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Monday, December 19, 2011

Barb Wold Activist Blogger Founder of DemocracyforNewMexico Passes Away

Dear Democracy for New Mexico Readers,

093This is Mary Ellen; Barb's partner, lover, and co-founder of Democracy for New Mexico. I have some really sad news for us all. Barb passed away yesterday Sunday, December 18, 2011 at noon. Barb was with us on this planet from May 5, 1948 til December 18, 2011. Barb graced me with being her partner from September 2, 1989 thru yesterday. And wow what a life we have had. I loved her with my whole heart, and she left me too early. She left all of us too early.

Many people know Barb had a feirce tongue and critique of all things political which is almost everything. She started this blog at the encouragement of Howard Dean, when his preseidential bid fell through he told his people he had engaged in the political process to stay involved. Barb listened. And she built this blog and worked on this blog daily from July 31, 2004 when the first blog post was done to her dying day.

Barb was determined to have pathological process carcinoma on September 9 in 2011. She overcome and legit in confronting this political news. Barb and I had time to be together finished the previous months to partake in unbelievable roads. She passed all of a suddenly, she had a little lunch, and was on FB, had looked at the journal, and essentially passed. I went out for ten min and returned to locate her death in seat together with open Ipad. What's more, what truly made me laugh hysterically is the point at which I took a gander at what she was keep going taking a gander on device, it absolutely was Review of the Bern County Blue. I pledge to God!

So what does the future hold for this wonderful blog Barb created. Many people know that I was the photographer and would take the videos and do much of the leg work of the blog. But Barb was in my opinion the brains of the blog, she created it and I supported her in her creation of this. Barb would say it is intrinsically valueable, that is why we do this. Barb had taught me alot about the workings of the blog over the last 2 months. In fact I have been doing all of the posting over the past two months with her coaching me close by. So it is my intention to keep posting. That is what Barb and I talked about. I intend on trying to keep this blog active and a place for true progressive information to be shared. We have been able to have valuable guest blogs lately from Lora Lucero, Pat Davis, Stephen Jones in LC, Bill McCamley, Senator Peter Wirth and Senator Tim Keller.

Yes I will miss Barb's writing, I will miss her logic, wit, and honesty. But I am hoping as a community we can keep this blog going, and help make a difference in this community, state, country and world. Barb loved the blog she loved the power of what this medium could do. She was one of the pioneers of political blogging and I love her for that and her passion to help the underdog, the ones without a voice.

Most of all as my soulmate I am going to miss Barb, everything about her. From her stubborness to her forever love for me, and her passion for all most all things.

We will be having a service for Barb the first part of January. Please stay tuned for more info on that. 

love to you all from Barb and Mary Ellen

Barb and me at meetup

December 19, 2011 at 05:37 PM in DFNM - Albq | Permalink

Comments

MaryEllen: The picture at the end is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Thanks for this.

Posted by: Jeannette | Dec 19, 2011 5:52:11 PM

With love and sympathy. I cherish you both, always.

Posted by: Stephen Jones | Dec 19, 2011 6:31:30 PM

Mary Ellen--you have the hang of this thing, even though you are an architect rather than a writer. If I can help as an editor, just ask.

Viva Barbara!

Posted by: Foodie | Dec 19, 2011 6:33:31 PM

ME, you know that Barb was almost always good for being a soundboard and for amplifying my various and never-ending furies. She did talk me down a couple of times for sure, but we could def get going on this together. One of my last exchanges with her was good for one of the best bonfires of the internet this year, and I am ever grateful to her for whatever she did to contribute to it.

She could also be counted on for taking the goods to whomever was responsible for whatever crap. A real leader who stood for everything she believed, with total conviction. And smart. A great writer.

We are missing her now, and we all hope we see her kicking the tires in the universe. Cuz we all know there is some serious tire-kicking needed. She is the One!

Love to you, xoxo b

Posted by: bg | Dec 19, 2011 6:54:29 PM

Beautiful!

Posted by: Cornelia Lange | Dec 19, 2011 7:03:47 PM

Beautiful post for a beautiful person. Barbara Wold...PRESENTE!

Posted by: Javier | Dec 19, 2011 7:26:46 PM

Very nice, MEB! It looks like you have great support in keeping this important blog going-- Barb would want it to continue to grow and be a place for progressive voices-- love, eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Posted by: Beth | Dec 19, 2011 7:29:39 PM

Thank You MaryEllen, I knew you could do it ! Love to you, (both) always, and to all your great 'backup', always, too.

Posted by: Anita Walsh | Dec 19, 2011 7:50:37 PM

Thank you for your courage Mary Ellen.

SUN DEC 18, 2011 AT 08:16 PM PST
Kossack Barbwire has Passed Away+*
by TheFatLadySings

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/18/1046775/-Kossack-Barbwire-has-Passed-Away?via=siderec

Posted by: qofdisks | Dec 19, 2011 8:35:22 PM

Thank you Mary Ellen for sharing your thoughts and communicating with all of us. You are courageous for doing this for us personally and for New Mexico.

Posted by: charlotte | Dec 19, 2011 9:04:30 PM

MaryEllen: I cried again as I read this. Thank you so much for sharing it and for your wonderful work on this site. Love, Sophie

Posted by: Sophie | Dec 19, 2011 10:24:55 PM

MaryEllen, I have never personally met you or Barb although I frequently chatted with Barb at Daily Kos in comment threads. I knew her only as barbwire (a great and true handle if ever there was one.) I noticed that someone posted the link to my DK diary about Barb's passing in this comment thread.

I think you're doing a great job. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. Thank you for this lovely tribute which helps me to know the human being attached to "barbwire."

For some reason, I thought "barbwire" was an environmentalist living in Taos who worked on acequias. I probably got this idea because I am friends with "Land of Enchantment" who mentioned barbwire several times in connection with a Taos acequia project. It is wonderful to know how much Barb actually contributed. I have periodically followed this blog without knowing who was behind it. I'm sorry I never got to meet her in the actual material world. Her friends at DK will truly miss her.

Thank you for carrying on.

Posted by: Lauren Reichelt | Dec 20, 2011 6:29:48 AM

Thank you ME for your post, and for sharing your amazing Barb with all of us!

You both have been such an inspiration and support system for me since I first set foot in New Mexico, and for that I am forever grateful.

I hope you do keep posting, and keep pushing buttons as Barb did. She made our movement stronger and kept us on our toes.

Please let me know how we can can all help you carry on. All my love.

Posted by: Pat Davis | Dec 20, 2011 7:00:22 AM

I first met Barb in 2005, when Democracy for America worked so hard to push back the Bush Social Security privatization scheme. Over the years, I could always depend on Barb for true political insight. I miss her already.

Posted by: Jim Hannan | Dec 20, 2011 7:50:11 AM

What an amazing story of true live & grit. Thanks for sharing

Posted by: Diane Winfrey | Dec 20, 2011 8:24:02 AM

Good morning, Mary Ellen, my heartfelt condolences for your loss. I think it was Ghandi who said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Your beautiful story indicates that is what you and Barbara did. God bless you. Christine

Posted by: Christine | Dec 20, 2011 10:21:07 AM

WHY do I just now (and only thanks to Tom Udall) learn of this blog? I don't keep my head in the sand; and God knows, I don't keep my mouth shut....

Posted by: judyinnm | Dec 20, 2011 12:59:13 PM

More on KOS
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/20/1047048/-Life,-love-death-For-Barb-and-MaryEllen?via=spotlight

Posted by: qofdisks | Dec 20, 2011 2:37:01 PM

thanks so much for sharing this with us, just as you shared barb w/ all of us who never met her but felt like we truly knew her. yes, please keep at this. we need to hear her voice through you. who better than her MEB?

Posted by: linda | Dec 20, 2011 3:27:33 PM

I am truly sorry for your loss. I enjoyed Barb's posts and look forward to reading your musings. I feel honored to read of Barb's last moments and the simplicity and dignity of her passing. Take care of yourself as well.

Posted by: Rachel | Dec 20, 2011 8:16:01 PM

I was floored when I heard the news. I shared a few thoughts on Barb and her effect on NM over at Clearly NM.

https://www.clearlynewmexico.com/?p=7656

Barb will be missed.

Posted by: Matt | Dec 20, 2011 8:42:30 PM

I've only just learned of Barbara's passing, MaryEllen, and offer you my heartfelt condolences. What I'll remember about Barb is her tremendous warmth and good humor. Greta and I felt them instantly. I wish we'd seen more of her. Please let us know if we can help in anyway.

Posted by: Richard | Dec 20, 2011 11:51:32 PM

My condolences on Barb's passing. Her political honesty and intelligence created the very best political blog in New Mexico. She was akin to a surgeon, going straight to political cancer, relentless and sure. Best wishes on the continuance of blog, and your road ahead, Mary Ellen.

Posted by: Aileen | Dec 21, 2011 8:00:41 AM

I'm grateful for the friendship shared with Barb and Mary Ellen since 2008. Barb was a real fighter with honesty and passion. She's greatly missed, but her legacy of speaking truth to power will always remain as a model for other activists.

Posted by: Ed Yoon | Dec 21, 2011 11:00:49 AM

Sorry to hear of Barb's death. She was a great writer. She worked for the NM Hosp. Assoc. when I was the CEO. I've really appreciated reading the blog

Posted by: Howard Shaver | Dec 21, 2011 4:53:33 PM

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