I didn't want to say much until things became more certain. Now, the certainty is cloaked in layers of sadness and disbelief. Today would have been the day I was to update about my 4th anniversary to Sharky, but suddenly there are far heavier thoughts to attend to.
I can see most of you were able to find news of this rather quickly. It wouldn't be difficult for you to seek out the details and so I won't go too much into that here. But we have lost a member of our family, the head of it. You never expect murder and arson to take place in your own home. You never expect it to be by the very hand of one of your own. It is a TERRIBLE tragedy. And amidst the sadness and loss of our dear friend and compatriot there is a gaping unknown. Many of us are hanging in limbo, our livelihood snatched from us and our support group disbanded. The future of PAS is still uncertain for now.
John was not loved by all. He had a gruff nature and could be ruled by his emotions. Many people had their beefs with him but through it all he still offered us a family and a safe haven. We'd still come back home, like you do with any family, despite disagreements. And while John seemed to many a hard and uncaring overlord, if you have ever witnessed a girl or friend come to him with tears in their eyes you would see the way his voice and eyes would soften. If you were ever in dire straights John would help you out and send you off with a loving, "Take it easy, kid."
He cared about people and he cared about our community and he cared about us girls. He was proud of his business and he'd made it what it is. And he offered me the best job I'd ever had. PAS wasn't even a job to me, it was getting paid to do what I love. I was given a community of strong, and wonderfully unusual women to call my friends and I was given a place that would change my entire life, for the better. PAS made me the confident and happy woman I am today. PAS gave me a reason to finally start doing something with my art, like I'd wanted since I was a little girl. PAS gave me a way to make a living doing what I love and to do it on my own terms and my own time schedule.
And John made that all possible for me, and for us.
Even amongst my own sorrow my heart goes out to his family, who will suffer worse than any of us. Thank you all so much for your kind words. I know this is a comic and that it is comedic and that my characters are not real but we are real people and Eve and Coco and all the others are culminations of the pieces of the very real women I have worked with and loved. Your respect of us and of John and of his family and the living he's left behind is greatly appreciated. There is terrible mourning in the underground communities here in Southern California. Your outreach and support does not fall on deaf ears.
Thank you.
And may John's legacy continue with us.
The Buxom babes still have a place to play and will be back to their deviant ways soon. Nobody can stop that.
