Anne Lipow -- Goodbye and Thanks!

I learned this morning that Anne Lipow left us. What a loss for our side, I thought. When people like Anne die, you can't help but wonder where they are now. Are they reaping the rewards of a life well lived? Is Anne's heaven a beautiful space filled with good food and curious, intelligent, and generous souls all passionately debating important issues of the ...day...er eternity maybe!?

Anne was once my neighbor. She lived across the street from us in Berkeley. She was one of the first librarians I ever really knew. And what a great example she was! Smart, sharp, energetic, hard-working, meticulous, excited about everything she was doing. How could you NOT want to be a librarian if that's how you turn out?

Years later, I did enter the library world. I am now becoming a librarian. Anne has been a mentor for me. Anne edited my first published work. Just because. I didn't hire her. I asked her if she'd read my draft. She took it and went after it with her red pen like a school teacher. I loved it. She made ridiculous meanderings into succinct, clear sentences. She cut out extraneous thoughts that had landed on the page just because I couldn't stop them. And she guessed that I was left-handed, as is she, by my frequent use of the word "thing." Look up that phenomenon, Carole!

I'm sad to be at the beginning of my career without having Anne Lipow to turn to for advice and help. She was one of the guideposts I've treasured along the way. I think she was that for many other people as well. Maybe its time for her to rest. Maybe it's time for her to do something new. I just hope she's having a great time exploring and learning new 'stuff' (see 'thing'). I hope she's having the time of her life.

Thanks for being here, Anne. We're going to miss you. A lot.