Dear Mr. & Mrs. Morgenstern,

I first had the privilege of meeting Nancy about six years ago when I started working at the Crestwood. I met her through Robby and Jeremy when she came out to visit that winter. We got to hang out quite a bit because she would stay in an area of the Crestwood that we called the dorm, and that is where I lived. We became friends right away and I always looked forward to her next visit.

I was clueless about the whole Jewish religion until I met Nancy. She would always answer my strange questions and I was always grateful for that. I could never understand why she could not eat what the rest of us were eating but I always knew she would explain it to me again. She would bring her own food and her pots and always some sort of treat for everybody when she came.

She and Nicole were always so much fun to have. They would always be game for anything we did. Be it sledding or tree-cutting they were right there, ready to go. Since Nancy and I had the same color hair I would let her use my ski pass when she came out and I was not using it. It worked every time and she would always send me a little thank you present after she left. I kept trying to tell her that it wasn’t necessary at all but she kept on doing it. She was always so thoughtful and sweet like that.

The last time I saw her was when she was here in July and I got to hear about all her adventures in Europe and I told her of mine. We hadn’t seen each other in about two years as I had been traveling in Central and South America, so we had a lot to catch up on. She looked so happy and beautiful every time she came here that I always wondered why she lived in the city. I wish I could have seen her in New York so that I would have known the other side of her as well.

I could remember the day I said goodbye to her when she was here last. I wish I would have known it would be the last; there was a lot more I could have said. She was getting all geared up to go on some crazy road bike ride with Robby and Graham. I was going to Denver for the weekend and now I wish that I didn’t. We hugged and kissed and said “See you next time,” and that was all. Unfortunately the next time will be a while from now.

I have learned from experience that you never leave your friends or family without saying goodbye and telling them that you love them. So many crazy things happen in this world that you never know if it will be the last time you see someone. I have missed saying goodbye to a few of my friends and now I will never get the chance to. Even though I didn’t know that it would be the last time I saw Nancy, I am thankful that I got to say goodbye.

I know that things are hard to think about at a time like this, but we all must go on. Nancy would have wanted it that way. We will always remember her bright smile and catchy laugh and treasure the memories that we shared. She will always hold a special place in our hearts and we will meet again someday. For now heaven has received a special angel and we are all blessed and lucky to know that she will always be watching over us.

My sincerest thanks for having such a wonderful daughter,

Jessica Baiucchi