I am truly sorry you lost your sister. I have 3 sisters and I don't know what I would do if I lost one.
I have worked out in the public eye for the last 40 years and retired in May of 2010. I love being a "loner". This is all I want to do, even if I don't do it correctly all the time. I'm not as talented as most quilters but my kids and grandkids love my quilts and that is all that really matters.