Erika, You were always the life of the party. Your smile made everyone else smile. When Kay walked in the room your smile brightened all the more. Thank you for sharing your genuine self and all of your smiles with us! Priscilla

“Lawdy Miss Claudy”, your “kool-aid” smile is the image I hold dear. THANK YOU MS. ERIKA FOR SHARING A PART OF YOU WITH ME IN FRIENDSHIP! I will love and respect you most for being straight with me. No hidden agenda or misconceptions of what I was to receive in friendship with you. “What you see is what you get”. Your heart was embroidered with love and care when it came to giving and doing for others; namely those whom you befriended. Thank you, my friend, for going out of your way in making me feel comfortable and welcomed in your life, Thank you for the laughs we shared in the times we spent together. Thank you for your teachings and words of wisdom. Thank you for offering me something to drink and eat whenever I came to visit. Thank you for the gifts you willingly handed over in good gesture of your friendship. Thank you for the kind of friend that was easy to please. Thank you for nursing my spouse by placing a pillow behind her back or under her knee in easing her pain. Thank you for singing our song “Can I have this dance” by Anne Murray, at our union ceremony. Thank you for fulfilling my wish for a German chocolate cake on my 40th birthday. Thank you for welcoming my sister into your home and offering her a cup of coffee. Thank you for not judging me; but understanding my thinking and expressions. Thank you, my friend, for being a musical note in my life of friendships. Forgive me, my friend, for my offenses. “Go forward my German friend, where you shall be rewarded forever and ever for your good deeds”. Thank you, Lord, for having graced me with a friend like Erika.

Hey Erika - I remember when I gave you a piece of the Berlin Wall after it was torn down. You were so happy that it came tumbling down. It felt good to give you a part of history - You knew more about the reality of it, then we the U.S. did. I enjoyed doing cognac with you also. You were the first and last person I ever drank the stuff with. It's a good memory. You also nominated me for the Char award - thanks for thinking that highly of me. I'll always remember that we never had a problem between us. I'm sorry that you had to go - but until we meet again - Cheers baby......Linda Rider