By the time I reached the hotel room that my sister and friend, Leslie, reserved for me, my automatic pilot was fully engaged, and despite my exhaustion, I couldn’t change my settings to “sleep mode.” All of my systems were completely jammed up, and I felt nauseous. My skin was tingly and achy, and I […]

The first thing I remember about meeting Debbie was her overwhelming beauty — and I’m not just referring to her stunning appearance.  This woman exuded graciousness, and to this day, her home was one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been. It looked like I was walking into a photograph from the pages of […]

After the guests left Brice and Debbie’s, we called Lou, and I put him on speakerphone to give him the good news about the event.  But the instant I heard Lou’s voice, I knew he wasn’t well. He tried to pretend he was excited, but his voice betrayed him. He sounded weak and far away. […]