Here at "A Dash" it is one of our biggest signals of respect if we add an "anonymous" source to our featured list. The bar is a bit higher. We do not just "exchange links" with anyone and everyone. We also take some pride in identifying real experts.
It did not take us long to see that Calculated Risk was the real deal. We exchanged some emails with CR, but we were also quite impressed when he added "Tanta" as a fellow author. She obviously had insider knowledge.
Anyone who read her work would learn something important about the mortgage market. Readers would also be entertained by her engaging style and willingness to confront. She understood that active discussion is the path to truth.
We cited her at length, both learning ourselves and pointing our readers in the right direction.
We feel a special sadness at her passing.
A Lesson for All
There is a special challenge for those fighting cancer. Many people choose a goal. It can be something very personal, unknown to others. Some choose a path of personal enjoyment. Many just drop out.
We have no way of knowing what Tanta did before her choice to speak to the world through blogging, and we do not wish to minimize her life with family and friends.
But she faced the biggest challenge of her life by moving to a new level. She was anonymous for the best reason. She hoped to defeat her illness and return to work. Don't burn bridges.
Meanwhile, she chose new work that created much more than fifteen minutes of fame. She explained what was really happening in mortgage markets to millions of readers. How can one measure this impact? She was cited by Congress and Nobel Laureates, and her passing is noted in major newspapers.
Arguably, she did the best and most important work of her life at her moment of peak challenge and adversity.
It is an inspiration.....
While it is a loss for us all, we sympathize with CR, where thousands have joined in their thoughts about this loss to our community.
