One moment someone’s there.
Just behind this glass. Mopping in our new restaurant. I yelled, “Sue, you’re awesome!” And was ignored. Intentionally. Then louder, “SUE, you’re AWESOME!” This time a wave-off over the shoulder.
The next moment they’re gone.
A phone call. Terrible news. Heartache of the worst sort. Sue died in her sleep yesterday morning between the time her husband Ralph got up and did some yard work and the time he returned to check on her, thinking she’d slept in unusually long.
Just like that, she was gone.
My last words to Sue will stay with me forever. Because she was just that: awesome.
Of all the people I’ve had the privilege to know, she was one of the most selfless.
I learned that after she cleaned the restaurant Tuesday night, she insisted on going to clean New Life.
At 11:30pm.
Every dirty coffee mug. Every trash bin. Every dust bunny. No task was too insignificant. Because serving people and making atmosphere’s enjoyable was what she lived for. She’d never take a dime. Nor would she permit photographs. In every picture I have of her, she’s looking away.
This one below Jenny captured from a distance last year during a memorial walk for Michelle, her would-be daughter-in-law.
While tragedy has gripped the Marolf/Garland family far too frequent for my tastes, rarely have I admired such a loving and selfless tribe. She embodied the servant-nature of Jesus. That is more than I could ever hope to modle.
We miss you, Sue. ch:
