Todd’s call.
May 28, 2021 at 8:22 PM
Urspo
Please keep tabs on Todd; I hope many of us can be there for him.
May 28, 2021 at 9:41 PM
wcs
Such sad news. Anne-Marie was a wonderful blogger and blogger buddy. I wish I could have known her in person. She will be missed.
May 29, 2021 at 5:28 AM
Urspo
She laughed a lot and had no tact; she combined these into something liberating rather than obnoxious.
May 28, 2021 at 10:43 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I am shocked. I did not know her, but she sounded great.
May 29, 2021 at 5:28 AM
Urspo
She was a ‘strong woman’ I admire them so.
May 29, 2021 at 12:13 AM
Parnassus
This is the most terrible news. Anne Marie was like a dependable rock. As salty and direct as she was, and seemingly cutting no slack from anyone, she was really the most supportive and considerate person out there. I know her very original comments mostly from your and Debra’s (and a few other) blogs, and I always looked forward to what she had to say.
–Jim
May 29, 2021 at 5:29 AM
Urspo
I will miss these comments, the contents sometimes jostled my Midwestern tact. I enjoyed her openness this way.
May 29, 2021 at 12:23 AM
Moving with Mitchell
Such a beautiful tribute. You were fortunate to have her friendship.
May 29, 2021 at 5:30 AM
Urspo
Yes it was a fortunate matter for which I am grateful.
May 29, 2021 at 2:24 AM
janiejunebug
I didn’t know. I haven’t counted her among my friends for very long, yet I’m crying because I loved her directness and appreciated her support.
Love,
Janie
May 29, 2021 at 5:30 AM
Urspo
Funny how we read blogs and becomes close to people we never met.
May 29, 2021 at 2:38 AM
Sassybear
I wish we could all somehow come together to hug, cry, and toast to her life. She would love that. I will miss her dearly and my grieving is far from over.
May 29, 2021 at 5:31 AM
Urspo
In a way we are, thanks to blogging. I am glad we can and we are there for each other.
May 29, 2021 at 3:29 AM
Todd Gunther
Dear Spo,
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to the best friend I ever had. I hope to write my own tribute to her soon. In the meantime I hope everyone who she was able to touch with her kindness will stay in touch.
May 29, 2021 at 5:36 AM
Urspo
Yes, we will stay in touch. I can think of no better way to honor her memory.
May 29, 2021 at 3:35 AM
A smaller world | Idle Eyes and a Dormy
[…] Spo Reflections […]
May 29, 2021 at 4:00 AM
Regine Karpel (@regine_karpel)
I’m so sorry. My deepest condolences.
http://www.rsrue.blogspot.com
May 29, 2021 at 5:32 AM
Urspo
thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I plan to drop by your place for a look-see this weekend.
May 29, 2021 at 4:09 AM
Raybeard
The sadness is quite overwhelming. We who are so distraught at this great lady’s leaving us fervently thank her for her participation in our humble lives. My God, you’ll be missed. Sail on safely, W.Q.
May 29, 2021 at 5:32 AM
Urspo
Thank you Ray. I always love to hear your thoughts on things.
May 29, 2021 at 4:44 AM
Bob Slatten
“She was like a den mother to a bunch of boisterous blogging boy scouts – especially the gay hirsute ones.”
That says it best.
I will miss her forever.
May 29, 2021 at 5:33 AM
Urspo
She was what they used to crudely call a ‘fag hag’. I never liked the words. However she didn’t mince words so she wore the badge proudly.
May 29, 2021 at 4:51 AM
wickedhamster
Oh my, no! I’m sad; she brought joy to so many.
May 29, 2021 at 5:34 AM
Urspo
This is the the best barometer of a life well lived; when the person dies they leave behind Love.
May 29, 2021 at 5:19 AM
Lori
What a beautiful tribute to your friend. I remember seeing her comments on a couple of different blogs and I always chuckled. My sympathy to all of her friends and family.
May 29, 2021 at 5:35 AM
Urspo
One of her talents/joys was baking bread. She sometimes sent me a loaf.
May 29, 2021 at 5:25 AM
Jeffrey
Oh no! This is big, big sadness!
May 29, 2021 at 5:35 AM
Urspo
A big sadness, indeed.
May 29, 2021 at 7:18 AM
rjjs8878
Please accept my most sincere condolences. While I never met the Warrior Queen, we communicated with blog comments.
May 29, 2021 at 10:16 AM
Urspo
she was everywhere in the blogging community, like Glinda the Good gracing us with her presence.
May 29, 2021 at 7:49 AM
Tony D
What a shock. I never met Anne Marie, but I suspected that she was someone who had “figured it out”, meaning navigating that fine line between not giving a fuck and loving fiercely. I will never know how she was such a fan of the gays, but in this she never wavered. I know you were very fond of her, so I am sorry for your loss and I am sure you will miss her greatly.
May 29, 2021 at 10:17 AM
Urspo
that was nicely said you have a good ways with words.
The fine line you mentioned was indeed one of her most brilliant assets.
May 29, 2021 at 9:17 AM
Deedles
I had to look up threnody. How apropos. This is beautiful. There is now an Anne Marie sized hole in the blogosphere, not to mention hearts. I’m going to miss my little Carebear.
May 29, 2021 at 10:18 AM
Urspo
A Marie-sized hole is a large one indeed. Nothing she did was small.
May 29, 2021 at 9:34 AM
Old Lurker
There are a lot of sad bloggers today. This corner of the blogosphere will certainly be different now. I feel bad for AM and bad for RTG, who also lost his other best friend a few years ago.
It’s strange that Anne Marie died one year to the day after Larry Kramer did. In some ways they seemed similar.
May 29, 2021 at 10:19 AM
Urspo
They both had Warrior energy; good for them !
May 29, 2021 at 9:50 AM
Ron
Anne Marie was loved by all who knew her. It was my privilege to have actually met her in person a few times. I will never forget the first time she met you in person at our first Bloggerpalooza in 2013. She was so thrilled. Both of you have brought so much happiness to the world of blogging through your generosity of spirit and time. Our works is a bit diminished now that Anne Marie is no longer in it to leave her salty reply’s.
May 29, 2021 at 10:19 AM
Urspo
that was well said; thank you Ron for saying so.
May 29, 2021 at 9:55 AM
Ron
“Our WORLD” is a bit diminished. These iPhone keyboards are just too small for my big fingers.
May 29, 2021 at 1:02 PM
Steven
A splendid tribute to someone who meant so much to so many! May those who have been touched by her generosity and words of wisdom find strength and solace in the memories they share.
May 29, 2021 at 1:16 PM
Urspo
Let us hope so !
May 29, 2021 at 1:24 PM
David Godfrey
Devastating, words fail me today
May 29, 2021 at 1:38 PM
Urspo
when someone dies we want to say something anything to make sense and comfort but all words are lame and useless.
May 29, 2021 at 2:25 PM
Gigi Rambles
Spo – While I did not know Anne Marie, it is clear from you heartfelt tribute and all the kind words of everyone else, that she was a very special person and loved by all. I offer my condolences to you, her family and all who knew. My heart is heavy for you all.
May 29, 2021 at 2:31 PM
Urspo
Thank you; it is always a sad thing when someone we know and care for dies. Nothing can be done, but know others are with us.
May 29, 2021 at 5:54 PM
Pipistrello
Dear Spo, yours is a touching tribute to a friend who reads larger-than-life in your heart and this community. I did not know her, yet I offer my sincere condolences to you and Todd and her good friends here.
May 29, 2021 at 7:23 PM
Urspo
thank you for all of this; I hope Todd finds comfort in all the comments.
May 29, 2021 at 9:34 PM
fearsomebeard
My dearest Spo.
I met her many years ago right here in your comments section. I’ve always adored her. I treasure the moment I met her in person at the bar in the lobby of The Loews Hotel in downtown Philly after a conference I was it town for. She was instantly the Kool aide to my water. Thankfully I got to meet up with her a few more times and even met Todd on the last trip out. Unfortunately Covid stole my 2020 trip from us. I credit the two of you to my blogging adventure. She’s my number 1 commenter to this day. Her love and support for me just being me has enriched my life more than I can ever express.
To you Spo I send a hug, my love and an Anne Marie style Smmmoooch!
May 30, 2021 at 8:45 AM
Urspo
For all of this I am most grateful for AM. How amazing it is how we touch each other’s lives.
May 30, 2021 at 2:13 AM
finlaygray
Dear AM ..XX
May 30, 2021 at 8:46 AM
Urspo
Thank you for stopping by. I like hearing from you
May 31, 2021 at 8:14 AM
kristopherrobin
Hugsss. I’m sorry to hear about the world losing her, and how much she’d touched your life and others’.
May 31, 2021 at 1:33 PM
Urspo
Thank you!
June 6, 2021 at 8:42 PM
Kato
Oh such sad news
January 8, 2022 at 11:26 PM
Ron
Anne Marie was one of a kind, of that there us no doubt. However, during the second and last Bloggerpalooza she took an intense dislike to me and Pat, for what reason I’ve never been able to fathom because I’ve always been nothing but kind to her. I’ve never mentioned this before in this forum, especially after her untimely death but I will always wonder what I or Oat did to piss her off so much. I guess I will go to my grave with knowledge this will be one of those unsolved mysteries. Perhaps you know?