There is no harder task than to express the grief that invades us at the loss of a good friend, of a sweet, generous and beautiful person; the kind of person that leaves an empty space in one’s heart that challenges every platitude and every commiseration. The absence is so deeply felt that it overshadows all logic.

We will not try to minimize that feeling. Sorrow has its place in the presence of such a loss. Yolexis Alvarez Ramos, beloved wife of Maximo Roy Fernandez sensei, of Bushin dojo, Cuba, passed away on November 25th. We no longer have her selfless support, her constant effort, her encouraging enthusiasm and her beautiful smile, but we will always treasure her memory. God has granted you your deserved rest and we all bow in your honour. We do not say good bye to you, Yolexis. We say THANK YOU.