This past week a beloved Aunt and friend passed away after a short illness (See her obituary here). Judy was a good friend of Mom's before Mom knew who Dad was, a friendship which continues today. Judy also held a special place in my heart. As I look back on my youth, I can point to Judy as someone who influenced my development and continued to offer her concern, wisdom and love each time she saw me.
Judy helped me as a youth to learn the value of a dollar. She worked for a printing company responsible for a local phone book. Judy enlisted me and my cousins to deliver the local phone book. We were paid 10 cents for each book we delivered. The day would start by loading up Grandpa's old farm truck with boxes of phone books, then we'd drive to a neighborhood, put down the tail gate and jockey for the first one out delivering. Judy would shuttle back and forth between streets while groups of us took 10 books in our arms and carefully threw the books to the front doors. Judy would carefully mark down how many books we took and mark the streets we delivered to on one of the phone book maps.
Judy somehow knew which homes had the angry dogs, where the 'hidden' bungalows were located, which door was the 'front' door and how much to push us before we were ready to break. Her concern was especially great one spring day, while delivering books. The air was still crisp and dirty snow still spotted the neighborhoods. We were riding on the tailgate of the truck and rounded a corner to drive up a hill to work from the top down. In the gutter was black ice! The truck was driving slow, but the sliding on the ice, then sudden stop as the wheels caught hold of the pavement was enough to throw us in the bed of the truck and throw me off the tailgate and onto a hard pavement below. I was dazed from the fall and bump to the head and scratched and bruised. I don't remember the pain of the fall, my memory is of Judy's concern for me and the others in her care. She quickly took charge, had things put away and and had me get into the cab for the ride home. I don't think I've had quite such a benevolent boss since.
At this time of loss I am truly grateful for the principles of resurrection and the eternal nature of our existence. The blessing of knowing "...that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in the Spirit world]..." is truly comforting. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2) Also the knowledge that Jesus Christ died and rose again on the third day, providing for us the gift of resurrection. I especially love the teachings in the Book of Mormon (Alma 40-42) which simply present the Plan of Salvation, what Christ did for us, and our part to play to receive Salvation.
Thank you Judy! Til we meet again.
