Whatever the cause, I don't know particulars. I just opened my e-mail and got kicked in the head. Hard.

Wicked Wench is no longer with us.

She was a special burner who I met for the first time at Interfuse last year. In a critical time in my life, she made my life worthwhile with her simple acts of friendship. I was reading or something inconsequential, and Wicked Wench came in to the ranger camp, headed straight for me sitting at the picnic table, grabbed my head, and planted a kiss on my forehead.

I took a deep breath and smiled.

She said, "There. Job completed. It just looked like you needed a little TLC."

I thanked her, and she left. Gone. Trying just to spread a little good cheer.

Tiny's post from the Midwest Burner's Yahoo group:

"Found out earlier that one of the MWB family members passed this morning. I do not know any details. Da Wicked Wench left us this morning at I know not what time.

I wrote and posted this on Facebook for her.

Sometimes, you never know how innocuous the last conversation you have with someone will be...

May 13th, 2012.

Da Wick Ed-Wench: I regret the drama i caused this past weekend. Can you forgive me?

Thomas Tiny Fox: I know not of what you speak. *hugs*

Da Wick Ed-Wench: Awwwwww you rock! I hate drama, because I always get caught up in it. Thanks for being there.

Thomas Tiny Fox: No prob

Da Wick Ed-Wench: GATEWAY......28 days

Thomas Tiny Fox: Yeah, I'm hoping to be there. Maybe with more than just me.

Da Wick Ed-Wench: Gateway is my favorite burn."

Less than dozen sentences just doesn't seem to be enough.

I will greatly miss your passion and the light you brought to everything you were a part of, Deb. But mostly I'll just miss you. Nemoi, my heart aches for you and everyone else she touched with her love. My deepest and most sincere sympathies and condolences to all of you.

TINY

"Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life." -BERTOLT BRECHT, The Mother

"We sometimes congratulate ourselves at the moment of waking from a troubled dream: it may be so the moment after death." - NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, American Note-Books

"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force." - YODA"


MY take on this? I mourn the passing of a kindred spirit. Wicked Wench, you will be remembered. And in the brief shining moments we spent together, you were no less than a wonderful soul. May you rest in peace with the knowledge that you will be rememberd by all of us who call themselves Midwest or Gateway Burners.

At Interfuse, I had a problem.

I lost my keys.

It turns out that they had fallen out of my pocket while I was 'sleeping' in an old recliner at Interranger HQ. It turns out that when I went to look for them on Sunday morning, I checked the recliner, Sheridan checked the recliner, as did Becka-kitty, Tapestry, and Lead Ranger Chris. Duhy. Silly me. They had fallen THROUGH the darn thing, and were sitting just visible under a couple of maps that had wedged themselves there.

The unexplainable part is, I dreamed about those lost keys on Saturday night, and 'found them' in my dream underneath two papers. Magic of Interfuse? I don't know, and I'm not asking. I just am accepting the case that my dream was right.

Monday at home, getting ready to go to work, I couldn't find my wallet.

I have a recliner.

Last night, after looking around the laundry, the cab of the truck, AND taking a brief peek in the trash bag, it hit me. The recliner?

Lightning doesn't strike twice, but absent-mindedness does. Sure enough, wedged between the seat and the armrest was my wallet.

Life's little parallels often lead down the same paths. Taking advantage when you know the path puts you a step ahead of the game, sometimes even when you make an honest absent-minded mistake.

The really good thing is, the cat didn't take my leftover cash, or run up a credit card bill. Right after an event called "Apocalypse Meow", I'm expecting the cat to take over.