Memorial

 

There are different levels of friendship and sometimes we can have a close relationship with someone and not know lots about their lives.

Often it depends on how we meet. Maybe on the plane, side by side,  in the grocery line, or sitting beside them all year long in Bible study,or in a large crowd, like a wedding…. Like Alice and Bob.

 

That seems to be the way it happened.

 Alice and Bob  met at a wedding where she knew the bride, and Bob knew the groom. Alice attended the guestbook, and Bob was in the wedding. So he always teased her that she ran after him to get his autograph....!   Bob and Alice  were married at the Isaacson chapel at North Park College in Chicago.  

And for us,it was at a Church gathering . We were introduced, Alice, Anna and me and we soon found out we had a mutual friend Bonnie. That made us instant friends. First it was Anna that we were blessed to get acquainted with. Then Bob and Alice were added. They had invited every family from 50th and G to their home on Vashon. We were favored to be guests too.

And that was when the relationship started to grow. Bob and Darrell hit it off cutting wood and Alice was a delight to spend time with.

Though I did not know it then, Alice had an unusual maiden name, Imig, and born into a large family of believers. She studied to be a nurse and did some traveling before meeting Bob and was prepared to move around the world ( so to speak ) as a family.

Back to Vashon. While Bob and Darrell spent hours cutting wood, Alice and I spent time together in the kitchen, over a puzzle, walking the beach. We had great conversations together, many around their fire place

To me, Alice was a place for answers to some hard questions. Some were spiritual and some were just about life. She would never judge me. She would never pity me or let me have a pity party.

She was honest and faithful and loving and wise.

Though there are many other qualities I could add, I will just share one that is rare..Bob and Alice could publicly disagree without making one or the other be wrong. 

She had a great style of decorating and I have to admit, my favorite was Christmas. 

And of course food...and always with special presentation 

And the tree.
I told her about my "Trim my tree party:. Friends come for lunch and decorate my tree.  But Alice said " No way, I trim my own tree".    And I can see why.  It is a style that requires exact placement of ornaments to show them off.  
Well done Alice ! 

Our last visit with Alice was in December. We came with grandson Tanner to watch the Nutcracker.  Family members were in the play and it was a great evening.  We spent the night and on our way to church we stopped for breakfast at their favorite spot. We were happy to listen to the Sunday Morning worship time.  We hugged as they returned to the Island for the final performance of the  Nutcracker 

A special and sweet memory to hold on to. We texted several times and an email or two, but I did not hear her voice again. ( a few messages are still on my phone)  

March brought the family and friends together to pay honor to Alice but even more, to pay honor to her Lord and Savior.
There is a full recording on YouTube, which tells about a side to Alice I did not know. And also the message of God's love. We sang together.  The grandchildren played instruments and sang together. Some very wonderful sharing...worth watching ....

But my take away:

Accept opportunities, rather than looking for them ..expecting nothing in return 

The program I plan to frame...happens to be my favorite chapter in the Bible.  

I live an exciting life