Chapter 12

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas

My best friend Connie was an only child, she and her parents lived in a trailer house; today they are called modular homes which is more dignified, I think. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas did special things for Connie and I. Once she bought paper dresses, a novelty but not as soft as fabric they felt stiff like paper and were hard to wear. I don’t know if we ever wore them more than once, but it didn’t matter it was the thought that counted. Every time I went to their house she baked German chocolate cake, she knew it was my favorite dessert.

Mr. Thomas had an extension built at the back of the trailer to add more space so Mrs. Thomas could sew custom curtains and drapes. Everything was neat and tidy. An eight by-twelve-foot table provided the space to work. On the wall there was a big cardboard tube mounted, probably one that carpeting was rolled on and used to hang fabric or finished drapes on. Later in life, she taught me her craft, it was just before my kids were born. It enabled me to earn money and still be at home with my children, a double blessing.

In college, I planned a trip to drive to Ashland to see my friend Sally who was studying to be a teacher. After she got her degree she received her first teaching job in Glide thirty miles north of Roseburg. I’d shared the Lord with her in high school and he said she would turn her life over to him when she had a family. Sally was killed by a logging truck going too fast that couldn’t stop in time to avoid crashing into her car. She wasn’t married and didn’t have any children, she died far too young. My hope was that in her final moments, she called out to God.

The newspaper published a picture of the accident and I could see her legs hanging out of her car. That picture was so cruel, I had to mourn her twice once when I saw the awful picture in the paper and then at her memorial where no hope was spoken. Rather, the message was after a person dies that’s the end of it which is certainly not what I believe. At that time of year, it could be very foggy driving to Ashland. But being an inexperienced driver I didn’t worry much, if at all. Before my trip, Mr. Thomas asked me to borrow my car for a couple of hours. When he brought my VW back he had replaced the old threadbare tires with re-treads. I didn't know enough about cars to realize my old tires were very dangerous. His kindness is written in my heart. He protected me from my dangerous ignorance and at the same time taught me lessons about how to live, love, and give.

He had a bad hip that made it difficult for him to walk. He was killed walking across Diamond Lake highway. He was a very kind and special man.