I have been remembering Theresa and our shared experiences over the past few days. Oddly, these memories are often impressions rather than stories: her slow cat-like smile; her white socks hanging around her ankles, feet resting on the dashboard of a car; her competence and ease with the computer and an exacto blade (splicing articles to be laid out for the Martlet or The Emily); her delight in sensous and beautiful clothes; her confidence and ambition.

What I keep coming back to-and what I have heard echoed by the many people I've been speaking to-is that Theresa was among the most intelligent people I've ever met. She was also witty and passionate, loving and kind, determined (some may say stubborn) and, above all, happy.

Her intelligence encompassed much more than the ability to remember information. She took in raw data, impressions, experiences and could then reshape it a dozen different ways. Her work with the Chilly Climate committee at Uvic is just one example of the way she took her knowledge and experience and used it to benefit others-even when it meant great difficulties for herself.

Her passion and happiness-exuberance-are what seem to be surfacing in my mind's eye most frequently though. In particular, I remember bumping into Theresa and Sarah de Leeuw at the Moss Street Market one warm Saturday. Theresa was carrying a canvas bag into which she was putting her organic purchases. She held up a small, yellow, summer squash and asked me if I knew how to cook it. I did know and proceeded to give her a recipe. I don't know if she tried it or invented her own (quite possible). I do know, however, that she was staring at the small, perfect squash with wonder and happily imagining the possibilities that day held for her.

It didn't take a lot to make Theresa happy but she brought a great deal of happiness into the world.

Shelley Motz