It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted - probably because since I got that new work position I have been traveling from one job to the next all day, every day.
The only really new thing is that our dear landlady Rae Adamson passed away this evening. She had a stroke about a week ago and has been in the hospital until she passed away today surrounded by her family. Chandler and I didn't make it to visit her today like we wanted to, but it's okay. I am sure she understands. We feel so lucky to have known her and grown to love her over the last four months, so I have decided to write some of the things that I remember and love about her.
I love how she was so careful to make sure we had everything we needed, including asking someone to come check on the status of our carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
I love how she went to Walmart "every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday" to get her McDonald's hamburger (because she didn't want to cook for herself).
I love how she always said a funny comment and tapped me on the shoulder while I played the prelude music in Relief Society on Sundays.
I love how she swept leaves from her driveway...and our steps... and the whole street...every day that it was warm. She finally got a new broom because the old one was so worn out (and I was about to give her a new one!) And how she waived at me when I would get home.
I love how one day when Chandler and I were walking home from church she drove by and called out to us, "Hey, don't I know you two?" and chuckled to herself. She was seriously full of jokes!
I love how she would leave the red flag up when we had mail in the mailbox.
I love how soft-spoken she was. It required me to really tune in and listen to what she was saying, and it was always a delightful or insightful comment, especially when she commented in church. She would often laugh at her own jokes too. It was so cute and made me laugh as well. :)
I love how Rae loved her family and proudly spoke of her grandchildren. She even hosted a fun halloween party with gift bags for each member in her family. She even told us about the party just so we would be aware that there might be some noise upstairs.
I love how she didn't want the internet in her home because she didn't want all that "bad stuff" coming in to her home. How sweet to keep herself far from the craziness of the world - she didn't need to use it like we do.
I love how she asked us often to change lightbulbs in her house - though we didn't understand for a while. She just didn't like to be in the dark at night, so they would wear out quickly :)
I love how she had her birthday but didn't want to tell me her age. She said she was "56 and holding". (Later, I found out that she was 76 years old). She was so tiny and frail, but so full of life at her age.
I love how concerned she was about her tree dropping fruit on our cars and asked someone to come trim the branches to help lessen the tree-droppings.
I love how she told us that she had trained herself to stay up late, until about 1am, each night because of previous renters that would stay up late.
I love how whenever she called me and left me a message she would say "Oh, Candace.. It's me." I always knew who it was. :)
I love how she wrote with such neat handwriting and how she kept a bunch of photo albums "even though no one will probably look at them". :)
I especially love how when we signed our contract to live here, Rae said that she was so grateful that she had found a good couple like us to move in. We felt the same about her. We felt so grateful to have found such a wonderful apartment with such a sweet landlady. She truly became a friend, and I will miss her for sure. All my love and prayers are with her family at this time. I am so grateful for this opportunity Chandler and I have had to be able to know such a great lady.
