I've been holding this place and you people and Amy in my heart all day. Didn't get much done. Mostly just did this.

I love y'all. The news feels so wrong.

Edited: the news about Amy part. Not the loving you part. This feels quite right.

Friends have been asking me for ideas about how to reach out to Amy. I know it’s really hard, but don’t worry about saying the wrong thing.

My approach is this, take what works for you: I think the best support we can give her is to let her know how she’s influenced us. That her integrity and kindness and sense of humor and generosity of spirit has influenced us to be better people, better friends, better earthlings. And that she made a difference in our lives. The people I’ve known and loved recently who’ve died had one big fear - that they would be forgotten. Let Amy know she won’t be; that she’ll reside in all of us.

And memories! Lots of memories! Share your favorite anecdotes, any treasures or rituals you have that remind you of her, that sort of thing.

On another note: THANK YOU GUD for making this board work so beautifully on mobile devices! I bet many of us who haven’t posted frequently for years will be posting a lot more due to the ease.

javachik, thank you so much for sharing everything with us, and for your huge heart. And Amy always has been, is now and always will be deeply present here.

Thank you, javachik. For being you, and for helping us with this.

In cancer is the worst news, I found out today that a dear friend passed away Sunday. It was expected, although the last time I spoke with her she sounded optimistic. Her son called to let me know. June was one of our first customers back in 1988 when we opened a clone computer shop in a strip mall. She and her husband, Bob, became the very closest of friends. She made my wedding dress and Bob along with my sisters made all the food. Really, I don't need comforting because I was adequately prepared for this loss. I'm not ready for Amy! Although losses remind me once again how much you all mean to me.

This year really is of the suck.

(But I got off my ass after months of "...I should do that soon." and wrote a letter, which I enclosed in a card, in which I also enclosed a lenticular Captain America Valentine's Day card [tiny], and which I stamped with a lenticular T-Rex stamp. USPS, don't you fuck this up.)

Oh Laura, I am so sorry. Plei, Captain America is such a good call!

What terrible news.

Laura, I am so sorry.

I just got a call that an industry friend passed away this morning. Heart attack. He was a brilliant writer and editor, and while I'm going to miss working with him, I'll miss him as a person even more.

Seriously, fuck this year.