The Lord Calls (1)

June 2007 - June 2013

This is written in rememberance of a dear friend, Frances E. Graaf, who passed away on the 28 June 2013.    I miss her.   This is the story of our relationship, that I want to share.

Frances and I, 18 August 2008

June 2007: I was assisting with the pest control appointments in Yuma, AZ.  A loyal customer, Frances, and I got a liking to each other and we became friends.   We talked to each other on the phone, got to visit each other at our respective homes.  Even though she is in her 80's, she would drive (I didn't have a US driving licence yet) to my house and take me with her to do things together.   Alternatively Mike would take me to her house and then we would go out in her car.     She was living alone in a big house with a cat, and my heart goes to her.

Wednesday, 13 August 2008.  I went with Mike to collect the business truck back from the home of an employee who had resigned this day.  There was only me to drive Mike's car back home while Mike drove the business truck.    I had no choice but drove (using my Malaysian driving licence) the car by myself, followed behind Mike's truck.  On the way home, I couldn't keep up with Mike's speed, lost sight of him and landed in a strange  lane - Araby Lane.   There was a GPS in the car but I did not know how to use it.    I dialed Mike's cellphone but there was no answer.   Like a frightened child lost, I managed to get Frances on the phone.   I cried and told her I was lost.   She asked me where I was.   I didn't know what that lane was then.   Mike found me an hour later. 

Sunday, 8 February 2009, Frances & I saw the American Boys Chorus at the Yuma Performing Arts Center.  She got 2 admission tickets free from a neighbor who had left town.  I am so blessed that she invited me to go with her.   I enjoyed the performance very much.

Tuesday, 17 March 2009, I went with Frances for luncheon, in conjunction with St. Patrick's Day celebration, at the Foothills Assembly of God.  It was my 1st experience of St. Patrick's Day!
 
Last I saw Frances, at her home, was 3 April 2009.   I had brought a friend, Patricia, with the hope that they would get together when Mike & I moved away in  21 days to Sunray, TX.   Even since then I had moved to other places.  I am thankful that the landlines and the snail mail had kept us connected, as Frances did not do the email.

I remembered talking to her early 2013 and she told me her annual blood work was good.   For a number of weeks in June 2013, I had tried to call Frances but nobody answered.   I wanted to tell Frances that we were moving again on the 7 August 2013.    11 July 2013, the same tel. no. that I had been calling for the past 6 years was no longer in service!  I felt something was wrong.  I know Frances would have told me if she was selling the house or moving away. The next day, 12 July 2013, I wrote a snail mail, addressed to Frances, at her address hoping that the letter would be forwarded to her, if she had moved, or someone would call me and tell me how she was doing.

3 August 2013 postmarked on postcard from Frances' son, Scott, reported that his mother had passed away.   Scott did not reply to my query as to the cause of his mother's death.

Frances would be in her mid 80's if she is still alive.   Frances and I chatted on the phone for an hour or more.   We shared  our lives like mother and daughter.  Our conversations had been a blessing in my life.  She listened to me patiently as I confided in her.  Frances would be in her mid 80's if she is alive now.   My mother would be 88 years old if she is alive too.   My mother had passed away in November 2007.    I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for sending Frances into my life.