Where are my words? There's so much sadness and hurt and hilarious, stunning, wonderful memories in this thread. So much love. Even though I've been gone for so long, I read each name after the next and memories of you all come back. Buffistas saved my life too; I know you all understand. Each of you are all part of the Buffistas mosaic in my mind - it's quite beautiful - and ita's a nice pink gingham glowing in the middle.

Nilly, thanks for the email letting me know.

Wish I could hug you all for real.

We were just talking about how JAR is "one of ours", weren't we? He really sealed that deal.

Oh, katefate! So happy to see your pixels!

What JAR tribute? I can't find it!

So because of ita's influence I started taking kickboxing classes. I had been interested and I read that Allyson was taking them and other Buffistas but I really wanted to be able to do Krav because of ita's love for it.

I had to stop because of health issues and I never started back when my health stuff got better. Now I can't find kickboxing classes around here and I'm terribly out of shape.

I loved doing it though. I loved kicking and punching and when an instructor would come by and correct my form. I liked kicking the pads and bracing myself when someone was kicking me when I was holding the pads.

I got to find a way to do it again.

This is going to sound terribly stupid, but was ita at the dc F2F? I know I didn't talk to her much even if she was, but somehow it feels important to know whether we were ever in the same room.

((((buffistas))))

MM, upthread, Monique linked.

Such sad, unexpected news. The outpouring of love and grief is not unexpected, but it is great testament to her life. RIP, ita. Condolences to her family, her Buffista family definitely included.

Once upon a time, my life was in transition, and this was the only community I had.

It was enough. It was awesome.

In this community, ita was the heart, the mind, and the strong right arm.

She was enough. She was awesome.

My life is different now. I drive past ita's old Birmingham apartment after dropping my kids off at school, on my way to my own school, where I teach theatre. Like I always wanted. Like she told me I could. And as I drive by, I think "I wish ita was still here."

I wish ita was still here.

Ah, that post from JAR is wonderful. As is the ita/Allyson exchange.