In January, I had dinner with one of my closest friends, Jackie. Having started our friendship during college, Jackie and I have shared the ups and downs of each other's professional and personal lives and have provided stories, counseling and commentary based on our long history.

As that January dinner conversation turned to mourning my mother's passing, Alzheimer's and my writing for this website, Jackie noted, "You know, Dorian, your mom at heart was a change agent. Although she might have...