For all the saints

This has been a year of heartbreaking losses.

My dear friend, Muse and patron Brigitte died unexpectedly in January just days after I said goodbye to her in Austria.

The last of the Whiskey Widows and my partner in crime, Sue Barlow, passed away in March.

My student, Lani Bewley, aka "Pink Haired Girl," died suddenly in June.  She was only 22 years old and had just received a BA in Latin in December 2009 and a BA in German in May 2010.

My best friend's father, novelist Vance Bourjaily, died August 31 after one last trip to New Orleans and to Iowa to see his children and grandchildren.

And September 2 was the 10th anniversary of my mother's death.  As he does every year, my father sent me flowers on her birthday, October 30.

Avete atque valete, y'all