Good~bye, Elaine Holdaway

I received a message from my mother on April 22nd that Elaine had died. Elaine! Sweet, loving Elaine. I called Adrienne and we spoke and cried. Adrienne sure took great care of Elaine. I drove up to Downington Avenue that evening with my mom. Abby and Cade joined us. It was nice to see Elaine, looking so peaceful in her bed. Adrienne told us how she had crawled into bed with her mother to be with her. She woke very early in the morning hours and listened to her take her last breaths. That house is surrounded with Elaine!

Her funeral was lovely, I especially enjoyed listening to stories told by John B. ~ memories from his childhood and a very busy and ambitious and loving Elaine. She did it all!

All of our kids could not have gone more bonkers in that cemetary! Good grief!

I have always felt a special tie to Elaine, I suppose since I have her name as my middle name. I grew up receiving cards from her, in her blue felt pen. I remember practicing writing "Elaine" just like she signed the cards. Whenever she visited Utah it was such a special treat! I recall sleeping out in Granny's backyard, tucked in my cozy sleeping bag and watching Elaine come out to the back porch. I just knew she was coming to tuck me in. And sure enough, she found her way to me, and sat with me and told me a story while rubbing my hand. She always made me feel so special. I loved visiting her house in Colorado. I took in every nook and cranny of that place and loved it all- from her piled book shelves, scrubbed wooden round kitchen table, orange silk pillow cases, and the fluffiest pink floral towels in her bathroom. On the drive home I sat clutching a bag full of orange lipstick she let us have. I can hear her voice, "Baby Doll! You have the pretties big brown eyes!" She always told me that. It was sad to see her get old. She started confusing me with my sisters, and it was hard to chat with her. But her eyes always held that love I remembered. She lived a good life! I am proud to be Lindsey Elaine.