A tribute to my sister and best friend - Pat

Today if she were still alive my sister Pat would be 71 years young.  Pat was a very special person.  She was vibrant and full of life.  Pat loved all kinds of life evidenced by all the dogs and cats she rescued and cared for.  She loved nature and the outdoors.  Pat was an artist and a teacher.  In the 70's she taught physical education in high school and coached a girl's basketball team encouraging young women to spread their wings and shoot for the stars.  She would sit with girls in her office and help them fill out college applications that she obtained for them.  One such girl finally finished college after many starts and stops and now runs a grant program in which she takes new college graduates before they go to their real jobs and spends six or eight weeks doing community service projects.  She was an artist creating beautiful designs and encouraging others to do the same.  Pat was full of compassion, life and sunshine.  Today I celebrate Pat's birthday and remember the precious gifts she gave me and many others.