Two recent articles about food - a pie tribute and eating before the stomach goes

I saw both these articles today and was moved by the both of them.  In this one, a lady deals with the untimely death of her husband by asking her friends to make his favorite pie in his memory.
 
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/08/12/a-peanut-butter-pie-in-memory-of-mikey/
 
In this article, an avid and adventurous eater undertakes to eat well before stomach cancer surgery removes her stomach and limits her to small meals:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/i-wont-have-the-stomach-for-this.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
 
Perhaps these articles touch a nerve because of the role that food, whether roadfood or meals at family gatherings or other events, plays in our lives.  No doubt we could all think of foods we associate with certain people, maybe not raising a glass in their memory but instead hoisting a burger or slice of pizza.  Not being able to enjoy the variety of food still to be discovered?   It is a daunting thought.  Anyway, no need for me to rehash the articles because the people directly involved do a much better job sharing their hearts.