Maggie has been more than a friend to me for the last 20 years, more like family. Someone who always looked out for me and was always there for the important moments. I only wish she could hear and read this and all of the stories on this page.

I visited Emory when I was a junior in high school, spent the weekend with her and stayed in her dorm, Dobbs. I'll never forget it - one of the best weekends of my life up until that point (and probably still!). My fate was sealed. I joined her at Emory 2 years later and she has been a permanent fixture in my life ever since, leaving a broad and lasting impact. She LOVED the role of "mentor" with me as her sidekick, she loved showing me the ropes. She influenced what I did, who I hung out with, where I went (Maggie's bar and grill or Maggie's apartment?), what music I would listen to (The Beatles), what team I would root for (Yankees, even as a lifelong Mets fan), and even what I would eat (the best restaurants and steakhouses in Atlanta, and then NYC). It did not end when she graduated 2 years later - she came back to visit, flying with fresh pizza and bagels from NY because she knew how much I missed them all year. She got me a job working for Lou after my junior year during what would turn out to be the best summer of my life up until that point (and probably still :). We drove to the stores in Westchester/Connecticut "once a week" but turned back half way if there was too much traffic, went to Yankee games with Lou, went out for lunch... and worked whenever we found the time. And our friendship continued as we grew further into adulthood, going out together in NYC, visiting her apartment after work, BBQing in her backyard during the summer, going on trips together. Spending time with my husband and kids, who loved her, who asked for her.

I know these were some of the best years of Maggie's life. She loved to talk about them and reminisce. To this day, I tell the story of sitting directly in front of Samuel L Jackson (wearing a snakes on a plane t shirt) at the old Yankee stadium. We pretended we didn't notice him, we were sure Lou didn't know who he was. He screamed "Run Motherfucker!" at A-Rod. He asked what "fielder's choice" meant - Maggie gladly explained it to him calmly. I love to tell that story, especially that OUR seats were in front of HIS.

Maggie always wanted to help me, to give me things, to do whatever she could for me. I didn't always understand why - I'm grown up now, not that same 17 year old that visited her all those years ago. But I realize now, that's just who she was - She wanted everyone to be around, to be happy, to be taken care of.

She would tease me that I wasn't really her friend, I was "just Tara's little sister" - but I knew better, I knew I was her little sister, too.

She texted me recently, after watching and sending me old college videos she filmed, to tell me how lucky I was to have had her when I got to Emory. That she paved the way for me. That while she didn't do it FOR me, it worked out so perfectly for me. She said "And while I've always known this, to actually see how it all went down is crazy. Basically after my junior year, every time I'm anywhere with the camera taking video, you're somewhere in the periphery guaranteed doing your thing to both rep me and rep yourself as a patched in member of my entourage."

This is quintessential Maggie: unfiltered, biting humor, but absolutely right. I am so lucky to have had her and been in her entourage for all those years. I already miss her, there will never be anyone like her.