Even if you don't know them that well, some people make an impression that stays with you forever.	December 1, 2004 American Salon
	As beauty professionals, we work in a very transient business: Just think of how many people we come in contact with each week. We spend hours together working, laughing and sharing our lives, and when that client or colleague heads for the door and we hug them good-bye, we take it for granted that we'll see them again. As a freelance makeup artist, I work in different places every day, sometimes with people I've known for years, often with people I'll work with once and never see again. Even if I never see someone again, sometimes they make an impression—good or bad—that stays with me forever. I work with a team of people for a magazine out of Paris called French, created by Thierry Le Gouès. When Thierry and his fashion editor Benjamin come to New York, we hole up in a small studio and make some of the most beautiful pictures I have ever done in my career. It's a magical team: Thierry, his assistant Peter, Benjamin, the hairstylist, makeup artist and models. We have different individual goals, but we strive for the same result. Finding a group of people that are each as individually talented as the next doesn't always guarantee success, but when it does come together, it's nothing short of magic. Yet I never realized the full impact of each person's contribution until I learned I wouldn't be working with one of them again. Thierry's assistant, Peter Ment, an aspiring photographer with a bright future, was a mainstay on our shoots. He was always there with a smile, always reliable, always helpful. Not only did he assist Thierry with all the obvious technical things, but his presence contributed so much that wasn't so obvious. Soon after we finished the latest issue of French, Peter went on vacation to Costa Rica and was tragically killed in a car accident. He was 29 years old. He is survived by his parents, David and Nancy Ment; his brother, Andrew; his sister-in-law, Nicole; his girlfriend, Mila; his two cats, Alice and Paco; and a new nephew he never met, Alexander Peter Martin Ment. Thierry Le Gouès’ stunning photographs for French magazine are the result of incredible teamwork. Although I'm lucky to have relationships with friends and clients that span the years, other people have touched my life whom I don't know nearly as well, yet I still love them. I'll always wonder if Peter knew how much I appreciated his help, his energy and his music. I want to believe he knows. So it seems fitting to take this opportunity to thank you for reading my column another year, and for all of your support. I truly appreciate all of you.