I was blessed to have a mother with such a zest for life. I know some of that has rubbed off on me. Many of the activities that keep my life exciting: Tennis, hiking, playing music, my pets, even swimming and boating in the ocean, and skiing in freezing temperatures, I learned from her. She also had progressive views. I remember her once confronting two men who were making racist comments.

As a child, I fervently loved my mama. Strong, funny, passionate , intelligent, creative, beautiful, independent, outspoken, and wild. I love her still and I miss her so much.  

My aunt Barbara made me laugh and I loved her for it!  I also appreciated her political activism and understood that the failures of people and society offended her and she was outspoken in her rejection of all the crap she encountered. I was pleased she followed me to Santa Cruz even though I moved on. Her love of animals, especially Chesapeake retrievers was golden!

I have so many great memories of Babs.  As a child, she introduced me to jazz and Ella Fitzgerald, dancing around snapping her fingers, “scat”... she was a great influence in my life at a young age.  I admired her tenacity, her strength, her activism.  She was fierce in her beliefs.  And oh her love of dogs!  I will always miss her.  Rest In Peace, Babs.  I love you.