Today (11/15) would have been Linda's birthday.  To celebrate  Linda's life, and the life she gave to others, I'm  taking her daughter, Christina,  to dinner ... where I' sure we'll spend much of the time talking about Christina's mom and how much she misses her.

I only met Linda once, when Christina and I visited her in Ohio seven years ago.  I thought I had some pictures of her from that trip, but I don't.  And I'm sad about that.  I do have pictures of her cat though ... or maybe Linda's mom's cat ... I don't really remember.  I do remember though that the cat hung out, all sprawled out, next to Linda, at ease and perfectly comfortable.

That's the thing that I most remember about the time I spent with Linda while we were there.  She had a natural ability to put you at ease and make you feel perfectly comfortable.

Well, that and how much she loved Cracker Barrel.  I had never been there and she insisted that we go.  It was one of my all-time favorite meals and is forever linked to her in my heart.

I met Linda through my daughter. I have many fond memories, going to the beach, out to dinner, we loved Piccadilly and Dennys! We spent hours in her trailer sharing stories, many about our daughters, who meant the world the us. Linda, you will be missed.

My mom was such a caring person and made friends so easily. I always admired her for that.  She had a lot of challenges in life but she found joy in many things.  

Her love for me was incredible and I will never forget all the things she did for me! When I was in elementary school, she would visit me for lunch even though she didn't have a car at the time and it took her over an hour to get there.  

Even though she didn't have a lot of money, she would find ways for us to have everything we needed when I spent the weekend with her.  She would stock the kitchen with my favorite food, including the bag a Cheese Doodles she would open a day or two before I came over so they would be stale - just the way I liked them.  And she always gave me the most thoughtful presents.  I’ll never forget when she saved up enough money to get me my very own pair of ice skates. We spent so much time together!  She was my closest friend and confidant. 

The final years of her life were the hardest she'd ever had to endure.  We talked of her death many times and she always said that she didn't want me to be sad.  I told her that I would be sad but that eventually, I would be okay.  I told her that she didn't have to worry about me. We had that conversation for the last time a week before she went into a coma.   

Even though I miss her so much already, and I'm hit with heartache every time I think, "where's my phone so I can call my mom,” I remember that she didn’t want me to be sad.  She wanted me, and all of us who love her, to enjoy our happy memories of her and to find some comfort in knowing that she isn’t in pain anymore.    

I love you so much, mommy! And I don’t know what life will be like without you!  I am glad that you don’t have to suffer any more but you will be painfully missed! 





OBITUARY

Linda Phelps

November 15, 1956 – November 8, 2019

Breitenbach-Anderson Funeral Home

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