REMEMBERING ANNE MARIE

It has been five years already since we, I, and the blogging community loss a swell person. Not much time goes by that I don't recall her, think of her, or when I hear someone say Fuck yeah, or any multitude of fucks in a sentence that I don't think about Anne Marie. She would be beyond massive heart attack if she were here now to see the current climate of the times. I had the pleasure of calling her a good friend, fellow gin guzzler, and loved our four-hour lunches. Many knew her name but may have never got the chance to meet her face to face...but one still was able to feel the spit fire, the warmness and the slap stick, humor sassiness, and feistiness in her spirit. She was an unforgetable force. From blogging community to knitting groups, to pubs, benefits, dance floors and dinner tables she touched many. Today is a little ode of songs in her honor and songs that remind me of her. Now if she were here, she'd say; Stop fucking talking for Christ sake and hit the fucking play button!!!!

Get up and Shake dat ass!!!!!!!!!

And yes, she may strike me dead for spilling some tea, but at one lunch she did indeed admit to the last song as her one and only ABBA song she liked. Or maybe it was just the gin talking. But it suits.

INTO THE FABULON

 
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!