Mistress Catrina...we will miss you.

In our lifestyle there are many people who will change the world as we know it. They stand brave enough to put their names on the final line, willing to take all the risk from the nilla world about our activities. Most of us will never meet these folks who we owe our thanks to for plowing that road for us to follow but they are very real people who worked hard to make a place for all BDSM folks to feel good about themselves.

Recently our community in Phoenix lost one such brave soul. Mistress Catrina was one of the founders of APEX. 13 years ago she stepped up with others to make a home for BDSMers in the valley of sun. And at the end of July 2001 she lost her life in a car accident. The news was a shock and horror to one and all.

Mistress Catrina touched the lives of many more people than just those in Phoenix. She was an advocate all over the nation for our alternative lifestyle. She believed in education and community and she touched the community from one end of the country to the other. Words of shock and grief came in from all over the nation.

I didnt know hernot in a real way. Oh I had listened to her talk to us at Apex, I had done just bit of work with her when I was a board member of Apex. I never hung out with her, I couldnt tell you what she liked for dinner. I couldnt tell you much at all about this person except to say she was one of the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure to deal with and listen too. She could bring a whole room of strangers together in their kink and proud to be who they were.

Most of us cant begin to imagine the commitment and courage this woman gave to this lifestyle and each day she will be missed by all of us. I will spend the rest of my life being grateful to her and all the founders of Apex for making a home for us. I will always remember her great energy. I pray for her husband each day that he will find a joy again in this life cause I know she would want that. And I tell each of you Dear Readerdo you have one of those brave folks in your community? Do you have a chance to get to know a special courageous soul? If you do then go for itthey will share their commitment and strength with you. If you already have the pleasure of knowing a person like thistell them often Thank you because they deserve it and they deserve to know it.

Thank You Mistress Catrina! You gave us a home and I promise we will continue to take care of it and keep you in the heart of it.