Let's have ourselves a fine thread to celebrate the life of our friend troubleinwinter.

[EFerrari]

My friends

I got word that on Thanksgiving week, that Tuesday, our friend was driving home to northern California from Arizona and she was lost in a terrible car crash. The police seemed to believe she fell asleep and her ex seemed to believe she died on impact. Terrible news.

I waited for a while to post out of respect for her family and intimate friends. Out of respect for her friends here at DU and out of respect for all her wonderful participation here, let's have a thread for her tonight.

I think I met trouble here in this forum. She was a brilliant, loyal, generous woman. She could be testy, silly and laser sharp on any problem, by turns. She made this, do you remember?



trouble helped fly and merh and fooj and me make a circle around Andy. She stayed up until all hours in those bad days to help figure out the way forward. She was a relentless advocate for election reform and active in her Democratic community. A gifted artist, a very devoted mother and an irreplaceable, irrepressible friend.

To our friend, troubleinwinter. This place, any place, is so much less without you. You are always in our hearts, always bright, always beautiful and always loved.

[gateley]

1. A beautiful tribute, EFerrari. Rest in peace, sister. nt.

[myrna minx]

2. Thank you for this beautiful tribute. Rest in peace.

[sabrina 1]

3. I am so sorry.

What a lovely tribute, it is just such sad news. I remember seeing that artwork many times.

R.I.P. troubleinwinter :-)

[EFerrari]

36. I'm sorry you didn't meet her, sabrina.

:hug:

[sabrina 1]

99. I wish I had also. I did read her posts many times though

and am very sad to hear this.

[CoffeeCat]

4. Oh, that's terrible...

I remember troubleinwinter with great fondness.

I'm sorry that you lost a DU friend, E, and my condolences to everyone at DU who was her friend.

I am so sorry that this happened. She was very sweet. I wish her family peace and
strength at this most difficult time.

[EFerrari]

7. The last time I talked to her, she was scolding me

for having a friend who ran on a Green Party ticket.

She was two hands' full and my ear hurt for a week.

And that's how she was.

To our friend. :toast:

[Solly Mack]

5. A beautiful tribute.

Thank you for letting us know.

RIP troubleinwinter

[EFerrari]

25. When you connect with someone, there's a moment of recognition

and then, big relief.

trouble was a northern CAer like me. We never had to debate abortion rights, gay civil rights, ending the wars, transparent elections, global warming, Reaganomics, racial discrimination, immigration, so many things. The way to get there, that was up for debate. Our shared values, never.

It's nice when that happens. Good to see you as always, Solly Mack. :hug:

[DoBotherMe]

6. I'm sorry you lost your friend

And thank you for sharing your beautiful tribute. Dana ; )

[EFerrari]

11. Thank you, Dana.

[Echotrail]

8. I remember

RIP troubleinwinter!

I remember the art. I have it saved on my hd.
And I remember everything about the circle and the all night fundraisers and PayPal and JH and the sweet, funny and ferocious fly, mehr, trouble and Elizabeth.
I was here under a different...capacity then.
Good people never change.
:grouphug:

[EFerrari]

10. I'm sorry now that I didn't save any of her snapshots of herself.

In those days, I obsessively didn't keep anything in case a malefactor hacked into my machine while the stalkers were out for Andy.

But I remember one image of her, in an ankle length caftan and with long hair and I remember her talking about her daughter's wedding, aka The Kid. She was so happy about that.

:grouphug:

[corpseratemedia]

9. RIP to a talented gal

[UpInArms]

12. :( another loss - this has been a hard and harsh year for DU

rest well, trouble - you shall be missed

[EFerrari]

22. Don't see you often enough, UpInArms.

Thanks for checking in tonight.

:hug:

[merh]

13. I cannot remember if I met trouble in this forum or

the Wrinkles thread. That is where we all seemed to form a bond - all that long ago.

trouble was a great lady, she was very supportive of me after Katrina, she helped in ways I could never thank her for, she was just there caring and cheering me on and listening.

Thank you for the thread EF, so sad it had to be posted, that trouble left us so soon.

I'll just see her sitting with Andy as they cheer us on and tell us to demand paper ballots.

Rest in peace, trouble. :hug:

[EFerrari]

14. Her being gone was unreal to me until the thread went up.

I didn't talk to her much in the last few years. But I'll never forget how on it she was when Kevin Shelley was drummed out of office here in CA when he was the first to call out the vapor voting machines or how she followed the OH recount with a magnifying glass with us or how she stayed on it when Andy needed help.

She was very special.

:hug:

[merh]

20. She was very involved - and she was involved in so much.

She had a very big heart and she had a great laugh.

[EFerrari]

19. I think this is Andy's thread that started the Wrinkles. She posted to it.

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3144209

[merh]

23. Thanks for the memories

Boy - we had such hopes - we were sure we could stop them.

[EFerrari]

26. I think Andy would have loved wikileaks.

He loved the net, and understood something of its power. There was a part of him that was pragmatic but another part that was always figuring the angles and how to work them. For every down moment, there were three brainstorming ones. I miss him, too.

[merh]

33. I think you are right

He loved it when the truth made its way to the light of day and he hated it that the gov is so intent on burying it.

[EFerrari]

34. Exactly. In some ways, Andy was more hopeful but more pragmatic, too,

than most of us.

[Hissyspit]

27. I remember.

Even though I had only just joined after lurking for a year.

Rest in peace.

[EFerrari]

28. I was here Nov 2004. So, there was that screwed up election,

the OH recount, shortly after Andy was ill, Katrina, and then my divorce, then fighting and losing the impeachment battle. Those first years are sort of a traumatic blur. I remember you asking me if I was going to DC in Jan 2007.

I'm so glad you're here, Hissyspit. Hope this season is a good one for you. :hug:

[juajen]

81. Oh my goodness, I didn't want to see that thread by Andy.

Death is too hard for this soft heart that grieves over very special people, and how I remember those days also as one of the saddest yet most uplifting stories of our very wonderful Democratic Underground. Here's hoping that we all get together again after death to raise tomorrow.

[greatauntoftriplets]

15. That's a lovely tribute to troubleinwinter....

Aside from her help to Andy, she was a valued member of this community and her untimely death is a loss to us all.

:cry:

[EFerrari]

16. I don't even know all the forums she posted to.

GD, Cooking & Baking, here. She had so many abilities, talents. Does anyone know if she posted to photography? Because she posted some lovely work.

:cry:

[cbayer]

17. My thoughts go out to her family and friends. Very sad.

:grouphug:

[EFerrari]

21. Thanks, cbayer.

You know, I recall having a kidding conversation with her about cooking. We stayed up so late so many nights in a row during all of that, we probably said everything to each other plus the kitchen sink. I think it was about chile but I don't remember if she was for or agin.

What I do remember is thinking, this is a lady who has been up to her elbows in everything that she thought was important. And that was very cool.

:toast:

[Smashcut]

18. what a lovely tribute.

may she rest in peace.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

24. RIP Troubleinwinter - she was trouble year round to bullies and punks

she was truly a fighter for election reform, a fighter for the underdog, she
had backbone. She was a champion.

RIP Troubleinwinter, we will really miss you.

[EFerrari]

29. I sure as hell wouldn't want to cross her.

:evilgrin:

:grouphug:

[yellerpup]

30. To your friend

safe passage. She was fortunte to have you to remember her so well and with such affection.

[EFerrari]

31. Thank you, yellerpup.

:grouphug:

[WhiteTara]

32. RIP Trouble

we will miss you.

[applegrove]

35. What a great person. RIP.

[Bill Bored]

37. Awful, awful news. She was a real truthseeker!

I want to share a few things she wrote to me, without divulging anything too personal:

"I am not a member of any group. There is some advantage to that..."

"It's hard to know what orgs are to be avoided or not, there are so many!"

"My current interest (at the time she wrote this) relates to disenfranchisement of 60,000 Navajo voters (and some other tribes) through voter ID....They highly revere their veterans. They serve at a very high rate. They tell me (about Iraq) 'This is a wrong war.'"

There's a lot more including her relentless debunking of fake election integrity advocates out to discredit the movement in ways we may not have been able to imagine without her.

She was the answer to the question, "Who's watching the watchers?"

So rest in peace.:cry::loveya:

[EFerrari]

39. Yes, she was!

lol

Thank you so much for that, Bill Bored.

:loveya:

[merh]

40. She was the answer to the question, "Who's watching the watchers?"

Exactly - thank you for writing this.

[lildreamer316]

38. Damn. Thanks for the thread.

The Andy thing just about kicked my butt.
She will be missed badly.

[EFerrari]

41. Welcome.

:hug:

[Generic Other]

42. I still have a copy of her poster of Ballot

Such sad news.

[EFerrari]

43. I'm sorry, Generic Other.

:hug:

[mogster]

44. Rest in peace

This is so sad, she was a really nice woman.
You will be remembered, trouble.

[EFerrari]

48. Hi there, mogster.

It's good to see you. :hug:

[Skinner]

45. Rest in peace, troubleinwinter.

We will miss you. :cry:

[Time for change]

46. I remember

having some very good discussions with her. I liked her.

How sad.

Thank you for posting this.

[Patsy Stone]

47. I do remember.

Beautiful words for a wonderful woman.

[EFerrari]

49. That icon looks very nice on you, Patsy.

:hi:

[Wilms]

50. She was among those who "get it".

And she seemed entirely unimpressed with how impressive she was. She leaves us able to smile through our tears.

Brilliant and quick. And so she was.

[Tsiyu]

51. I am sorry to hear of this

i remember troubleinwinter; hadn't seen her around a lot but I'm not here so much either.


peace and comfort to you and her other loved ones

[EFerrari]

56. Thanks, Tsiyu.

It's good to see you here.

[me b zola]

52. A beautiful tribute

Rest in peace, trouble.



:(

[EFerrari]

57. . . .

:grouphug:

[goodboy]

53. She helped me get to Seattle to play for Andy's memorial...all of you did.

I'll miss her.

[OnyxCollie]

54. RIP.

K&R.

[Mojorabbit]

55. RIP dear Troubleinwinter. You will be missed. nt

[nolabear]

58. I'm so sorry. RIP Trouble.

[spooky3]

59. my condolences to you and to her family

[OnTheOtherHand]

60. "testy, silly and razor sharp" -- that's exactly right

It's hard to receive this news, but your memorial makes it easier. Thank you.

[formercia]

61. May she rest in Peace.

Thank you for letting us know. We were part of her family too.

[EFerrari]

63. trouble was a wonderful DUer.

:hi:

[formercia]

69. A loss of one of us, is a loss to all of us.

:hi:

[Kaleko]

62. This thread brings home to me the fact

that we can create a real sense of community in cyberspace. We can find authentic kinship and encouragement, even on DU -- thanks to people like all of you who posted here.

Warmth is so sorely lacking on this site.

[EFerrari]

65. That happens in big families sometimes, doesn't it?

There can be long, uncomfortable periods of chilliness or rancor. And the longer it goes on, the more likely it is to become habit.

I'd like to see us take the opportunity to do a little kinder. So many people are already struggling, they don't need any more ugly in their lives

DU seemed to have a growth spurt during the last presidential election and the sense of community, imo, took a real beating. Maybe the growth was too fast for the community to keep its character and deal with all the changes we went through at the same time.

[Kaleko]

72. I tell ya, it's hard sometimes to not shoot back left and right

at certain messengers personally in this big, dysfunctional hive of a cyber family blob.

:)

The more recent WikiLeaks disclosures have also provided a great opportunity for the more prolific posters on DU to show their true colors. A growth spurt of the psychological kind can be had by all who participate, methinks, and I'm grateful for that.

[juajen]

83. I so disagree. I always find warmth on this forum. NT

[MadMaddie]

64. RIP troubleinwinter RIP

We lose the good much too often...

[tomm2thumbs]

66. what a nice upbeat tribute and celebration of someone who obviously should be celebrated

well done and much affection to troubleinwinter for advocacy above and beyond the call

[suffragette]

67. A beautiful tribute

and I do remember that graphic well.

troubleinwinter greeted me in my first OP on DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x173954

RIP.

[Ellipsis]

68. Rest well my acerbic friend. You will be dearly missed.

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;"

[EFerrari]

73. Flout 'em and scout 'em /And scout 'em and flout 'em /Thought is free.

lol

:)

[pacalo]

70. I'm so sorry to hear this.

Hugs & prayers to her children & family.

This is a beautifully expressed tribute to trouble; her kind heart & generous spirit is a big loss to DU.

You're a wonderful friend to have; I'm sure trouble felt that way, too.

:hug:

[Hoosier]

71. A wonderful tribute post. RIP.

[fooj]

74. This was not your call, Beth. Have you no sense of respect?

You were told not to post about the tragic news regarding my dear friend Trouble. She has a daughter who is devastated and grieving the premature loss of her beloved mother. As I'm sure you can imagine, it was and still is quite a shock to all of us who REALLY knew and loved her. I know factually that you haven't communicated with her in years. Many years. I'd like to say that I'm surprised that you completely disregarded another friend's request to keep this horrible news absolutely private. Unfortunately, I am not.

A family's right to privacy should be honored and respected. Considering I was the person of contact (spoke w/husband on Thanksgiving) regarding this horrible tragedy and spoke intimately with Trouble's family members, it's hard for me stomach such blatant disregard for much needed privacy and healing. I will do all I can to protect her daughter's grieving process. Trouble wouldn't have it any other way. I knew her well. She was a guest in my home many times. Her daughter, father, son-in-law and grandbaby accompanied her on a few of those visits. They are wonderful people. They knew Trouble's heart. I knew Trouble's heart. She would not have wanted this. Not here. Not now.

It's Christmas. Please respect the memory of Trouble by allowing her daughter the space and dignity to grieve as she wishes.

No means no.

[EFerrari]

75. Hi there, fooj.

I think that those of you close to trouble must be going through a very difficult time right now.

And maybe in that difficult time, you are not seeing that you don't own this event. You can't really tell other people not to grieve, can you? There is nothing on this thread that could possibly intrude on anyone's space because the family's privacy has been totally respected here.

I'm sorry you chose this way to communicate with trouble's friends and acquaintances at DU. And now, I'm going back to our thread.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. You don't believe DUers would want to know?

That seems strange. Did you also object to an obituary in the local paper?

[earcandle]

76. Sorry for your loss.

[calimary]

77. Thank you for letting us know.

We'll miss her too.

:patriot: :hug: :grouphug: :patriot:

[proud2BlibKansan]

79. OMG I remember her well

Thanks for letting us know.

Peace to her family.

[juajen]

80. So very sorry for the many people who loved her. RIP

[glinda]

82. RIP dear lady.

[Kurovski]

84. "Trouble is a grand and lovely thing. I live for it." --TIW

This is a day for tears all around.

Dear EFerrari, your tribute is perfect.

Trouble and I circled each other suspiciously at first, and our interaction ran the gamut. She ran deep, and her intelligence was profound. She had many interests and passions, and she could be ridiculously silly. I still treasure the time she spent making friends with her DU pal "gyorg W Boosh".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1357168#1388505

She understood gyorg perfectly well, even though my eyes cross as I reread it.

We laughed for a few days straight on that bit of self-indulgence :)

She PMed me: "Oh. My. Fuckin. Gawd.

It took me a full fifteen minutes to read that post. Laughin out loud, grabbin the kleenx box to wipe the laughin tears, trying to breathe. Dog staring at me. He is planning to run away.

I was laughing so hard, I could only get about 5 or 8 words at a time. Two punchlines in every sentence."

We were "engaged to be married" Here is some of our wedding planning correspondence.


"I have already gone for the fitting for my custom-made pink vinyl body-suit to wear for the ceremony on "Our Special Day"! I got the satin ballet toe shoes, too. It's a little hard learning how to walk in them, but WOW the view is amazing.

I am wondering how you feel about wearing lederhosen? Maybe shirtless?!?!! I get all woozy just thinking about it!!!!!

I am having a hard time finding a company to provide tiny bats to release at the end of the ceremony (they all seem to only have doves).

So many decisions to make.

Yours in strange love,
~Me!"

I will miss her, and I will regret always--as i always seem to--regret not treasuring what I have more than I do. life is a huge wave we ride, and we sometimes lose the board.

She was special. Rest in peace, sweet and strong one.


Final word on the wedding plan:


"I think "Hula Barbie" will be our theme! I love you."

[EFerrari]

88. There was no one like trouble.

No one.

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

85. o no!!

:cry:

she was a favorite DUer of mine

[EFerrari]

90. I'm so sorry,

:hug:

[unapatriciated]

86. RiP troublewinter-this vid is in tribute to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxF4y9tSG08

[EFerrari]

92. Excellent!

:applause:

[hippywife]

87. I am so terribly saddened to hear of this.

I do have memories of her posting in C&B. I wish her family and friends peace and healing in their time of sudden loss. May her memory sustain you all through the pain.

[madmax]

89. Sorry for the loss of troubleinwinter

condolences to her family and a :hug: for you EFerrai.

[EFerrari]

93. Thanks for celebrating trouble with us, madmax.

:grouphug:

[dogday]

91. RIP wonderful lady. You will be missed.

:hug:

[jberryhill]

94. AKA Ellie Wyatt elsewhere...

...and greatly missed

[laylah]

95. EFerrari, dear DU brother/sister...

I do remember her, especially her logo. I am sorry for the painful loss of your friend, the loss to our Community, especially the family she left behind. Loving thoughts are being sent to you and her loved ones. Bless you, troubleinwinter. Thank you for your contributions here, I know you are not done. :hug:

Jenn

[EFerrari]

101. Thank you so much.

:grouphug:

[OneGrassRoot]

96. Godspeed, troubleinwinter; blessings to those who remain behind...

Thank you for a lovely tribute, EFerrari.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[proud patriot]

97. I will miss her

sending her those who loved her strength

[eleny]

98. This is so sad

She had a passion for her interests and it was catching.

Rest in peace.

[pinto]

100. Fare well and rest in peace.

[Mnemosyne]

102. She was a great human being. She will be missed. RIP sweet lady.

Thanks Beth, I'm sure you will miss her terribly. What a blessing for you to have had her in your life. :hug:

[Kelvin Mace]

103. My condolences to her family and friends

She was a great comfort to me and loyal friend over the years. I am stricken to learn of her death.

[Jeanette in FL]

104. Rest in Peace, Trouble...

Beautiful tribute Beth. Very sad news, indeed.

My condolences to her family and friends.

Trouble will be sadly missed...

[Catherine Vincent]

105. RIP, Troubleinwinter

My condolences to her family and friends.

[Stinky The Clown]

106. To trouble

How appropriate to say that. "To trouble", a person who didn't back away from it when it stood in the way doing what's right.

[yowzayowzayowza]

107. Oh, my.

:cry:

RIP TiW.