"Grief hitches itself to other deaths in the strangest way."
Isn’t that the truth? I lost my dad a few days before they passed. My feeds have been flooded with the most beautiful messages and tributes to Andrea. The ripple from the overflow of love has strangely comforted me despite knowing only a little of them.
Andrea was my very first Substack, way before I joined or even had an iota of an idea to join. And you’re right, frequency wasn’t a big thing, nor did I care. Whatever Andrea wrote stayed with me for months, and it always felt like she’d distilled something really important for herself and needed to share it.
My brother’s circle of friends were very close to Andrea and he said that the morning she passed, a great lightning storm was blazing the sky. Perfect since their first poetry collection was titled: You Better Be Lightning. ⚡️⚡️⚡️
This is such a moving reflection, both on Andrea’s presence and on the deeper invitation of writing itself. The idea that a Substack—when done with intention, clarity, and purpose—can become a living archive of one’s way of seeing… that stays with me. Andrea’s ability to write in a way that made people want to remark is such a rare gift. Thank you for articulating this with so much care and depth.
So powerful, Sarah! Such a beautiful tribute to Andrea! The list of lessons learned from them is incredible—and they are things you’ve been teaching and I’ve been learning about this platform as well. I want to print them out and keep them in mind. They are not just for Substack, I think, but for life.
Thank you for sharing this, Sarah. I'm not familiar with their work but I can feel in your words why I should check them out. I am becoming. I love what you said; "Have a purpose, not a niche."
I’m one of the thousands who loved them from afar. Their crossing over yesterday stopped time for me. Someone so raw, profound, kind, deep, and luscious as they were caused earthquakes in our hearts with every word they spoke.
If you haven’t already, treat yourself to the incredible podcast recent interview with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wombach from Jan 2025
The body of work they left to comfort us after they were gone had me thinking for the first time in my life that the world is a little brighter after a loss like this. Now they are everywhere all at once and we are better for it.
Thanks for this. It's a gift. That bio is the best: I collect political t-shirts, panic attacks, & poems about the moon. I listened to them reading "A List of the Things I Love" this morning. A catalog poem at the genre's finest.
Thanks for writing this today, Sarah. I felt the weight of grief yesterday after hearing about Andrea's death, too. And you said this so well, that grief often hitches itself to other losses. How true. How true. Sending you love and light as you feel all the feels of losing your mom.
"Grief hitches itself to other deaths in the strangest way."
Isn’t that the truth? I lost my dad a few days before they passed. My feeds have been flooded with the most beautiful messages and tributes to Andrea. The ripple from the overflow of love has strangely comforted me despite knowing only a little of them.
Thank you Andrea for making waves. 💗
Their Substack was truly magical.
Oh no! I love her substack and her writing. I’m so sorry she has left us far too soon. Big love to her family and friends and they grieve.
Andrea was my very first Substack, way before I joined or even had an iota of an idea to join. And you’re right, frequency wasn’t a big thing, nor did I care. Whatever Andrea wrote stayed with me for months, and it always felt like she’d distilled something really important for herself and needed to share it.
My brother’s circle of friends were very close to Andrea and he said that the morning she passed, a great lightning storm was blazing the sky. Perfect since their first poetry collection was titled: You Better Be Lightning. ⚡️⚡️⚡️
This is such a moving reflection, both on Andrea’s presence and on the deeper invitation of writing itself. The idea that a Substack—when done with intention, clarity, and purpose—can become a living archive of one’s way of seeing… that stays with me. Andrea’s ability to write in a way that made people want to remark is such a rare gift. Thank you for articulating this with so much care and depth.
So glad I found this
Sarah Fay this is a beautiful tribute to a great human.
she was a brilliant poet
So powerful, Sarah! Such a beautiful tribute to Andrea! The list of lessons learned from them is incredible—and they are things you’ve been teaching and I’ve been learning about this platform as well. I want to print them out and keep them in mind. They are not just for Substack, I think, but for life.
Thank you for sharing this, Sarah. I'm not familiar with their work but I can feel in your words why I should check them out. I am becoming. I love what you said; "Have a purpose, not a niche."
Yes! Thank you for reminding me of that. I think it's my new mantra.
I’m one of the thousands who loved them from afar. Their crossing over yesterday stopped time for me. Someone so raw, profound, kind, deep, and luscious as they were caused earthquakes in our hearts with every word they spoke.
If you haven’t already, treat yourself to the incredible podcast recent interview with Glennon Doyle and Abby Wombach from Jan 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-do-hard-things/id1564530722?i=1000685477847
I could listen to it over and over.
Thank you! Excited to listen.
Authenticity at its core. I am grateful she left so much of herself in this world.
The body of work they left to comfort us after they were gone had me thinking for the first time in my life that the world is a little brighter after a loss like this. Now they are everywhere all at once and we are better for it.
Agreed.
Thank you. So easy to get sidetracked in the everyday and glut of notes and posts.
Thanks for this. It's a gift. That bio is the best: I collect political t-shirts, panic attacks, & poems about the moon. I listened to them reading "A List of the Things I Love" this morning. A catalog poem at the genre's finest.
I love that. And I agree: Best bio ever.
Thanks for writing this today, Sarah. I felt the weight of grief yesterday after hearing about Andrea's death, too. And you said this so well, that grief often hitches itself to other losses. How true. How true. Sending you love and light as you feel all the feels of losing your mom.
Thank you, Jeannie. I was with you in that grief yesterday.