As news of Anne McCaffrey’s death at 85 started coming out this afternoon and bouncing around Facebook and Twitter, most commented on her work, on the words on the page, but what first popped into my mind, even though, yes, the stories were wonderful, was instead a moment at the 2005 Nebula Awards weekend in Chicago.

Because of the ocean that stretched between us during our fannish and professional lives, even though I’ve attended hundreds of conventions over the years, I only got to chat with Anne McCaffrey a handful of times. But among those times were some of my favorite con experiences.

One took place that Chicago weekend, which included a moment with me, Anne, and Joe Haldeman that was captured below.

She’d been named a SFWA Grand Master that weekend, and was in high spirits. Even though I’m no longer sure exactly what led up to me and Joe each giving her a smooch, I do very much recall her smiling, laughing, joyful.

Another encounter I remember fondly took place back in 1994 when I was editing Science Fiction Age and had been contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help a young boy’s dream come true. He wanted to meet his science fiction idols, chief among them Anne. I reached out to her, and even though she had many demands on her time that weekend, she spent a couple of hours with the boy answering his questions and giving him writing advice.

It’s times like those I choose to spend my time thinking about tonight. There’ll be plenty of time for mourning later.