What was Alice doing in San Diego?

It's a fair question, asked to me tonight by one Melissa in Alice's high school class. So I'll tell you.

Alice had moved to San Diego on August 23, 2006 to pursue an internship at San Diego City College. I know the exact date because when we were moving her things from her apartment yesterday, I came across a painted-over frosted candle holder. Alice had painted some pretty designs, along with I think a Chinese symbol, and the words "love," "faith," and "hope." Actually I don't remember all these details, I quickly packed it away when I first picked it up. Her dear friend in Long Beach, Stephanie, told me about what specifically had been painted on it, and told me the significance of the August date.

The intership was a requirment for her master's degree in kinesiology at Cal State Long Beach. She was working with Kathy, the chair of the Health and Exercise Science department at SDCC, assisting her in the classroom. I know Alice also served on a curriculum design committee along with many high-level decision makers at the College. Kathy was quickly impressed with Alice, not to mention smitten with her, and had already suggested that it would be likely that Alice would be offered a paying gig for the spring semester.

She was scheduled to take the comprehensive exam for her degree on October 20th so as to graduate in December. She had been dilly-dallying a bit lately, yet I knew she would pull together in time to feel prepared for the big exam. She'd worked so hard for this degree, and the end was finally in sight.

Alice also sought out a bible study group in San Diego. From a friend of hers in the group, Dina, I understand that Alice wanted to know God more intimately, and that studying the Bible would help. Her favorite passages included The Beatitudes in Matthew and some selections in Jeremiah. I'm not so familiar with the Bible, so this was an education for me.

Naturally, Alice also was flying her big butterfly kite at the beach. I've never seen it, yet I understand that it's big and majestic. She was going to her favorite destination as often as she could, and when she was there, she was taking full advantage of the elements. I came across a bottle of blowing bubbles and a hula-hoop in her apartment, so she was clearly finding time to engage her playfulness, of which she had an abundance.

Mostly, Alice was starting anew in San Diego, making new friends, and seeing what it felt like to be 100 miles from home once again. Her neighbors all expressed how much of an impact she had made on them during her short 3 weeks there. Dina recounted how Alice had made her lentil soup when she wasn't feeling well last week and would need to miss a bible study session. Her daughter-in-law Maxine told us there was still a smidgeon left in the fridge. I wanted to ask her for it, but that felt weird. Truth is I don't need to eat from her cooking to feel her last days. There are other ways to know, that I'm still exploring.