Rita was a dear friend who touched my heart and soul with her wisdom, wit and generosity of spirit, I especially loved the poems and quotes she would often share to beautifully illuminate whatever subject we were discussing at the time. I will so miss those wonderful exchanges. I recently read, however, the following quote from Marcel Proust which made me smile and softened the loss:

"People do not die for us completely, but remain bathed in some sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality, but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad."