Mary! You wild Irish rose! I miss miss miss you, and I hope to see you before 2008 is over. You are one of the brightest gems in my collection of precious stones. I will never forget your encounter with James Earl ("Just call me 'Jim'") Jones and our conversations with him that you made possible at Duke. I will never forget your accent (or Elisabetta's). Please say you'll meet me again at the DFC and make my time there as much fun as you did in 2007. I hope your retirement is wonderful and peaceful.

Your grateful friend, Deborah Steed