CJ contacted me when she learned about a career club I was trying to start here in Asheville. I wasn't sure why she wanted to get together, as it sounded like maybe we would be competitors, but since I don't worry about "competition," I figured, "Sure, let's meet." (I soon learned of how much CJ was a proponent of collaboration and building community!) We met at Panera Bread and CJ introduced herself and then it was my turn. I started out saying, "I was born and raised in NJ..." and that was as far as I got when CJ asked me, "Where?" I said, it was a little town up north. CJ then jumped in and said she was born in Hackensack. I shared that my oldest daughter was born there. And then an amazing coincidence happened... When I told her I had grown up in Lyndhurst, her eyes popped out of her head. It was 2 seconds later, when we realized I had been good friends with her grandmom, Lillian Liston. There are only a few people I can remember from my church back then, but Lillian was definitely a dear friend. I would later recall that Lillian was my Sunday School teacher and we also sang alto together in the choir. Lillian was in my Women's Association together, we worked on committees together and I had been to her house several times. Also, I had graduated a year behind her mom, Janet. CJ and I both were astounded at the synchroncity that brought us together--both of us living in various parts of the country--and yet, here we were. It brought goosebumps to both of us. CJ and I continued to meet and connect occasionally. While I didn't tell her--I felt like I was a part of her past that connected her with her grandma and grandfather. She had many many fond memories of that time in her life. When she was packing up to go to Greensboro, I attended her good-bye party. One of my last memories of her was seeing her dancing off into the next room. She called me earlier this year after returning to Asheville, but we never were able to get together. I was shocked to learn of her death and found out this week after her service. I am so very saddened to lose such a bright light, but know that she is with Lillian, Norm and her mom. I am attaching some photos that CJ had shared with me from her early days in Lyndhurst.