Before Thanksgiving I called my beloved Shakespeare Professor. She is in her mid-nineties and I have kept in contact with her since I was a young college student. I have looked to her as a teacher and mentor throughout my life. I even called her when I knew I was not going to achieve the PhD. at Brown University. She responded then, as always, with kindness and grace. This past Wednesday I dialed her number and heard her voice, but I could tell she was not well. My heart sank. I suddenly realized that she would not always be there. How can I explain in a few paragraphs what she…