I met Karen through our professional organizers' group when she started her business. Eventually, we started carpooling to the monthly meetings together. Though I enjoyed the meetings, the time spent in the car with Karen was always the highlight of the evening. We gave several organizing talks together, and I loved the way our styles complemented each other. At some point, we started meeting every month or two to help each other do the organizing projects we never did for ourselves! When she was diagnosed and couldn't meet anymore, I blamed her when my house was a mess :) She was a fantastic organizer who helped me to be a better organizer, and I absolutely loved working with her. I'm not sure when our relationship changed from "colleague" to "friend," but Karen became one of the most precious and wonderful friends I have ever had. She saw me through two pregnancies and babies and preschoolers, and I looked up to her so much. She showered her "babies" with love and warmth, and I wanted to embrace my children the way she did. Karen and Gordie's children are some of the most wonderful people I know, and I would be proud to raise my children as they have. I love the way Karen supported Gordie and made a beautiful and welcoming home for their family. She loved her work, but her family always came first. Again, that is something that I strive for in my own life. I miss her in big ways and little ways. I wish she could see our kids and our new landscaping and tell me which clothes to get rid of. I hear her voice in my head: "Does that outfit make you feel like a million bucks?" We use her thoughtful gifts and hand-me-downs and recipes and joyfully think of her. I am extremely grateful that I was able to spend a lot of time with Karen in her last year. Sometimes we took care of business, and sometimes we just talked about food or the kids or looked at pictures together. No matter how lousy she felt, she was still the same generous, warm, kind, beautiful person. My heart aches, but that is what I carry with me every day.