I have already signed this guestbook myself (at an embarrassing length, too), but I wanted to add something by my email friend, "Nickname Babu," as he would say, that touched me. I think it especially speaks to Heather, Adrian, Katie and Tim (and, in a way, to the many people to whom Syd was like a second Mother). Babu, who is Indian (Calcutta), by no means has flawless English (to his great credit, he speaks Bengali - his "mother tongue," Hindi, and "some Russian and Spanish" in addition to his impressive English), but I think what he says is nonetheless very eloquent. This is his response (in part) to a message I sent telling him I was feeling shocked and bereaved at the news of Syd's sudden death:

The news indeed is horrible and unexpected. It's really very hard to digest. I know how you feel when someone very close to you passes away suddenly.

Same incident happened with me in 1995 when I was 25 years and my father passed away. My father passed at the age of 53 and my mom was only 45 at that time. I can't explain I felt so helpless that time. I did't (sic) have a job also to support my family. Later on within a year I could manage to get a job?

I am sorry for your freind (sic) Syd. My condolence to her family. I can understand the mental state of her children. Although they are grown up but still when we loose our parents, we start acting like a kid. We feel like we lost everything. Complete dark all over. Kate, it's a horrible feelings, beyond any explanation.

You know Kate, parents are like shelter, if they are not there, then you feel like you are completely exposed.

Anyway, be patient and handle the situation. May God give you more mental strength and boldness to face all odds.

"Parents are like shelter"- I love that. I believe wonderful friends are, too. And I know we will still feel the "shelter" of Syd's influence in our hearts.