Elaine moved onto our street about 1998. Here are some favorite memories of my neighbor. Her joy for animals was contagious. Someone had a need for temporary housing for some sheep. Elaine offered her “pasture”. She invited my boys into see the lambs. One day my son and Elaine had quit the time corralling one that “escaped” the pen. The dog she was watching for a friend, never returned to the friend because the dog adopted Elaine. The big black dog, Big Boy, soon became the guardian of the neighborhood. Laying in the street checking you out before allowing you to pass, escorting the school kids down the hill from the bus stop. Elaine and Big Boy had their own form of communication that was beautiful to watch. He was always at her side. When she was gardening he nuzzled right in under her arm and you’d think he was going to knock her down when they played tug of war and catch. We helped her paint her fence which required major trimming of a large lilac bush. We all had a paint brush in our hand, when she went to get her electric trimmer and began whacking away at the bush, saying she just had to help out some way since we were so gracious to paint her fence. She was under and over and around and between the bush. We were all amazed and worried this old lady would get hurt. She continued to surprise my young boys when the trimmer was having mechanical problems and she fixed it. Since her house was at the top of the street she had power over the cars that passed by, if Elaine was out in the yard the cars just automatically pulled over and stopped. One day my car pulled over to find her unloading river rocks from her car trunk. She told me she must be crazy to buy river rocks at a garage sale, but they just spoke to her. Her gardening interest was a great asset to the neighborhood. She always offered “you pick” raspberries, plums, apples, blackberries….. the sweetest fruit in her garden was the conversation. When Elaine’s memory started to impact her life, we had conversation where she looked to you to finish her sentences, but her eyes spoke clearly. At her 90th birthday she had great fun opening her gifts being queen for the day. Elaine was always smiling, always happy to see you, always enjoying life. I suspect she is continuing to do so in God’s presence. Ginger