LAURA KAY MATARAZA

That's how I came to know her more than 15 years ago, as a graduate student with gumption who was out to make a difference in the world! I remember the first time I saw her. She was racing around the biology department at Kent State University, preparing to teach a class that she was just informed she was supposed to teach. Little has changed since then. She's still as motivated & ambitious as ever and she's still teaching, although the kids are a bit younger and they're called Max and Jackie!

Laura's sense of humor also hasn't changed, or if it has, it's just gotten better with time. In this picture (taken at Tao, NYC) she's holding a black scarf, which became known as the "snake", because it kept rolling into a tight coil, slithering around her neck and falling off. Instead of letting it bug her, Laura made that silly little scarf something we'll always remember and laugh about, just like Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City) can base an episode on a single post-it note!

What do I miss about Laura? Well, the toughest part is knowing where to begin! The roots run deep with this soul sister, that's for sure. We both survived graduate school and landed first jobs, although for Laura there were second, third, fourth and fifth jobs, too. She's the most diversified friend I know! We also both survived being bridesmaids in each others' weddings (whew!), and we've both made it past the 7 year itch - hooray! We're both born-again birders and I'm thinking we'd make a great team for a BIG YEAR (year-long birding competition) once the kids are all grown-up! I'll cover Europe & Africa if you can manage North & South America, Laura. The rest will be a snap. What do you think, mate? Lately, we're both exploring ways to express our creative nature, which gives us yet another way to grow new synapses. Our adventure in NYC was hopefully the first of many retreats to come! And lastly, above all else, there's family ... which, whenever we get together, it's like we're ONE.

But I'd have to say INSPIRATION is the thing I miss the most. Laura has energy (just see her blog http://transition2ny.blogspot.com ), ideas that she's willing to share, and gumption! ... is the psychic gasoline that keeps the whole thing going - Robert Pirsig. A teatime chat with her is like receiving a precious gift. May we have tea again soon, my friend. You're beautiful!