to my dear family, those who are here with me now and those who are watching from home, i am forever endebted to you for your love and support. to my beloved husband patrick, thank you for being my rock today and every day, for these past 26 years. i love you. to my daughters, tallia and layla, you are the light of my life. please know that whatever title i may hold or whatever job i might have, i will still be your mom. that will never change. there are so many other people i would love to be able to address and to thank. but time is short so let me end by sharing an interesting coincidence that is actually meant a great deal to me over the years. as it happens, i hair a birthday with the first black women ever