How to condense 11 years in one paragraph? I can't so what I write will be a poor substitute of how I feel. I met khim in Sept 2001, when I first moved here and she instantly became my friend. She babysat for my daughter from the first day she was born and became her grandmother and my mother. I was lonely - she gave me solace; I was afraid and she gave me peace ( when my daughter was ill) and when I was unsure she gave me knowledge and advice. It was early- she gave me respite and coffee; it was late- she gave me respite and coffee. Khim always gave me coffee! and was always there for me. She would laugh at my horrendous shoes and false nails. She laughed at my inability of having "green fingers" - she gave me plants - they died!!! She gave me house plants and they died !! She planted an olive tree and other tress in my garden- they died too. She never gave up teaching me. She gave up giving me plants!!!!! We laughed when she nearly fell into her pond- we laughed at the measly grapes in the summer and had one plum each from her tree. We laughed when she mis-pronounced words and used the wrong ones- invariably with a dirty meaning!!! We laughed at tv shows of hapless dancers and inept singers. We laughed at everybody and each other. The laughter, her gait, her open face. The veg, the spices and soup! He unwavering opinion and faith in her church. Her kindness, the worry, the eternal concern- her love. She was fantastic and I will miss her. My heart now has another hole - my surrogate mother. I am so sorry my life became cluttered and selfish and I never knew she was so unwell. I will always remember her for the special and wonderful person she was. R.I.P. Michelle