I met the "Nasty Lady" when she and her son were on my posse at the Northeast Regional along with Doc Cavity and others from her area. This was over two years ago. She made a good impression on me as I tend to like folks that aren't afraid to say what is on their minds. She was the type of person who could take it as well as she could dish it out and this is another quality I appreciate. I remember Will being a little shy and quiet (at least to my standards) and I tried my best to pick on, pester, help, and just generally be a nuisance to him to make him feel welcome to the posse.
I remember giving Annie advise as she would come to the line (I was RO'ing for her squad), sharing what I thought was the "best way of doing things quickly". I remember her telling me she wasn't a "gamer" and shooting 45's duelist and gunfighter she was here to have fun, not win. I respected her "way of playing the game" but kept on giving her and Will all the help I could.
Then on one stage I saw her taking my advice and actually "gaming a stage" and she did it well, shooting it clean. When she was done and turned around, there I stood with a grin on my face and I said "I thought you weren't a gamer, you gamer you." From then on we were what I like to call friends. She told me I had the distinction of being the only person to ever call her a gamer. I told her there is a little bit of competitor in all of us, it just shows in different ways.
I only got to attend a couple of shoots where she and Will were attending and only got to shoot with her a couple of times, but I will always remember and cherish those times.
I remember seeing her the season after that Regional when I met her. This was at the Md State Championship in Damascus. I had won the Regional but didn't get to talk to her afterwards. I remember walking up to her and her smiling at me and saying "Here I tought you were just another Bubba shooter giving me advice", and she congratulated me on my win. I will remember her comment forever. Sadly I wasn't shooting with her and Will for the match but did manage to sneak around and get some pictures of Will shooting. One of them even made it into the Chronicle article that Chuckaroo did for the match.
I know she appreciated me picking on, teasing (the kilt), helping, and just being friendly to Will because she told me (I told you she wasn't backwards or afraid to speak her mind). Being her and Will's friend was one of the most effortless things I have done.
Good people are easy to like! I have read the posts on three different sites now, and it comes as no surprise Annie had so many friends. It brings tears to my eyes just sitting here thinking about what a wonderful person she was. She is already being missed by so many people she touched in one way or another, even those that did not have the honor and privilege of meeting her face to face.
So from this "Bubba shooter" to the gaming "Nasty Lady", keep them straight up there until I can join up with you and your posse in Heaven.