On November 10, 2003 at six thirty six am, my mother, Mrs. Fannie Ware Reynolds Paris, lay in a small hospital bed, cradled in my arms. The last tears she would ever shed glistened wetly upon her adored face. She was still and silent with a smile just barely touching the lips that would never again smile at me or kiss my forehead or scold me or praise me. Although her body was still warm to the touch, she wasn't with me. Mommy didn't live here anymore.