Dear Reader,

Last night, I was lying in bed, wide awake. I was hoping to e-mail Yehuda some stories of Adira. I had heard that coma victims can sometimes wake up if they heard familiar things. These are the stories that I wanted to send to Yehuda and his new baby daughter.

Adira's birthday in Israel was one to remember. Devorah, Rachel, Leah and I bought a pizza from Trevi's and set up the apartment to resemble an 80's club. We all dressed up in 80's costumes (weirdos, I know). Adira was coming back to the apartment from her evening HONORS (shout out to Honors girls) class and so we shut all of the lights. We watched her from out attic window as she entered the building. We decided to hide behind furniture, and shout surprise when she got into the room.

That didn't happen.

Mrs. Benchamu (remember her) was making her rounds to check that we were keeping the apartment clean. Mrs. Benchamu came into the apartment just as Adira was coming up the stairs. Mrs. Benchamu was shouting and looking for the lights and we were trying to tell her to be quiet so that we could surprise the birthday girl.

Mrs. Benchamu opened the lights as Adira opened the Left Attic door. We all yelled 'SURPRISE!', scaring both Adira and Mrs. Benchamu. Both women were shocked by the way that we were dressed. Mrs. Benchamu muttered something in Hebrew and left.

We had an awesome 80's pizza bithday party for Adira.

Another story:

Devorah and I heard a shout from the bathroom. Adira was shaving her legs and cut herslef a little bit. Devorah and I couldn't find our band-aids, so we asked Monique, the Madricha. As she was getting the band-aids, Miki heard a commotion and came upstairs. Adira thought that we'd trick both Miki and Monique. She got a vegetable peeler out of the drawer in the kitchen and told Miki and Monique that she couldn't find her shaver, so she used a peeler instead. That's why she needed the band-aids.

I have so many memories of my sister, roommate, secret keeper, jokester and friend. Adira and I cooked our first box of WackyMac together. We discussed how spoiled meat should not be eaten if it has mold on it, and she decided to the non-moldy part of it. We spent many inspiring Shabbosim together. We have been calling each other ever since we left Israel, and I just spoke to her a week and a half ago.
She was so excited to be a mother. I was telling her all about how wonderful it has been for me so far, and she was anxious to start her own family of little Adiras.

I miss her terribly. I am a mess. What gives me hope is that this little baby will be reminded of her amazing mother and Adira's legacy every day of her life. What a zechus her duaghter has.