About a month ago, a woman who played with me in local big band (you know, like the one behind Cab Calloway while he sang 'Minnie The Moocher'?) was killed while riding with her son. He also died. They were driving home from the college he was attending. This was very sudden and shocked many of us. The band played at the funeral for the woman and her son. I don't remember what we played, but I do remember holding back tears on stage. I looked out into the seats of the church during the performance, and saw at least a hundred visibly moved people. Death was in the air, and yet, so was beauty.

Sadly, I cannot say I will remember her for her playing, as she rarely took a solo. But I remember how she was a smiling friend holding the door one day and a room full of sobbing people the next.