Nola’s departure from us was predictable and never in doubt. And yet, it occurred with such a sudden swiftness that, at the time, I couldn’t really believe it; and I still can’t quite understand how it could have happened. But I suspect that she was ready and that her willing surrender to the inevitable made all the difference. And though there never can be enough time to say all the things one wants to say, I can only hope that they had been said by me a sufficient number of times, even silently, to ease her departure. Given Nola’s fondness for and happy memories of you all, I think your messages and cards in her last month also assisted her in finding peace, knowing that old friends would still be here when she was not. Nurses seem to grasp so instinctively the meaning and value of friendship and kindness. Even though over the years we sometimes didn’t see you for long periods of time, Nola and I valued the times we all spent together. In reflecting over and reviewing my life with Nola, I continue to gain better insight and an ever clearer picture of how wonderful and extraordinary she was. We were all so blessed to have had her in our lives.