Maggie Thompson, my dear mom, passed away February 18th, after a battle with recurrent breast cancer. We had a memorial for her on March 10th at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex County. Friends and relations came from all over to laugh, sing, recite poetry, watch a video, share memories, eat cookies and listen to some transcendent music. It was such a joyous occasion, in celebration of a life of service, lived humbly and as best she could. I am grateful for the words of a friend who said, "It was such a gift to be present at her memorial service...such a powerful reminder that God doesn't call us to live "Great Lives" but to do great things and give freely so that our footprint in the lives of others would lead to even greater things... for the good of humanity and the world we live in."