What can I say? I'm stunned by this news. Broom was one of the first people I met, some 4 years ago, not only at AS, but on the internet, period. She was a guide when AS seemed too huge a place for a newbie to possibly be able to navigate without being overwhelmed, and proved to be one of the greatest friends I had here.


In all my time here, I never knew her to have a bad word for anybody, nor do I know of one person who bore her any ill will. She was the person who radiated calmness when we (or at least, I) were wound up or spoiling for an argument. I think she secretly saw herself as the camp mother, and we were all her excitable kids. I can just picture her rolling her eyes and smiling fondly after we grammed her whining about why so and so was an idiot, or why such and such a person wasn't on the same planet.


She was a talented writer, an above average student of all things horticultural, and a devoted wife and mother. Her warmth and friendliness will be missed by all.