It's always hard to say good bye to a good friend, when you don't know they are departing.
For many here and on other blogs a huge vacancy is being felt. I got word yesterday that dear friend and blogger Anne Marie unexpectedly passed away and headed to the great dance hall of Fabulon. I though of posting a flower, but she'd most likely say fuck that shit. I thought I huge disco ball would suit her better. Large, fun and glittering. Each beam from the disco ball touching one of us. I had never expected to meet such a good friend like her through blogging. And to put Anne Marie in three words is just impossible. What comes to mind with me are- FUCK D'AT SHIT, FUCK YEAH, Philadelphia pride, GIN, love for cats, loud, proud, in charge, brawdy, incredible knitting talents, love of classical, jazz, and disco music, a honorary drag sister, a excellent LGBTQ ally, great listener, thoughtful, a fighter for all, caring, baking goodies, dirty seas shanties, boozy four hour lunches, juicy gossip, WE NEED MORE OF YOUR CAKES, civil rights, out spoken, warm hearted, tough as nails, old school, fiery and fierce. I will miss her reaction at our infamous lunches when I asked for a table for four- me , her and her two jahoobies!!! And of course casing and commenting on the hot waiters. I swear she was angling to fix me up. Poor Todd, for what we put him through when he joined. The only disagreement we ever had was over ABBA. I loved tormenting her with ABBA and would get a "NO MORE FUCKING ABBA!" crack back. And boy did she love the Candy Shop. But most of all she loved music and dancing....so I think this song could not be more fitting.
Of course, on one of our earlier meetings, I picked her up at the regional rail station... and the K -Klass came on in my car...and even though we had years apart, we both had some church up in the car...and it was a shaking and rockin'. I knew then we'd would go on to be good friends. So this song and message will remind me of her always. Good night dear sister, friend and advocate.... and save me a dance when I get to Fabulon dear! You in your sequins..... I in my marabou.
Ill fucking drink to that!
I just got down laughing myself silly in the previous post with Pam Demic and now be in tears over this one. I can't believe it. I had the feeling something was not right. I'm stunned and sorry for you her friends... and so impressed with the graceful way you've shared such terrible news. That first song is soo Anne Marie.
ReplyDeleteI'm have the feeling she'll save you a few dances. My condolences to her husband.
NOOOOOO! WHAT!?!?! I never met her, but her presence on your blog was so fun. Looked forward to her too on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news, indeed. Safe journey Anne Marie. Excellent song for her.
I'm gutted.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe I read that right! I'm sorry to hear of this. Thanks Anne Marie for being part of this crazy blog crowd. She'd liked that song...it not ABBA! She used to bust my balls on stuff here, lol
ReplyDeleteCondolences to her family and friends.
Oh no, I'm so sorry, she was a fixture on this blog, and others that I read. Very sad to read this.
ReplyDeleteSx
I got to know Anne Marie better through your blog and had hoped to have the chance to meet her. What an individual. One of a kind. Great music and post. She would be proud.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in shock. I just can't believe she's gone and I'm going to miss her fierce brand of love. What a great tribute to her, MM. She would be so proud!
ReplyDeleteI hope Anne Marie has gone to a better place, if not I am sure she is organising the devil and his cronies down there to sort out Mitch McTurtle and his crowd.
ReplyDelete"For many here and on other blogs, a huge vacancy is being felt." Nailed it. I'm still in shock. I will miss our fierce friend and warrior queen so much. My tears aren't done. Loved her and feel so lucky to have met her and shared great conversations with her. The world will be quieter without her here, and that silence will be deafening.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
www.idleeyesandadormy.com
I'm shocked and sad.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thank you Mistress for this wonderful tribute. As much as you and I like Abba i am tempted to keep teasing her spirit on my blog.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome dear friend, I think you know how I felt about her. Oh you know us, you know we will still have to tempt her with some ABBA!!!! What's the worst she'll do, it us with a lightening bolt? Or cut off my gin supply?
DeleteWe will have a drink to her when we meet up
I just can't find the words.
ReplyDeleteI have this feeling that right now she's having a blast tormenting the hell out of Ronald fuckin' Reagan.
ReplyDeleteTHIS RIGHT HERE ^^^^^^
Delete" I thought of posting a flower, but she'd most likely say fuck that shit"
ReplyDeleteAnd she would have!!
Dancing is better.
Surely this must be April Fools Day? But I looked at my calendar and it isn't. I can not believe how truly sad this is and shocking. She was always a loud voice here..heard swear words i didn't know existed. And her kind words when Willaim left me meant a lot. What a sad day.
ReplyDeleteOH, NO!! Maddie, I am so sorry and sad to hear this. We here in the blogosphere develop a tightness that may stun others. Anne Marie is the third one since January. Though we use words each day to express life, When one of us dances on the hole leaves an emptiness we are unable to express.
ReplyDeletethank you for all the entertainment and kindness and words of choice over the years here at the casa du borghese. you know she telling them already how to fucking reorganized the fubulon.
ReplyDeleteOh my, devastating news. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to see this morning.
ReplyDeleteHugs to all.
Take care.
That disco ball is perfect for Carebear, Mads! She was allergic to flowers. I'm about all cried out from yesterday morning to bedtime. Still, a stray tear or two is falling. I just start humming Dancing Queen, and hear her indignantly yelling in my head about my song choice, and then I smile.
ReplyDeleteI too Deedles. I couldn't believe how upset I got considering I never met her. I had to read this post three times to make sure I read right. I think Maddie's disco ball comparison is spot on too. She is will be missed.
DeleteSuch shocking and terrible news. Your tribute hits every note, Mistress! It's perfect.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you've lost your dear friend, Anne Marie. She must have been great fun at your cock-a-tail hours, Mistress!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear the news, Maddie...as this blog is so much like a family, the loss of Anne Marie is profound...she will be missed. Hugs to all.
ReplyDeleteI am literally typing this through tears. I just can't. I can't believe this news. One of my hopes in life was to meet her in person. Oh the fun we could have had. It's taken me 10 minutes to type this. I just don't know what to say. Awesome tribute you have to her, she would love it.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. What a shock.
ReplyDeleteGoodbye fiery, sassy sister.
You'll treasure her hand knitted gifts even more now, mistress.
R. I. P. Anne marie.
While I never met her, I stopped in here and there at her place and of course loved her smart quips back to you and her colorful comments here. She will leave a terrible void here at the Casa...even the houseboys aren't perking me up.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am very sorry to hear this. She and you always bounced off eachh other with witty banter. Condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so dreadfully sad news. My blessings to you, her good blog friends and her husband during this time and may I offer strength and love to you.
ReplyDeleteLove to all Anne Maries friends, husband and family. I only just found your blog and I could tell she was a spit fire! Loved it. Let's keep her fucking memory alive. LOL! Excellent songs.
ReplyDeleteI heard the news today... absolutely heartbreaking. She was a hilarious woman with a heart of gold! She is going to be greatly missed! Dance Anne Marie wherever you are because it's Saturday and it's time for your dance party.
ReplyDeleteOn no. I'm so sorry to hear this both for Todd and for you, her friends.
ReplyDeleteI didn't meet her or was that close either, but I looked forward to seeing her mischief here at the Casa du Borghese. I say that song I Just Wanna Fucking Dance is perfect! Let's Fucking Dance!
Sweet dreams Anne Marie, you'll never be forgotten by your friends.
ReplyDeleteYou did a splendid job capturing her urtext in a lovely eulogy.
ReplyDeleteI'd say that song fits her to a t. It's sad whenever we lose someone, but especially when there was so much more life left to be lived. My condolences to you all and her husband Todd.
ReplyDeleteI'm climbing up on to the roof to shout FUCK YEAH, FUCK OFF, Fuck the twat and and Nazi Bastards in her honour... then have a gin and tonic.
ReplyDeleteOh Maddie, I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved the way you egged each other on. Sixpence gave me the terrible news this morning. My condolences to you, her blog family, and her husband of thirty-odd years. Her’s was a life well lived and on her own terms, from what I’ve seen.
ReplyDeleteTo quote the great lady herself: OH! FUCK!
ReplyDeleteSuch sad news. She was a stalwart here in the blogosphere, and, I would surmise, a "tour-de-force" as a person. Condolences all round. I'm shouting that Alison Jiear number as we speak, in her honour...
RIP Anne Marie. And your jahoobies.
Jx
AMEN AMEN, Jon. I'm still in shock.
DeleteI'm still devastated over this. (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteMy heart to you, dear one. Just floored, myself. I always thought I'd get to meet her in-person. She was such a fire. Hugs to you. Wishing you great peace.
ReplyDeleteSubtracting half my original comment, because it looks like she DID like disco, or at least music heavily influenced by disco, just not ABBA.
ReplyDeleteThe other part stays. RIP, Anne.
I never heard of Anne. But when someone leaves this relm I feel great saddness. Someone is hurting.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Well, this is a bit of a shock. My condolences to you, Maddie, and all those who knew and loved Anne Marie. I didn't interact much with her myself, but I know she was quite the lady. She will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI heard this Morning, a huge Void in the Blogasphere, she was so Sassy, Passionate and Fun. A Disco Ball is fitting. The words she had on her Profile best come to mind: Straight but not Narrow.
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace, Anne Marie. Thank you for all the laughs, the memories, and for sharing your loud boisterous company with us all here at the Casa du Borghese.
ReplyDeleteI'll continue to pop 'round here from time to time with a bottle of gin, swear and cuss, and raise my glass to your spirit Anne Marie!!!
ReplyDeleteMistress, I do believe henny, Anne Marie would approve of that song.
I was away and just got back to see this news. Dear Anne Marie, you made us all smile and even shocked us with racy and loud words, thank you. Ill miss seeing your comments and razzing of Maddie. It seems the Joe My God blog really misses you.
ReplyDeleteWhat's not to love about a brawdy, brassy, foul mouthed gal! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI should have taken her on tour.
I'm gutted. We all miss you very much Anne Marie at the Casa du Borghese and the famous debaucherous parties here.. and your very own dance parties.
ReplyDeleteI'll raise a glass to Anne Marie tonight.
ReplyDeleteOh. So sorry to hear this. We will miss her antics, comments and fun she brought to this blog.
ReplyDeleteI went back Mistress, and the last thing she said on here was "all that's missing are your naked cakes!"
AM obliviously had good taste in CAKES!
DeleteI could not believe it when you told me.
ReplyDeleteIt kind of hit me hard, cause I don't process grief easily. I'm going to miss her so much!
And I had promised myself that I'd have cocktails with you two as soon as the pandemic would abate! Darn!
XOXO
I'm so sorry for your loss. She was indeed a bright light in this world and I will miss her.
ReplyDeleteI have been away from the internet and very sad to read this. She was a compete riot. We need more to be just as loud and outspoken you ask me. I visited her from time to time.
ReplyDelete