No matter what mood I was in—and some days could be pretty grim—I always counted on getting a half-dozen or more laughs every day by visiting Tricia Wyse’s diary filled with talking cats, dogs and birds. I was never disappointed. Sometimes, I commented, taking note of a photo and caption I thought was the day’s best. Mostly I just looked and laughed and got on with a day made better by my visit to the Pootie Queen’s pie fight-free domain. Obviously, I was not alone.
Yesterday, like thousands of other Kossacks, I switched on my computer and was stunned to learn that our sister Tricia had left us. I texted an OMG to my best friend who was also shocked.
Years ago, a couple of friends who view me as a tough guy who is focused on nothing but politics wondered why I so often praised Tricia and commented favorably in those “pootie” and “woozle” diaries. It is simple, really. Having compassion not just for human beings but also for animals is all part of seeking a transformation of politics-as-usual. Tricia made that point for us every day when she was able. In that way, and adding a touch of goofy humor to the mix, was how she built community, day after day after day. She, in fact, epitomized community.
Once, a few years back, Tricia and her posse engineered a takeover of the April 1 Recommended List, filling it with nothing but pootie, woozle and birdie diaries. Yesterday, it was easy to imagine that she had also a hand in taking over the Rec List again given all the diaries of remembrance that appeared there.
As hundreds of commenters have noted since the bad news became known, Tricia was warm-hearted, gracious and kind to all who entered those diaries. Formally or just by association, her visitors were all part of the PWB Peeps Gang. And many posted photos of their own animals, some of them long ago departed for the Great Beyond, as Tricia now is.
Jon Sitzman wrote a wonderful tribute to her—Evensong - goodnight Pootie Queen. Here’s a snippet:
We are all lucky to have known her and shared her song for a while. The world is a sadder, shabbier place for her passing. Still, she left it a better place than she found it; that’s for damn sure. I’m pretty sure I speak for us all when I say, Thanks Trish. We’ll all miss you.
I’ll say another thing. If there is a heaven, I don’t think it’s made by knowledge or wisdom; by shiny machines or sayings for the ages. If there is a heaven, it exists in the space between people; in the door that opens to let you in from a storm, in the arms that hold you while you weep. It exists in the hand that helps you up from a fall or shields you from harm. It lives in the uncounted millions of quiet, unselfish kindnesses done each day for no other reason than that they’re the right thing to do. It lives in a child’s smile, a mother’s caress, a friend’s laugh; and in a cat’s bumbling purr or a dog’s happy, panting-laughing breath as they lean on your legs and smile. A horse lipping your hand as they greet you, a bird’s gentle talons as they grasp your hand — telling you they could do damage, but don’t because you’re Flock.
Heaven is the good we do others, and Tricia did much for many. Those who carry on her legacy, passing on those glad tidings — thanks in advance.
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May she rest in peace in the land of infinite mojo.
Here are links to other tributes to Tricia. Big thanks to Elizaveta for collecting most of these in her diary: The Pootie Queen Digest: A collection of tributes to Tricia Wyse
The Queen is Gone by bfitizinAR
The Pootie Queen has gone over the Rainbow Bridge by mofembot
Fill the Rec List with Tricia by Pam LaPier
Tricia by Horsefeathers
Auld Lang Syne, dear Tricia by Kishik
So long, triciawyse, and thanks for all the LOLs by bubbanomics
Our Pootie Queen’s Legacy by The Marti
Je suis Pootie… change your avatar in memory of the Pootie Queen by 1864 House
Woozles and Pooties — Say hello to heaven, a tribute to PQ by ZenTrainer
A Different Kind of Anarchy: Tricia Wyse by gchaucer2
When I Fell in Love with Pooties by zenbassoon
Kitchen Table Kibitzing: WOL (Wept Out Loud) For Tricia, March 5, 2016 by Remembrance
For Tricia Wyse and Pootie People Everywhere: I Present Jack, the Traveler by Hammerhead
DK Quilt Guild: In Memory of Tricia Wyse by Pam from Calif
My Memories of the Pootie Queen by BFSKinner
When Words Are Not Enough by WiseFerret
To All The Tricia/Pootie Queen’s Friends and Followers by texasgirl99
Happy Caterdai Pootie Diary: Gone A-Fishin’ by LeFrog
Why the Pooties still matter by Ellinorianne
When Kindness reached out and gave me a community: Celebrating Tricia Wyse by Crimson Quillfeather
IAN: March 6, 2016 — Another one gone. Damn. by loggersbrat
Long Live The Queen!! by prwsag52
An introduction for the Pootie Queen by ColoTim
The other tale of the Rainbow Bridge--dedicated to Tricia Wyse by Krotor