I met Carol at IBM sometime in the mid-80's.... I don't remember how or when but one day we were friends going out to lunch and such. We worked in the same building in Kingston, NY. One memory that stands out vividly was the May my dog bit me and I was hospitized for several days. The bite was on the top of my right hand and by morning it was so swollen that you could not see the fingers.. it just looked like a big club. The hospital immobilized it in an upright position. In their infinite wisdom, they inserted the IV line at the bending point of my left arm,,, one arm up and one out flat and they delivered lunch and left. Along came Carol to feed me and wash my hair until the IV was removed. I spent my 35th birthday in the hospital and will always remember how Carol made it bearable. I also remember the lunch (at the restaurant that gave out popcorn... can't remember the name) when I got on her case about smoking. I had just quit and knew it was hard but could be done. Carol was talking about Deb and how much meaning she brought to her life. I blurted out that I didn't understand how she could say she loved her so much but continues to smoke knowing it would ultimately result in Deb's being without her. That is something you can only say to a very good friend! She was mad... and it ended our lunch in silence. She called me the next day, though, to say she thought about it and had smoked her last cigarette. For years she told me that I saved her life. I don't know if that was true but it created an unbreakable bond between us. I haven't seen Carol since the early 2000's when she visited me at a friend's house in Virginia. i am so glad she got to meet my son that day .... we corresponded by email and gettting her notes was always a bright spot in my day. Rest in peace with the Lord, Carol. You are sorely missed. jan