I found out today that a friend of the family died yesterday afternoon. It wasn't unexpected — she had been diagnosed as terminal several times, and fought back each time with an indomitable will to live. Even though her body finally gave out, that spirit lives on as an inspiration to those who knew her. She was ebullient and gregarious, unpretentious, confident, and could (and did) put anyone around her at ease. She lived every moment of her life, even during the worst of it — I'm sure she lived more than I will if I live to be a centenarian, but the greatest thing I can say about her is I have lived more of my own life for having known her. I could go on — she gave selflessly of her time, thought constantly of others, and just a couple of months ago she got a new tattoo on her neck which read 'No Regrets' — I will just assert that the world is a better place for her having been here.