Rest in Peace, MovableBookLady January 21, 2019 8:26 PM   Subscribe

Hi everyone. I'm here with a heavy heart to let you know that our beloved MovableBookLady has passed away. I heard the sad news from her best friend, Amy, who took the time to send me a thoughtful reply during this difficult time. From Amy: "She very much enjoyed her relationship with all of you! You were a source of laughter and joy to her! Thank you so much for being part of her life!"

MovableBookLady hadn't been posting recently, which was unusual -- especially since it's the Best Post Contest and she'd been an active participant before. Then I saw there weren't any comments from her since the end of last year. So I sent a memail wishing her a happy new year, and checking in on how she was. A week went by, no answer. That was also unusual based on my past communication with her and got me more concerned. I tried her email address on her profile, and then that's when I received Amy's reply.

Amy also said she wanted to post something here in honor of MovableBookLady; I've sent her details on how to get in touch with the mods (they've offered to gift her a MeFi account so she can comment, receive her own mefimail, etc), and if she sends the message to me directly, I'll certainly add it to this thread. I'll also send her a link to this thread.

Amy, thank you again for taking the time to let me/the community know what had happened. I am truly sorry for your loss. MovableBookLady spoke very highly of you here and she was so fortunate to have you as her dear friend.

******

MovableBookLady joined MeFi just three years ago, initially to add suggestions for female SF/F writers. She lurked here for a year before making her first MeFi post, and I remember seeing those early posts and her getting the hang of posting on MeFi proper, which she talked about later a few times -- for example, to encourage new posters. Undaunted, she kept trying and sharing with us, and I'm glad she did, because she became one of the most prolific and interesting contributors here -- posting sometimes every day or every other day -- as well as answering Asks and sharing insights about her life and experiences in MeFi/Ask/MetaTalk. She posted about all kinds of topics: history, unsung heroes, arts, media and culture, science, food, commerce, architecture, nature, and more.

For MeFi in particular: from her first post on March 27, 2017, to her final post on Dec. 28, 2018 -- a span of 1 year and 9 months -- she created a staggering 360 posts on the blue.

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In the Dec. 2017 Best Post / MeFites Choice Contest, she had a winning post about WWI women photographers and ambulance drivers in the "awesome women" category, and we exchanged a few notes and I sent her a postcard as a prize. Just this past fall, I sent her a postcard with artwork that totally reminded me of her username, and thanked her for her many posts about awesome women, year-round.

I mention this for a couple of reasons. 1: I'm thankful for not waiting any longer to send the last card, and that she got to see it. 2: The few times we communicated, she always replied quickly and enthusiastically, and her responses made it obvious that she'd actually read what I'd written, which I found notable and have tried to incorporate more of that in my own replies to friends especially.

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It's clear that MovableBookLady was herself an awesome woman: she played pool to pay for her college education (she was an English Lit major); she once got an impromptu lesson from Willie Mosconi. In the '60s she was the first nude model for a life drawing class at the Asheville Art Museum. She was a professional forms designer (and won a national award!) before desktop publishing vaporized that profession. She was a professional typesetter and proofreader/copy editor for over 20 years. She traveled and lived in many places around the world. She raced cars. She loved dancing and taught ballroom dance. She ran two rare/used bookstores for 20 years (one was her own store, bearing the new name she chose in her 50s). She sometimes mentioned things from her work, such as how to store old books, and books with uncut pages, and "typesetter's trance." At 65, she bought an RV and hit the road for about six years, eventually resettling in Asheville, North Carolina -- her username is a reference to her travels and her collection of movable books (books with moving parts). She was a member of Project Gutenberg's Distributed Proofreaders. She wrote a personal blog about her life for 10 years, starting just before she began traveling in her RV. She volunteered as a poll rover as recently as the last midterm elections, and donated regularly to her local community non-profit org in Asheville. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a ton of other cool things she might have shared with us, if she'd had the chance.

One of MovableBookLady's cherished compliments was from a coworker who said to her: "You know, you may be a coffee snob and a wine snob, but you're not a people snob. And I really thought you would be."

This is maybe my favorite thing MovableBookLady wrote here about typesetting -- it's also one of the most delightfully nerdy things I've read on MeFi:
I started out as a typesetter using a JustoWriter for a newspaper (1965). You typed onto a paper roll that set the type in a column for newspaper, and you could back-up to correct, and a bong sounded within 5spaces of the margin so you could decide whether to hyphenate or not. Then I worked for a publisher of social science journals (1971) and we used the MT/ST-SC (input on mag tape and output on clay-coated paper). After that came the true computerized machines but we were using 8" floppy disks with rigid sectors, and then 5-1/2" disks with more flexibility. Then came the Mergenthaler-Linotype machine (c.1984), a professional level typesetter with lots of memory and bells and whistles. When I then transitioned to a PC with Word Perfect (1987), I felt as though I was slumming, it was so simple and unsophisticated.
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From her comments here, we know that she was initially happy to be voted "most sarcastic" in high school, but later retrained herself to eliminate sarcasm and not to be a smart-ass. One of her all-time favorite movies was Tap (with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr). She loved cars and car racing. She enjoyed music, e.g. blues and soul singers (such as Nina Simone, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and more contemporary singers such as Adele, Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox) and rock. And of course she loved books and reading (I always smiled when I saw her recommending her favorite books, especially sci-fi/fantasy, or mystery/crime fiction such as Dorothy Sayers and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries), and just plain learning new things. She also loved creating spreadsheets. She loved maps. Her favorite joke. Her favorite tree: the magnolia. Her regular tea: oolong. Her favorite alcoholic drink: the gimlet (and also shared a gin and tonic ice cream recipe). She loved (the original) Breyer's Peach Ice Cream. She enjoyed playing games/board games, such as mahjong, Timeline/trivia, Hearts online, and card games with interesting decks.

It's also clear that she loved MetaFilter and chose to spend much of her more recent time here posting on MeFi, answering Asks, sharing her thoughts and anecdotes from her cozy home in Asheville. She participated in Secret Quonsar the past couple of years. I can still recall the sound of her melodious voice on the 2017 year-end call-in show of the MeFi podcast, and her astonished reaction and good humor in the thread about hearing herself. (I wrote her a note saying I liked her accent, which she seemed to appreciate.) When listening to this year's call-in show, I'd hoped to hear her voice again.

I've heard the term "a real MeFite's MeFite" and I would say that applies to MovableBookLady.

Just a few of my favorite posts by her: In a weird coincidence, her last MeFi post, titled "um . . . Comfort Foods" is about food at funerals: "What we eat at funerals can be a symbol for the departed, a balm in hard times, or a reminder that eating means we are still alive. A wonderful essay for the end of the year."

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In recent years I've often thought of my time as a young student journalist, and how I sometimes miss having that excuse/opportunity to talk to interesting people. I'd been mulling over an interview project where I'd send a few questions to MeFites based on some of their comments/posts, and then post the exchange somewhere. MovableBookLady didn't know this, but I'd been planning to ask if she would be interested in being one of my first interviewees. I wanted to ask her about some specific comments she'd made about her experiences, to see if there was more to the story that she could share. I had to shelve the project but was hoping to start it up sometime later this year. I wanted to ask her about the special movable book that she had kept. And about female protagonists in mystery/detective fiction, because I'm a fan and knew she was much more well-versed in the topic. We had such different lives and were in different places (in multiple senses), yet we shared a bunch of common interests. So I had a list of comments to ask her about, which is why I was able to pull up a lot of them now.

Although I didn't get to ask her, I'll treasure the replies she did send, and of course her thoughtful voice lives on here in her hundreds of posts and comments. For someone who was a member for such a short time, she left a remarkable legacy here on the site.

I know I'm not the only person here who learned a lot from her and appreciated her dedication to the community, her lively spirit, and her self-deprecating humor. I'm so glad she got a sense of how much she meant to us, when glasseyes posted "Praise for a Mefite" to thank MovableBookLady in MetaTalk (MBL's wonderful response).

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Writing this was kinda tough in some spots, I admit, especially this past week. Call it weird or not, but it's like she knew what was up -- I saw her suggestions for someone going through a tough time in an anon AskMe:
And be sure to find moments of joy and laughter -- watch cat videos, go to the zoo, watch birds in flight, sit in a park and watch kids play, whatever kind of things you really like and give you joy. Watch movies or read books that make you laugh -- it's good for the endorphins. I've lost several folk in my family and remembering funny times (if any) is a good mental habit. Best of luck and grief and joy and tears and laughter.
And from her advice for someone dealing with stress at work:
And if you're driving home playing music, sing! Very difficult to stay pissed or stressed while singing. You're alone, nobody knows whether you're off-key or flat or can't remember the words, just belt it out. Good for re-oxygenating yourself, too.
They were good reminders. I watched some clips of some favorite scenes. Wasn't driving but I just started singing some of my favorite songs. And it helped.

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BelovedAsheville is the non-profit org that MovableBookLady regularly supported, which she said "is purely volunteer so 100% of donations goes to needs, like the Street Medic team (which they say is the first in the country), people help, a tiny village is in the works, an LBGT center, and more." Mentioning it specifically here in case anyone would like to make a contribution in her memory.

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MovableBookLady, you made MetaFilter and the MeFi community a better place. It's different without you around these parts. You shared so many wonderful posts with us -- many that are still new to me, and many that I will continue to go back to and enjoy -- so I wanted to make a good post for you. I miss you. RIP.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 to Other at 8:26 PM (280 comments total) 181 users marked this as a favorite

I was so, so sorry to hear this news. MoveableBookLady was the tops, just a terrific community member, poster, and general presence. I've appreciated so much seeing her enthusiasm as a new member, and then as a fixture in the community. It's terrible to lose her.

This is a wonderful and fitting tribute thread, rangefinder 1.4. Thank you for making it.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:28 PM on January 21, 2019 [32 favorites]


This is terrible news. Her posts were always so interesting, and thank you rangefinder 1.4 for putting together such a wonderful tribute.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:34 PM on January 21, 2019 [13 favorites]


Her posts were always the Best of the Web, in every sense of the word, and I was always grateful to see them. I'm going to miss seeing her name in my RSS reader.
posted by sagc at 8:36 PM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


I didn't know her but I'm sobbing and now I miss her. This is beautiful, what an amazing tribute.
posted by masquesoporfavor at 8:40 PM on January 21, 2019 [13 favorites]


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What horrible news. Thank you for the thoughtful post.
posted by lazuli at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2019 [5 favorites]


Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. I always liked MoveableBookLady's posts and admired her breadth and depth of knowledge. I'm really glad for glasseyes' tribute post that she got to read while she was still with us.

My condolences to Amy and all of MBL's loved ones.

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posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:45 PM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


Her posts were what MeFi was all about, and you've compiled an extraordinary tribute here. Her last FPP is so appropriately fitting.

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posted by zachlipton at 8:49 PM on January 21, 2019 [4 favorites]


Terrible news. Thank you for posting this fine tribute.

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posted by Chrysostom at 8:50 PM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


Oh no, this can‘t be!

Thank you for your heartfelt obit, rangefinder.

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posted by The Toad at 8:56 PM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by zamboni at 8:57 PM on January 21, 2019


Oh no. I'm saddened and shocked- I had noticed the lack of MBL posts, too.

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posted by freethefeet at 9:06 PM on January 21, 2019


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I didn't know much about her, but recall her name appearing many times in my roaming around this site. This post has brought tears to my eyes.
posted by Alensin at 9:07 PM on January 21, 2019 [4 favorites]


Oh no. I recognize her name for sure.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:08 PM on January 21, 2019


I’m stunned. She had some absolutely fantastic FPPs. I remember noticing her name repeatedly in late 2017 and it felt like she came out of nowhere with this sudden stream of fascinating stuff. She will be really missed.

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posted by not_the_water at 9:28 PM on January 21, 2019 [3 favorites]


. She will be missed.

Thank you for such a lovely tribute rangefinder.
posted by ellieBOA at 9:33 PM on January 21, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by bryon at 9:34 PM on January 21, 2019


She helped this place feel like a neighborhood, and I'll miss her engaging and uplifting presence.
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posted by knuckle tattoos at 9:45 PM on January 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by smangosbubbles at 9:49 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:49 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by limeonaire at 9:51 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by mordax at 9:52 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by Wobbuffet at 9:53 PM on January 21, 2019


Oh, she was such a wonderful, interesting person. I miss her.
posted by prismatic7 at 9:55 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by Grandysaur at 9:56 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by Kattullus at 10:11 PM on January 21, 2019


Her contributions made Mefi a good place. She will be missed.

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posted by motdiem2 at 10:13 PM on January 21, 2019


She will be missed. Her posts were very interesting and her words were thoughtful. She felt like a kind and caring person. I will always think of her with warm feelings of appreciation. I'm so sorry she won't be with us anymore. Thank you for letting us know.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:13 PM on January 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by equalpants at 10:14 PM on January 21, 2019


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posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 10:15 PM on January 21, 2019


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This is devastating. I was her Secret Quonsar this year and as soon as I received her in the draw I went to read a few of her posts to get a feel for what to look for and came away so grateful for the depth and quality of her contributions here. She will be missed in this house for sure.

And rangefinder 1.4, your tribute here is beautiful.
posted by mdonley at 10:29 PM on January 21, 2019 [21 favorites]


A huge loss to the community here, and to the human community at large.

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posted by mykescipark at 10:48 PM on January 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


MBL, you were so loved and appreciated. Especially to those of us in the book world. You will be sorely missed. And thanks you RF1.4 for the beautiful tribute.

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posted by ikahime at 10:52 PM on January 21, 2019 [3 favorites]


Thank you to the mods and friends for helping me with navigating through the past week and this post. I don't have a link to a public obit IRL but will update if one comes up.

I left some things out of the post because I wanted that to be more about *her* and less about me, and felt like I'd already talked about me more than enough in the post. So if I may, a few more personal thoughts:

Hearing the news hit me really hard, but again I appreciate knowing what happened. MovableBookLady and I had a few parallels in our lives that went beyond just shared interests. I certainly admired her a lot for her strengths in overcoming difficult situations. I kept hoping, hoping that I'd get a reply saying there was something up with her Internet, or she had to take care of something and was back.

(It just reminds me again -- tell people you appreciate them and love them. Don't wait. Hug them (if they are okay with hugs). I used to find this awkward when I was younger, but as a middle-aged person who's lost more and more loved ones, I just don't care if it's awkward anymore. I tell them. )

While going through her profile to gather more links for this post, I was mostly coping okay. Then the most innocuous thing got to me -- of all things, it was this answer she'd given last month about how she tracked her spending in Excel. Partial quote:
I use an Excel spreadsheet to track my spending. Each entry gets a category (such as "groceries") and a date, and I also have a Notes column for anything odd to be aware of. Then you can do a Sort by category and date which will show you how much you've spent for each kind of thing.

At the end of December, I'll be setting up a new page for 2019 just to keep it from being too long.
I even remember reading that thread (and seeing her comment) shortly after it went up, but this time it was like a kick in the gut. It was like, Hey 2019, you couldn't even let her fill out this new sheet, WTH. Then I thought -- of all the comments that got to me, it's about Excel and fits in with her love of spreadsheets! Of course it is. And I laughed. How wonderfully nerdy. I thought she would have been amused by that. And then I lost it.

Thanks for letting me share my grief with you, MetaFilter. I appreciate and love you, and it always helps to know I'm not alone in my grief. Hugs.

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posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 11:02 PM on January 21, 2019 [61 favorites]


rangefinder 1.4, thank you so much for this lovely tribute. Amy, if you see this, I hope it takes a bit of the edge from your justifiable sadness to know how really, truly your friend was appreciated here.

We’ll miss her.

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posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 11:19 PM on January 21, 2019 [7 favorites]


This is very sad news, and this is a wonderful tribute.

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posted by Going To Maine at 11:31 PM on January 21, 2019 [3 favorites]


She was an excellent and memorable part of Metafilter and I will miss her very much. Beautiful tribute, thanks for putting this together rangefinder 1.4.
posted by h00py at 11:41 PM on January 21, 2019 [6 favorites]


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posted by pompomtom at 11:56 PM on January 21, 2019


What a lovely tribute.

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posted by OHenryPacey at 11:59 PM on January 21, 2019 [2 favorites]


Gosh I was memailing with her in August.

MoveableBookLady, the best of the web in every sense. I loved her eclectic posts and comments, her own storied history. She was an intellectual magpie, and hearing her voice on the podcast last year was a delight, I could hear the twinkle in it all the way from Australia.

I'm gobsmacked she had only been here for three years, what a contributor. "Pillar of the community" sounds like a trite, old-fashioned thing to say, but she really did hold up the best of Mefi, to us and others. Kind, curious, gentle, funny.

Thank you, rangfinder 1.4; this tribute to her is so pure and fitting.

Vale MoveableBookLady, on to your next adventure. Godspeed.
posted by smoke at 12:23 AM on January 22, 2019 [13 favorites]


. What a wonderful tribute.
posted by daybeforetheday at 12:48 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Altomentis at 12:50 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by lesser weasel at 12:59 AM on January 22, 2019


I'm glad I had the chance to thank her for at least some of her many wonderful posts. It won't be hard to miss her presence here.

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posted by misteraitch at 1:10 AM on January 22, 2019


Thanks for the great and fitting post for a very sad event rangefinder 1.4. MoveableBook Lady's posts were always something I looked forward to. Her presence here will be missed.
posted by gusottertrout at 1:48 AM on January 22, 2019 [4 favorites]


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Thank you for the moving post, rangefinder 1.4.

And thank you MBL. It's been such a pleasure.
posted by Thella at 2:42 AM on January 22, 2019 [5 favorites]


Oh man, no.
posted by loquacious at 2:44 AM on January 22, 2019


I'm feeling feels. I just woke up and I'm feeling so many feels.

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posted by Fizz at 2:46 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by jebs at 2:53 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by wheek wheek wheek at 2:55 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Oh, no. I’m so sorry.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:23 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by ChuraChura at 3:32 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by heatvision at 3:38 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:40 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Doktor Zed at 3:45 AM on January 22, 2019


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What a lovely, if heartbreaking, post. Thank you.
posted by purplesludge at 3:47 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by kinnakeet at 3:51 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by redrawturtle at 3:51 AM on January 22, 2019


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(She was a great voice in the community - someone I think I'd like to have met in real life. Sympathies to her family and friends.)
posted by From Bklyn at 3:55 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


She had such enthusiasm for life and sharing.... it's a massive loss to our world. She will, truly, be missed.
Peace.
posted by mightshould at 4:23 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Damn it.
posted by pracowity at 4:28 AM on January 22, 2019


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I am so sad to hear this, her name on a FPP always meant an interesting set of links ahead.
posted by halcyonday at 4:29 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by metaquarry at 4:35 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh, what terrible news. I'm so sorry to hear this. She was wonderful.

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posted by something something at 4:37 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by valkane at 4:38 AM on January 22, 2019


She sent me earrings in the secret quonsar swap a couple of years ago. I was wearing them yesterday.

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posted by quaking fajita at 4:42 AM on January 22, 2019 [9 favorites]


There is something fitting about this amazing tribute to her being best post quality itself. I didn't know her, and I feel like I missed out on something special by not knowing her. I need to do a better job of getting to know the people behind the user names here.

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posted by COD at 4:53 AM on January 22, 2019 [16 favorites]


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posted by wellred at 4:56 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh damn, she was great. I always enjoyed her posts and her comments, she'll be missed.
posted by octothorpe at 5:03 AM on January 22, 2019


Always interesting, always kind, always thought-provoking. MovableBookLady was, IMHO, the Best of MetaFilter.

rangefinder 1.4: this is an excellent and fitting tribute. Thank you.
posted by Wordshore at 5:06 AM on January 22, 2019 [3 favorites]


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Someone to be emulated, both here and IRL.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:08 AM on January 22, 2019


Hug your people before they go. Damn.

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posted by seanmpuckett at 5:10 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:21 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by a snickering nuthatch at 5:35 AM on January 22, 2019


❤️📖

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posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:04 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by needlegrrl at 6:04 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Gray Duck at 6:07 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by sammyo at 6:07 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by gauche at 6:10 AM on January 22, 2019


She contributed so much to this community, and I've benefited from (and been inspired by!) her curiosity and openness to the world. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tribute.

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posted by mixedmetaphors at 6:26 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


What an amazing person.

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posted by BibiRose at 6:40 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by fourpotatoes at 6:51 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh no!
I never interacted with her personally but I always noticed and appreciated her posts. What a fascinating life!
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posted by bookmammal at 6:53 AM on January 22, 2019


I am so sorry to read this, such sad news.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:57 AM on January 22, 2019


Thank you rangefinder 1.4 for your words and thank you MovableBookLady for all of your contributions to MeFi. You will be well and truly missed.
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posted by Sophie1 at 7:00 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by gyusan at 7:06 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:09 AM on January 22, 2019


Her posts were always thought-provoking, and wow, it sounds like her life was as interesting as her writing. I'll miss her presence here a lot.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:11 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by asperity at 7:14 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Bron at 7:16 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by lazaruslong at 7:18 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Don Pepino at 7:29 AM on January 22, 2019


I'm so sorry to hear that. She was a wonderful part of our site and I was always happy to see her name.

Thank you rangefinder 1.4 for reaching out to her, and for sharing this sad news in such a nice post.

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posted by beandip at 7:33 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Making You Bored For Science at 7:36 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by cooker girl at 7:38 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by slipthought at 7:40 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by sarcasticah at 7:42 AM on January 22, 2019


Damn and blast. She will be missed.

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posted by jedicus at 7:51 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Cash4Lead at 7:54 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by shmurley at 7:56 AM on January 22, 2019


This is so sad. I enjoyed her posts and comments, informed, intelligent, and kind. I read her blog because she was so intersecting. And I always felt a bit of an affinity with her; we are of a age with some similar interests. I think she lived her life well. I will genuinely miss her.

rangefinder 1.4, I'm sure she would have loved your post. Thank you.

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posted by theora55 at 7:58 AM on January 22, 2019 [4 favorites]


Oh, I'm so sad to hear this. Safe passage.

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posted by holborne at 8:03 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by Iridic at 8:04 AM on January 22, 2019


One of the greats. I won't forget her.

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posted by nightrecordings at 8:14 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Lawn Beaver at 8:15 AM on January 22, 2019


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Oh no, I'm so sorry. I truly appreciated her posts, and if I noticed that she favorited me, it made me smile.
posted by Countess Elena at 8:21 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by brilliantine at 8:27 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh, damn it! I really loved her posts. They often presented something I had no idea about in an interesting way, but occasionally they taught me something new about a topic near and dear to my heart, like this post about radical Asian American activists. Her interests were so wonderfully varied and she seemed like a person who was curious about and interested in everything - which is evident in this lovely tribute, which I'll have to look over in more detail when I'm not rushing out the door. So, so sorry to hear this.

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posted by sunset in snow country at 8:29 AM on January 22, 2019 [6 favorites]


I audibly gasped when I saw this post. For someone relatively new to MetaFilter, MovableBookLady really made her presence felt with her posts and comments and I was not terribly surprised to read that she had made so many great FPPs. But I am terribly surprised and saddened to hear of her passing. Thank you, rangefinder 1.4 for what is one of the best and most thoughtful farewell posts ever on this site, it was a genuine tribute to a fine woman.
posted by briank at 8:31 AM on January 22, 2019 [16 favorites]


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posted by juliplease at 8:34 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Dorinda at 8:36 AM on January 22, 2019


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I noticed she had stopped posting and was worried something was amiss. An admirable breadth of interests and a life well-lived. Thanks, MovableBookLady, for sharing yourself with us. Condolences to all her friends.
posted by cichlid ceilidh at 8:39 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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Thank you for this wonderful tribute, and thanks to MovableBookLady for all of her contributions to the community.
posted by freezer cake at 8:43 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by jb at 8:45 AM on January 22, 2019


A beautiful tribute to a wonderful human and mefite. Thank you rangefinder 1.4 and thank you MoveableBookLady.

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posted by lucy.jakobs at 8:55 AM on January 22, 2019 [3 favorites]


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posted by bilabial at 8:57 AM on January 22, 2019


Fare forward and gloriously well.
posted by Oyéah at 9:01 AM on January 22, 2019


As heartbreaking as it is to know that we have lost one of the most valuable contributors to the community, it's also inspiring to read such a detailed and loving summary of her work. Thank you, rangefinder 1.4, thank you Amy, and thank you MovableBookLady.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:04 AM on January 22, 2019 [9 favorites]


This is a beautiful post, and does exactly what a tribute should do - make me wish that I'd known her. I never interacted with her directly, but her name was so recognisable I'm really surprised to see how recently she joined. She contributed so much in a short time and her presence will be missed.

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posted by billiebee at 9:10 AM on January 22, 2019 [12 favorites]


She wanted her posts to please, educate, and entertain us...and they did, every time. What a wonderful voice she was here. I'm going to miss her. Amy, I am so very sorry that your friend is gone. rangefinder 1.4, this is a beautiful tribute; thank you.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:11 AM on January 22, 2019 [6 favorites]


I'm surprised to find out she's only been here three years. She's made such quality posts and I have come to think of her of one of the eternal bright lights of this part of the web. I will miss her greatly.
posted by tofu_crouton at 9:11 AM on January 22, 2019 [3 favorites]


We are diminished by her absence. I hope her memory is a blessing to her friends and family, I know it will be to me. Thanks for taking the time to honor her memory with such care rangefinder 1.4
posted by jessamyn (retired) at 9:14 AM on January 22, 2019 [4 favorites]


What a beautiful tribute. In Judaism, we say “May their memory be a blessing” but this post is a blessing to her memory. Thank you. She will be greatly missed.
posted by Ruki at 9:18 AM on January 22, 2019 [10 favorites]


Wow, I am just so sad to hear this news. This post is a fitting tribute to someone who truly lived their life and made the world better for those around her.
posted by jacquilynne at 9:20 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:28 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Splunge at 9:29 AM on January 22, 2019


really sad. best to any family or friends who may pop in here.
posted by mintcake! at 9:47 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by AugustWest at 9:58 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Atom Eyes at 9:59 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh no.

This is terrible news.

She and her contributions will be missed here.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:59 AM on January 22, 2019


Oh, I'm so sorry. What a beautiful tribute, rangefinder 1.4. I wish I had known her better. Her posts were a gift to this site.

So glad she was able to go to WorldCon one more time.

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posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 10:01 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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This is terrible. As a fellow Ashevillain I always figured I'd run into her sooner or later. We would've talked about typesetting and reinventing oneself and legal name changing and BeLoved House and had a real hoot. She was a great poster and this was a great home for her. Should have been longer. So much good in the world turns out to be temporary.
posted by rikschell at 10:03 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Oh, this is sad, her voice will be missed here. This post is a lovely recap of how much she contributed here - thanks for putting it together rangefinder 1.4.
posted by Fig at 10:06 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Etrigan at 10:11 AM on January 22, 2019


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posted by lovermont at 10:18 AM on January 22, 2019


I’m so sorry to hear this. I always found her posts fascinating, and now I know that they reflected a full and varied life. I’m sure that she’d be glad to have such a lovely post here as a tribute.

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posted by chappell, ambrose at 10:27 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


What a thoughtful post. Sad to hear of her passing.
posted by vacapinta at 10:27 AM on January 22, 2019


Such sad news. She made a big impact in her short time here. We will truly miss her. Thanks for the beautiful post.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:35 AM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Oh no, I am so very sorry to hear this. She always had such fascinating, delightful posts and she was so very clearly a lovely human being. I will really miss her.

I corresponded with her once, very briefly, because she made a post that alerted me to a museum exhibit that I loved - I never would have seen it without her post. I will think of her when I think of that exhibit. Thank you for letting us know, rangefinder 1.4.
posted by john_snow at 10:41 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


I could tell this post was crafted by someone who really loves her. Thank you for this lovely tribute.

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posted by sockermom at 10:47 AM on January 22, 2019 [8 favorites]


Wow, I assumed they had been here for far longer. What a lovely tribute.

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posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:58 AM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


I am so, so sad to know she is gone.

I am so glad she was among us.

rangefinder 1.4, this is a lovely remembrance, worthy of her. Thank you.
posted by kristi at 11:10 AM on January 22, 2019 [4 favorites]


What an amazing person. She will be missed.
posted by gwint at 11:30 AM on January 22, 2019


I enjoyed her posts very much and am so very sorry to learn that she had passed. MBL's next post: "My Adventures in a Heaven Lined With Shelves Full Of Books."

(a girl can dream, can't she?)
posted by Lynsey at 11:38 AM on January 22, 2019 [5 favorites]


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posted by Halo in reverse at 12:18 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by gudrun at 12:19 PM on January 22, 2019


What a lovely tribute this thread is. Thank you.

For all who knew and loved MovableBookLady, my deepest sympathies on your loss.
posted by terrapin at 12:22 PM on January 22, 2019


Terrible news. She was a great member of the community and we'll miss her.

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posted by biogeo at 12:49 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by camyram at 1:23 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by SillyShepherd at 1:31 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Trivia Newton John at 1:53 PM on January 22, 2019


I'm so sad to hear this, but I really appreciate this eulogy, rangefinder 1.4 -- it's a wonderful, suitable memorial for her.

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posted by filthy light thief at 1:54 PM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Arson Lupine at 1:58 PM on January 22, 2019


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Thank you, rangefinder 1.4.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:12 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 2:19 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Faintdreams at 2:42 PM on January 22, 2019


Oh no! I learned so much from her wonderful posts.
posted by thelonius at 2:45 PM on January 22, 2019


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I really appreciated her and the effort she put in here and all the wonderful things she found to share. I will miss her.
posted by sciatrix at 2:55 PM on January 22, 2019


This makes me so, so sad. I loved MBL's posts - they were always so interesting and worthwhile. Damn.
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posted by yoga at 2:57 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by biggreenplant at 3:36 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by roger ackroyd at 3:41 PM on January 22, 2019


What a wonderful woman; I will miss her intelligence, wit and excellent posts.
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posted by Homeboy Trouble at 3:42 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


She was also a founder member of the (yet-to-be-fully-established) MeFi foul bachelorette frog cabal and I’m honoured to have shared membership with her, if only in my own head.


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posted by penguin pie at 3:43 PM on January 22, 2019 [4 favorites]


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What a life and what a moving and thoughtful post.
posted by Recliner of Rage at 3:58 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


MovableBookLady’s username was one I quickly learned to recognize, and I always appreciated her posts. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet her, and sorrier for those who loved her, but I am glad she left so many great posts to read and learn from — more than I had seen or realized.

Thank you, rangefinder 1.4, for writing and sharing this excellent and heartfelt memorial post.

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posted by Songdog at 4:08 PM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


So sad, what a loving tribute.

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posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 4:38 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Start with Dessert at 4:43 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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I wish I'd known her better; her posts here were fascinating and her voice unmistakable.

Thank you for the wonderful tribute, rangefinder 1.4, and wishing peace to your heart and of those who also loved her.
posted by vers at 4:46 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by soren_lorensen at 4:48 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by Kangaroo at 4:52 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by NoraCharles at 4:54 PM on January 22, 2019


I didn’t know her at all, but if you’d asked me to guess, I would have figured she’d been a member for at least 10 years, her name had become so familiar. My condolences go out to friends & family, and thanks for putting the effort into this post, rangefinder 1.4.
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:55 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


What a goddam bummer. I really, really appreciated the kind of straight-faced enthusiasm for the site she brought with her; we had probably a dozen conversations around this or that wrinkle of posting etiquette or framing or whether and how this or that post idea would work, and they were all just...someone really wanting to do it right on the site. And she went from bobbling a bit the way anyone can with their early posts to just consistently making really interesting, good posts on a regular basis.

I'll miss seeing her contributions around here. We didn't get her company long enough.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:03 PM on January 22, 2019 [8 favorites]


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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 5:20 PM on January 22, 2019


Special post for a special person.

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posted by adamvasco at 5:35 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by ninazer0 at 5:48 PM on January 22, 2019


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This post is a lovely tribute. Thank you.
posted by pointystick at 5:51 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by radioamy at 5:51 PM on January 22, 2019


rangefinder 1.4, this wake/post was positively magisterial -- what a fine gesture to a departed friend you have created!

--
I always kind of thought that MovableBookLady was a MeFite of many years standing (who I had clumsily overlooked): her voice was so clear and positive. She had charm to spare and a clear head.
Requiescat in pace


--
And from her advice for someone dealing with stress at work:
And if you're driving home playing music, sing! Very difficult to stay pissed or stressed while singing. You're alone, nobody knows whether you're off-key or flat or can't remember the words, just belt it out. Good for re-oxygenating yourself, too.
MBL and rangefinder, I will take a break from my audiobook tomorrow and sing loudly on my commute in your honor. Hope you like my mixtape, because if you're near Rte. 146 tomorrow, roll down your windows and listen!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:35 PM on January 22, 2019 [13 favorites]


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posted by Secret Sparrow at 8:28 PM on January 22, 2019


I find it amazing that she joined Mefi 15 years after I did and yet has a bazillion more posts and comments. I remember looking her up when she posted something that; as Cortex noted, was a "wrinkle of posting etiquette" but was so engaging, I always kept an eye out for her posts. She seemed like a great lady and I'm glad I found her here.

And I'm not going to give the usual period because anyone who ran a rare used bookstore deserves a full comment! Peace to her and all who knew her.
posted by jabo at 8:29 PM on January 22, 2019 [2 favorites]


(I see that I missed including the part about her family/friends in the post, darn it - maybe an errant copy/paste earlier:)

She was part of the WWII War Babies generation. Her father returned from WWII but died from polio a year later. She recalled a couple of phrases her mother used to say. She was proud of her younger brother Harland, who became a deep-sea sailor; sometimes she gave us updates on his voyages and stops (Noumea, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal). She appreciated her friends, and once shared with us her gratitude for her close friend Amy.

--

This first line from one of her blog posts made me laugh out loud today: "I should have gone to the dance party last night but couldn't motivate myself out of my comfy chair."

It feels like it should be its own meme.

In the same post, she spends an entire paragraph talking about her fabulous midcentury modern sling chair, how it's structured / how it works, and her excitement at it being repaired.

Yeah, she fit right in here and I'm glad she found us.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 8:34 PM on January 22, 2019 [18 favorites]


I literally shouted out in shock upon reading this! She had become such a familiar name to see that I thought she'd been around forever. 21 months? Goodness gracious me!

Seems as though her life was lived as fully across its entire span as the part of it she shared with us here in just 21 months. I'm glad she was here, and the lack of her will make the community less than it was. But also changed for the better from what it was before she was here, and that is the best anyone would want.
posted by hippybear at 8:41 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


Any time I saw her name on a post or comment I knew it would be interesting and worth reading. Truly a loss to our community, and to her friends and family.

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posted by skycrashesdown at 8:48 PM on January 22, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by Little Dawn at 8:58 PM on January 22, 2019


My phrasing was super clumsy. Wow!
posted by hippybear at 9:02 PM on January 22, 2019


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We only pass through once and movablebooklady appears to have grabbed as much of it as possible.
posted by notyou at 9:44 PM on January 22, 2019 [6 favorites]


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posted by brujita at 10:16 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by q*ben at 10:17 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 11:03 PM on January 22, 2019


oh dang

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posted by terretu at 11:11 PM on January 22, 2019


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posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 1:19 AM on January 23, 2019


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posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 3:41 AM on January 23, 2019


It's okay, hippybear, everybody knew what you meant. Most of the time I feel like I barely notice anything, online or IRL, but I did notice MovableBookLady. She made a measurable difference in my world.
posted by Don Pepino at 4:54 AM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]


The thing I always noticed about MovableBookLady was how much enthusiasm not just in sharing things familiar and close to her heart, but the newly discovered. I feel like her MetaFilter participation was a way to keep exploring even after she settled down "off the road for good." Truly best of the best of the web.
posted by drlith at 5:26 AM on January 23, 2019 [7 favorites]


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It was wonderful having her around. She talked about coming down for a Triangle meetup someday, and I'm sorry she never got around to it. I would have loved to meet her in person.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:49 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by mark k at 7:43 AM on January 23, 2019


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posted by peeedro at 8:43 AM on January 23, 2019


📖
posted by lalochezia at 9:17 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by romakimmy at 9:51 AM on January 23, 2019


I met her at the same Asheville meetup that witchen did and she was just lovely. I was about to set out on my own RV voyage of discovery and we talked a lot about that; she was inspirational. Fellow bookseller, fellow female solo traveler , fellow Ashevillian - we had a lot in common. I am so so sorry to hear that she is gone. Even at that meetup more than a year ago it was evident that she was in considerable pain and so I am glad that her spirit can soar free but so damn sad for the loss to all of us. Feels like too many losses lately, too many voices silenced forever, this is a dark winter indeed.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:08 AM on January 23, 2019 [7 favorites]


Terrible news, but a tremendous post, fitting and honoring the subject. RIP.
posted by maxsparber at 11:08 AM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


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What a beautiful post. Worthy of MBL.
posted by blurker at 11:08 AM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by The Card Cheat at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2019


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posted by WalkerWestridge at 11:55 AM on January 23, 2019


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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 12:09 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by GuyZero at 12:12 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by eotvos at 12:54 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by some loser at 1:16 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by Sphinx at 2:07 PM on January 23, 2019


I just - this is not okay. I am not okay with this. I don't think I ever interacted with her personally, but I loved her voice here and I'm another one who was surprised that she wasn't here longer, her posts were so inherently a part of what makes this place my favorite site.

Sending my condolences to her friends and family, and thank you rangefinder 1.4 for your deeply moving summary. It's so hard on the internet for your voice to matter, even a little, but I think that's something everyone here aspires to. And hers did.
posted by Mchelly at 3:17 PM on January 23, 2019 [8 favorites]


This brought tears to my eyes. For me, she was one of the most recognizable names on the site. I appreciated her intelligent and insightful posts, but I also valued how she seemed to exude a certain kindness and thoughtfulness.

Thank you for giving her this lovely tribute.
posted by theappleonatree at 3:27 PM on January 23, 2019 [4 favorites]


What a great example of someone whose life touched untold and unmet multitudes. Her contributions -- posts and comments -- will be missed. We are so fortunate that she became a part of this community.
posted by veggieboy at 3:29 PM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


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What a pang I felt upon reading this - thank you for reminding me of all the times she stood out as being an excellent human being in most every way. I can only imagine how keenly her friends are feeling this loss - my heart goes out to you Amy.

rangefinder 1.4, your tribute is so beautifully and thoughtfully and thoroughly composed that I would like to go back in time to become the kind of person that is deserving of this attention. What a kind and masterful thing you've done here, and thank you for your heartfelt good work here.
posted by peagood at 3:52 PM on January 23, 2019 [7 favorites]


Sometimes I think I'm here mostly to put my own self out into the world, but at these moments I realize that it might be more that I want to see that others are doing it, what they're doing, and how to squeeze some vitality out of this gizmo. Even if our Venn circles only barely overlap, I find that some people just have the right angle on all of these things, and MoveableBookLady was one of them. What a bummer!

Thank you to rangefinder 1.4 for putting up an excellent eulogy and all of this material.

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posted by rhizome at 3:58 PM on January 23, 2019 [3 favorites]


Well, damn.

She was someone that made me think "I'd really like to meet this person."
posted by bongo_x at 4:11 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Salamandrous at 4:13 PM on January 23, 2019


This is a fantastic tribute, so thank you, rangefinder 1.4 for this post. MBL was someone whose name I recognized for "always worth reading."

My sincere condolences to those who knew her much better than I had a chance to.
posted by TwoStride at 4:24 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Secretariat at 4:39 PM on January 23, 2019


A fantastic tribute.
posted by Kwine at 4:46 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by greermahoney at 5:07 PM on January 23, 2019


Oh no! This is the worst!
I Quonsed her one year, and she sent complimentary thank-yous both in-thread and via memail like a truly classy person. I started following her activity here after that and was always glad when she contributed to a thread. What a loss to the community! May her memory be a blessing to those that knew her.
posted by agentofselection at 5:12 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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Utterly blessed to have had this lovely person share her world with us here as a MeFite. Her existence and contributions here made me a better person in multiple ways, I will not forget her.
posted by riverlife at 5:39 PM on January 23, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:42 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by clew at 6:00 PM on January 23, 2019


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May her memory be a blessing - indeed it already is.
posted by Emmy Rae at 6:09 PM on January 23, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by ferret branca at 7:41 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by rewil at 7:52 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by kjs4 at 8:08 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by andraste at 8:49 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by jadepearl at 9:09 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by dhruva at 9:26 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by Jilder at 9:27 PM on January 23, 2019


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posted by lollymccatburglar at 11:20 PM on January 23, 2019


I mostly hang out on AskMe, and only wander over to the main page when I can’t sleep or am feeling particularly bored. So many times, the depressing state of the world meant a depressing group of FPP to scroll by. But then I’d see a really interesting bit of interesting book news, or an obscure pop culture article and it would make me smile. MoveableBookLady was the source of so many of these posts, and what a gift it is to bring a bit of glitter to the grim. She will be missed so much.
posted by itsamermaid at 2:43 AM on January 24, 2019 [3 favorites]


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I will miss MoveableBookLady and her wonderful posts. Thank you for this amazing obituary, rangefinder 1.4, with so much heartfelt detail about what this great MeFite shared with us.
posted by daisyk at 2:52 AM on January 24, 2019 [2 favorites]


If I don't drop a period, does it make it not true?

I loved gleaning the bits and bobs about her life through her contributions here. I enjoyed all of her posts - they were so refreshing and interesting. And rangefinder 1.4 - thank you for putting so much work and love into this. Seeing all of her contributions on one page cements what a smart, kind, fascinating, and badass woman she is.

I will miss her.
posted by kimberussell at 6:46 AM on January 24, 2019 [4 favorites]


Oh, no. MovableBookLady was one of the best of us, with a unique perspective and a brilliant voice that cannot be replaced. She will be sorely missed.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 7:00 AM on January 24, 2019 [3 favorites]


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posted by lefty lucky cat at 8:35 AM on January 24, 2019


Thank you for this wonderful tribute to a poster who added so much to this site. I enjoyed MoveableBookLady's posts a great deal and am saddened to lose her voice.
posted by PussKillian at 8:46 AM on January 24, 2019 [3 favorites]


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posted by Stewriffic at 9:07 AM on January 24, 2019


She was prolific, and she was very, very good. I flagged a number of her contributions for my Flagged as Fantastic account; shocked to see she's passed away.

Thanks for making such a nice sendoff Metatalk for her.

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posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 9:35 AM on January 24, 2019 [3 favorites]


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I'm sorry to hear this. I just scrolled thourgh some of her many wonderful posts and noted how many of them I had favorited and/or shared with others outside of MeFitedom.

She will be missed.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 10:08 AM on January 24, 2019


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Wonderful tribute. Metafilter is far poorer without her.
posted by Telf at 10:11 AM on January 24, 2019 [1 favorite]


:-(
posted by nikaspark at 10:50 AM on January 24, 2019


thank you for the beautiful tribute. <3

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posted by Dressed to Kill at 11:18 AM on January 24, 2019


This is a lovely tribute for an equally lovely soul.
posted by agatha_magatha at 11:30 AM on January 24, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by suetanvil at 2:45 PM on January 24, 2019


Damn. That's a pity. Thank you for a lovely tribute, rangefinder. It's wonderful to find out more about her - we might have guessed she was that special but now we know a bit about just how much.
posted by glasseyes at 3:40 PM on January 24, 2019


Sorry for your loss, Amy.
posted by glasseyes at 3:41 PM on January 24, 2019


What a great tribute. She will be deeply missed.
posted by OolooKitty at 4:36 PM on January 24, 2019


I don't know how many times I noticed an interesting FPP and saw she had posted it and thought "of course!". This is very sad news.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:56 PM on January 24, 2019 [3 favorites]


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posted by carmicha at 5:58 PM on January 24, 2019


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posted by Snacks at 10:51 PM on January 24, 2019


I always enjoyed the posts she made.
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posted by carter at 6:01 AM on January 25, 2019


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posted by bjgeiger at 7:35 AM on January 25, 2019


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posted by Julnyes at 8:18 AM on January 25, 2019


Oh, this one really hurts. It's been a busy week and this isn't the news I was hoping to see after a few days away from the site. rangefinder 1.4, what a beautifully crafted tribute to a wonderful MeFite. From the perfect post tags to the heartfelt content, thank you so much for making this dreadfully sad news just a bit more bearable. I will miss her and I'm so glad she was a part of this community. To Amy and all who knew her outside of the site, my condolences as well.
posted by cheapskatebay at 10:39 AM on January 25, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by Calzephyr at 12:51 PM on January 25, 2019


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posted by zengargoyle at 2:35 PM on January 25, 2019


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posted by gingerbeer at 2:41 PM on January 25, 2019


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posted by annieb at 4:41 PM on January 25, 2019


Oh no! She was one of my favorite people here, even though we never directly interacted. Her posts, as well as her comments, often inspired me to make it a point to see who had posted them, and I often wished I could meet her some day. This is a huge loss.

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posted by MexicanYenta at 8:14 PM on January 25, 2019


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posted by Don.Kinsayder at 8:43 PM on January 25, 2019


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posted by lisa g at 10:23 PM on January 25, 2019


Add me to the "never directly interacted" crowd but I'd noticed her posts and comments here.

I am hurt, just a little.

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posted by solarion at 4:16 AM on January 26, 2019


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posted by janell at 4:08 PM on January 26, 2019


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posted by wires at 7:41 PM on January 27, 2019


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I too gasped when I read this news. Seems like she just got here, to bless us all, and now she’s gone.

I’m so glad she got a sense of how much she meant to us, when glasseyes posted “Praise for a Mefite” to thank MovableBookLady in MetaTalk

Agreed. I mostly stay in the blue, but I’m glad I managed to get in to express my appreciation for her at the very end of that post. And here I am again, very saddened this time rather than appreciative, near the end of this one.
posted by LeLiLo at 11:10 PM on January 27, 2019 [2 favorites]


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posted by Standard Orange at 3:55 PM on January 28, 2019


Fantastic eulogy, a tribute to a life well lived. She added much to the blue and she will be missed.

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posted by dr_dank at 8:56 PM on January 28, 2019 [1 favorite]


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posted by cass at 8:48 AM on January 29, 2019


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posted by Lycaon_pictus at 9:07 PM on January 29, 2019


This was a great eulogy. I wish she were still around to read it.

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posted by Joe in Australia at 8:02 PM on January 31, 2019


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posted by Rhaomi at 4:20 PM on February 1, 2019


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posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:55 PM on February 3, 2019


One of my last contacts. I really liked her, I mean, book person.but I'm short on words. I love the variety of posts and, and.
I'll miss you MBL.

📑
posted by clavdivs at 1:57 PM on February 4, 2019 [4 favorites]


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posted by Mitheral at 9:42 AM on February 6, 2019


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posted by DigDoug at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2019


Just seen this. Oh no - MovableBookLady always made really interesting posts. I'll miss her, and I'm sorry for her family and friends. Amy, if you see this, thanks for letting us know, and rangefinder, thank you for putting this together.
posted by paduasoy at 12:49 PM on February 9, 2019 [3 favorites]


I just found out. I've been traveling in Africa is my excuse. I will now leave the room to go and cry.
posted by infini at 12:25 AM on February 20, 2019 [7 favorites]


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