Lan Yi called me Sunday evening to confirm the driving directions to my home. Before that we had been exchanging emails about her anticipated trip to Long Beach to attend a conference. All was well, we were going to have a party in my house the coming Saturday afternoon upon her arrival. We had a long fun chat. Subjects ranged from her new job, the red hot Phoenix real estate market, to their stolen skis. We had a good many laughs.

That was the Lan Yi I have grown to know and love throughout the years: vivacious, generous, witty and determined. I have always admired her for her mental strength and her courage to live to her full potential. In spring 2000, I was in Scottsdale for a conference and wanted to see her. Not only did she come pick me up after the meeting, she actually took a day off to cook a nice dinner for me! I was very touched and very impressed by her caring and nurturing nature that I had the fortune to experience intimately that day. In no way could I have known the chat we had on Sunday was going to be the last. No words of sorrow can fill the void left from her departure. All I want is to let a few sparks of the warm and happy memories of her flushing in my head to be shared with you, my friends and hers.