I wanted to say it was with great sadness that I found out about Linda's passing. We had been friends for around 23 years. I wish there had been an obituary for her, something to memorialize Linda. She was so much more than a great gal, and it seems she left this world with barely a whisper, almost as though she barely made a ripple on this planet and that couldn't be further from the truth. I want you, kind reader, to meet my friend Linda. She was an amazing women and one who made the world a better place. Those who knew and loved her know she vastly improved everything and everyone around her in one way or another. She had the ability, no doubt from her art training, to take any area inside or outside of a home and transform it to something really magical, most people hire someone but she able to do very complex difficult projects on her own - a sort of a self taught contractor. When she redid her old boyfriend's kitchen from top to bottom he was able to sell his home and get far more than he expected from the buyer due to her eye, style and the quality of work. Linda possessed a true artistic eye. Her homes were always decorated to perfection, she loved her yard,gardening and became very accomplished in landscaping design. Linda inherited some Koi and soon became quite expert in keeping them alive in Puyallup WA, where they froze on a regular basis (and lived through this), but she was quite proud when she moved from her beautiful home in Long Beach up to Washington and not one of her fish died, they came up by car and all of them lived and thrived with her in their new home, a Koi pond she dug herself. She loved all animals, Linda regularly donated time in Seal Beach and Orange County helping those beloved animals in need, she loved working with the people who shared her passion, and adored working with the animals helping them get ready for their forever homes, she worked with both the Humane Society and ASPCA, adopting her last great love from their second chance program, the duo inseparable. I almost hope he left Linda first as he surly would have died of a broken heart without her.
A lovely woman with bright blue eyes and a big smile who laughed easily and loudly so all could hear her joy. Linda believed in giving back and was very proud of her father, who served during WWII in the Navy. She regularly went to the local VA hospital to call Bingo, bringing gifts to the men there. It brought Linda great joy to give back, to talk to the injured Vets, many people never knew she spent time doing this. She enjoyed her time at the VA tremendously, it was partly to honor her father, to help those hurt and in need of cheering up and comfort, but also because she came to adore and admire the men who gave so much for their country. She, who in the last few years of her life probably was on the lonely side understood how they felt, it was a great way to connect. Having lived in southern California from her early 20's and realizing she couldn't really afford to buy another home in Los Angeles after she sold her home in Long Beach, she set forth for the Pacific Northwest and that's where things got a little strange, culture shock definitely happened. She worked in the Seattle area and most of her life was working, she had an excellent work ethic, and a sometimes had a two hour commute or more. It was hard for her to meet new people when she first arrived in Puyallup, but she was incredibly friendly and open to life. What she loved about her new life happened in her spare time, keeping her place spotless, her yard blooming and cared for. So she lived for weekends, which were really devoted to a series of never ending beautiful projects and Linda was a gourmet cook, those were the kind of things that gave her a feeling of great satisfaction and happiness. We as people can get displaced as adults easily when we take off on a new adventure or major move, since most of her life was centered on long work hours and a long commute to Eshelon, a telephony company who should have been open to her telecommuting especially considering it's a phone company and yet she worked as hard as she could, accepting her lot even as it isolated her in many ways. There was stress, but she was coping as we all do, she enjoyed her job and her co-workers as well. I loved working with her, that's how we met. Linda hired me for a job, you see she was under 30 and a VP for Sales and Marketing and she did a great job, we stayed very close after that. We were able to work together again years later.
I want you, kind reader, to know that she laughed easily, loudly and often - just as we should do often, she had a stride when she walked, she still wanted to look great, and probably had the worse feet known to mankind, she had many foot surgeries and God Bless her, was still wearing the high heels she loved so much but caused her so much grief. Linda wasn't a quitter! She was a good friend, she tried so hard, her dream was to win the lottery, buy a Ranch where all her friends and loved ones could move to be close to her and be cared for, loved with not a worry or care in the world. Linda was a generous spirit. Just so you don't leave here thinking it was all potted plants, and hand-made squash ravioli, Linda tagged sharks for sport, SCUBA Dived, rode Harley's and loved very unusual and exotic things.
Linda had a huge heart, she was kind, and sometimes very quirky, but to me that only added to her charm, and I'm sorry 58 years old was way too soon for someone who added beauty, elegance and charm to a sometimes dreary world to leave us - and I will always remember Linda walking with her little red dog towards her black Integra laughing and waving goodbye, with a see ya soon laugh. Well I miss and love you and your little red dog walking away, happy. It was far to soon because you were on of the really good ones, so when you run into someone who is new to your area, invite them into your lives and hearts because I know after the move she was a little lonely her support network far south of where she ended up living. You may just make the most amazing friend, who was a gourmet cook, and person who could easily be your professional decorator, a person who you could donate time to help animals get new homes and find that love she found in her little red dog. Open yourself up and take that chance, it would honor Linda. I'm so sorry she is gone and I wanted to share what an fabulous person Linda Anacker was, I wanted the world to know. Beverly who had been married to Butch, she loved you and your children and the grand kids, she was thrilled for you all and your trips together really made her happy. Debbie, she loved you and your sons. She still missed her mother who predeceased her by many years, and loved her father, who died a few years before her. I remember the family photos she kept of you all, they meant so much to her. I hope you are their guardians now because they were her treasures. The past and family meant so much to her.
I love you Linda, and I wish we had seen each other more often. I love you, and will miss you forever. I love you and I am so sorry you are gone far to soon, because a little bit of the brightness on this planet went dim because you are not here anymore. Linda Anacker I will not forget you, and I know I'm not alone. Linda Anacker I wish more people had gotten to know you up where you moved, they missed out on such a treat and such a beautiful human being. A true one in a million girl. Soar free, fly high, go far and wide and someday we will meet again my friend. Until then...