i missed my mother-in-law today, in an unexpected way. the phone rang about 4:45pm while i was still enjoying a rare sunday afternoon nap. my first thought was...it's kay, because kay always had a knack for calling when i was asleep and there was no one but me to answer the phone. 'oh, were you sleeping dear? ' she would ask before she launched into pleasant conversation about all we were doing. finally she would ask to talk to ernst- who was probably out hiking with stephan and cayle- which was why i got to nap in the first place. her death on 3/30 was no surprise, given the swelling in her feet we noticed over president's day weekend and her severe smothering cough. she really didn't look good in february, but appeared to hold on long enough to call or visit several friends and many family members before letting go of this life. i shall miss her.