Earlier in the week, I saw on Facebook that my neighbor’s daughter, Brittany, had posted the obituary of her great auntie Ole (Violet).

Ole was someone I never knew but had just met briefly about four months ago. I asked Brittany if this was the lady that lived in the cozy little white house on Washington Street? She wrote back, “Yes, she did.” 

I shared with her that I loved walking by her house. I admired the many hummingbird feeders she had around the perimeter of her home. She also often had her bedding hanging on the line in the backyard. Something I love to do too which always makes me think of sweet memories of me helping my grandma P. as she enjoyed hanging her bedding on the line too.

Through the picture window of the quaint white home with black shutters, was a tan recliner chair where I’d imagine she read or viewed favorite shows on T.V. While also a great spot to watch as people walked by.

Her house oozed the essence of a dear grandma who loved her home and the simple joys of life. 

As I mentioned, it was about four months ago that I met her briefly. I was at the grocery store waiting in line at the deli counter when I looked over and saw this short, white-haired, pretty elderly lady also waiting. I’d only seen her from a distance now and then and I wondered if this was the lady in the white house on Washington Street?

So I asked her. She smiled and said she was. How did I know? I told her how much I loved walking by her house and that I too was from Elkhart Lake.

So when I saw that she had passed away I was sad for her loss, even though I didn’t really know her. But in so many ways I felt like I did. In many ways, she reminded me of my grandma P. who I loved to visit and has been gone for a long time now. I was also surprised to learn Ole was 93-years old! She certainly didn’t look that.

The next morning, after learning of her passing, I walked by her house. Now quiet and just the echo of a life well-lived. Tears pooled in my eyes. I then looked up and in the large trees in her backyard, the moon was peeking through the branches.

I swear I saw her face on that moon. As if she was taking a moment to say one last goodbye to the home she loved and all those she nurtured and were blessed to come through her front door.

And I couldn’t help but think of the many hummingbirds who will make their flight back north in the spring and will find her now gone. So I silently let them know they are welcome to come on over to my home since having feeders ready for them is one of the things I look most forward to in Spring.

The older I get, the more I feel these pangs in my heart as the grandma’s move on and I realize I’m next in line. And I pray I get the opportunity to be that example for others just as Ole was to me of a simple life lived in a cozy home filled with love.

Rest in peace Ole.

xo,

Barbara

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