b"100SmithPatGoodmorningRuss, OurheartsacheforyouasKikoandIcan'timaginehowhardDianne'slosshasbeenforyou.I preparedthefollowingshortpieceinspiredbysomememoriesofher.Over30yearsoffriendshipoffermanymemoriesofourdearDianne,butIhopethesimplepiececapturestheessenceofourfriendship.Itwas1993attheSouthHuntingtonSchoolDistrictaftercareprogramattheSilasWoodbuilding.IhadstoppedintheaftercareprogrambusinessofficetohavesomeSUNYbenefitpre-taxprogramformsauthorized.Anotherparentwhohadbeenwaitingintheofficeoverheardthediscussionandstruckupaconversationwithme.Shesaidshewasalsoemployedinhighereducationandthatherfirstgradesonwasalsointheaftercareprogram.Whilewequicklybecamefriends,itturnedoutthatoursonswereinthesameclassatschool,inthesameaftercareroom,andhadalsobecomegoodfriends.ThatwomanwasDianneandoursons,ofcourse,wereLesandAlex.Ourfriendshipextendedtoincludeourhusbands,KikoandRuss.Asdedicatedparents,weallactivelyparticipatedintheboysactivities:boyscouts,soccer,flagfootball.Weexposedtheboystothearts:theHecksherMuseumsummerartprogram,artexhibits,theatre.Theboyswenttothesamesummercamps:WestHillsDayCamp,IvyLeague.Wesharedaloveoftennis,sowecoordinatedplaywithlessonsfortheboysatParkAveTennis.Wewouldoftenfindtimetoplayatpublicoutdoorcourts.Diannewasaskilledplayer.Wealsolovedtogatherourfriendsandfamily.KikoandmyepicMemorialDayandLaborDaybarbequesthatwereoftenre-themedforspecialoccasions.Dianne,RussandAlexwerealwaysincludedaspartofthefamily.Kiko,LesandIwereincludedinRussandDiannesparties,notablytheirspecialfriends/familyThanksgivingfeast.ChefRusspreparedculinarydelightsandDiannewouldmakeherdelicioussignatureapplecrisp.Wefeltathome.WewerealsoinvitedtothelakehouseinOldForge.IrememberwhenDiannetoldusthatthehousewasonthirdlake,IwentintotheAbbottandCostelloWhosOnFirstroutine,untilitbecameclearthatthelakewasnamedThirdLake.TherewereHalloweenpartieswhereRussandDianneworethemostcreativecostumesandbirthdaypartieswhereDiannemadethebestthemedcakes.Diannewasanadeptstorytellerandself-effacinghumorist.Onourweeklywalkswewoulddiscusspoliticsadnauseam,thenreverttoconversationsoffamily,friends,moviesandbooks.Diannecoulddescribeamovieorbooksowellin20minutes,thatIdfeltIhadseenorreadit."