When I think of Laila, I think Brilliant, Refined, Classy, Quick Wit (boy did she have me fooled--just kidding), understanding, caring, creative--she was the Mother Teresa of Telecommuting, changing the world one person at a time; she was a zookeeper, a park ranger, loving nature, keeping an eye on her backyard forest--the wildlife, jackrabbits & Jack, admiring nature's beauty & the wonders of life; she was a little kid who never grew up (don't kids have way more fun than adults, anyway?), who was always fascinated with life and what the world could become; there were no boundaries, no borders; she was as much at home with her magical flute in Carnegie Hall as in her Stonehill palace, as much at home with strangers as she was with friends; Jack and I were flying in a tiny plane with her near Fresno--a very bumpy ride, we were looking at each other, not sure we were going to make it but Laila's calm ensured all would be well & it was; how reassuring she was, always that twinkle in her eye, that smile, she sparkled wherever she went, in whatever she did; she understood where you were coming from even if you sometimes didn't, she was two steps ahead of you, she had a sympathetic ear, she knew how to listen, she was the wind beneath Jack's wing, she put you at ease, a friend the moment she met you, she let you in the inner circle, she seemed to always bring out the best in you; right now, she wouldn't want you to be sorry for her, she wouldn't want you to be sad, she wouldn't want you to feel down, she'd want you to be celebrating life and all its wonder--enjoy those clouds, and all their shapes, moving slowly across the sky, that chirping robin that landed on the tree outside--you can hear her encouraging words that always lift us & always will, she'll always be with everyone lucky enough to have known her, she'll always be here--like she's just in the other room, still guiding lives, opening doors, helping make the impossible, possible, keeping us out of trouble (there's that laugh of hers), offering solutions to our daily challenges, she'll continue to help bring out the best in all of us; Laila has always been a guardian angel (a true gift from God), who doesn't want us to fret, who wants us to be all we can be, who wants us to be happy and enjoy our journey, she's a 4th of July sparkler that will never go out; her sparkle will forever light our way!