Every day I thank her for the time we shared together

Every day I thank her for the time we shared together, and the for the many gifts she left me. When she sat with a pastor and a rabbi in her final days she said "love is the only thing that matters", and these visitors said "I can't teach you anything further." She continually asked if I loved myself and I didn't know how to do that. I learned after she died and that has been so important. She taught me that life is precious and all too short, so I try to avoid spending my life energy doing anything that is not a core value. And rowing! When I get off the water, I am so ebullient that she introduced me to this activity! Being out on the water, getting good exercise with good people! I thank her each day as I'm bringing the oars back to the boathouse.

People who never met Adele ask me what she was like. I say smart, artistic, determined, athletic, a gardener, bossy. And family was very important to her.

I've picked up on the importance of friends and family -- she introduced me to many of you or helped cement my relationship with you, and that is my main joy. There is never enough time to connect with everyone, but I have a fantasy that tomorrow will be less busy than today and I'll call or drop by then. I'm still falling short by spending time reading about politics and the environment instead of communing with loved ones. I want to be prepared to make a difference for the planet, but I'm not sure that I ever will. Adele would say that I should drop the news and reach out. I'm working on it.

KB