Chris was my step-mom when I was in third grade, and she was the Funnest Step-mom in the World. No lie. She was lighthearted, always up for whatever, and had that nonchalant toughness that characterizes Alaskans. She was kinda sassy as well. She gave me a rabbit pelt once -- not one of those floppy tourist shop ones. A real one. She caught, gutted, and skinned the bunny herself, then she tanned the hide. I didn't have any other friends whose step-moms could do that. She was the original happy camper. I remember camping at Kalaloch -- a wild wide beach on the Washington coast. She packed paraffin, crayons, and string. I thought it was some odd twist on a survival kit. When we got there, she grabbed the Coleman stove, hauled all that stuff down to the beach, and we spent the whole day melting wax and making Sand Candles. Gawd they were ugly! And Gawd it was fun! Chris was my stepmother during a trying time in my life, and she always took me just the way I was, 3rd grade angst and all. She was an easy person to love, because she loved easily. I'm glad she was in my life, and I'm so very grateful for what my brief time with her as my mom gave me...and it just keeps going, since I got a cool sister out of the deal too! Thanks Chris, well done!