I received a call from my dear friend Rose last evening. She wanted to let me know that she would be leaving for Hawaii on the 29th; she will be working on an organic farm there. As I struggle to complete these last two semesters of school, I can't help but envy her chosen path. Rose was in her next to the last semester when she decided the lessons that life could teach her far outweighed anything she could learn from college. With that, she packed up and hit the road; sometimes alone, other times accompanied by a friend or lover. She has travelled the U.S., working on organic farms, while spending the summers at Omega. She is happy, free, blissfully unencumbured. Her only concession to a life of simplicity is a cell phone,which gives her parents and friends a reasonable sense of security.

Every morning she wakes to a new sense of wonderment and suprise; camping on Mt. Shasta being just the latest of her daily adventures. Her plan for the future is to have no plan at all; just let the heavens guide her.

I remember the first time we met. She was just stepping foot on this new path; creating her own reality. She was a sorority member and a Long Island gymnast. The transformation into a dreadlocked, socially and politically aware, earth mother was quick . Her thirst for knowledge and ethereal beauty made her the talk of our rather conservative college town. Rose was one of the few on campus that "walked the walk". Even then, her life was a reflection of the principles she embraced. She reminded me a lot of my flower child self; a neo-hippie in a world screaming for change.

As I ready myself for another day of hitting the books and making business decisions, there is a part of my mind that will not let me concentrate. An image of Rose readying for the day's work on the farm flashes through my consciousness. I can feel the warmth of the morning sun beating down upon her shoulders. She is smiling and I can begin to feel a smile upon my own lips. Her image has the power to make me place the books aside and the decisions on hold. Thinking back to our parting, she let it be known that she would always be with me. She is a woman of her word.

I love you, Rose.