Stories
Finding Linda
In the late '60s, my big brother Jim dated a fabulous girl, Linda Anderson. They met just before he went to college and dated for a long time. I thought he would marry her. The family adored her. She was like the big sister I always wanted. She became a friend and confidant, and I had a little crush on her. I hoped one day to find someone just as wonderful. My first dates in High School were doubles with Jim and Linda. She spent time coaching me, ensuring I didn't act like my goofy self.
When Jim broke up with Linda, I was devastated. I didn't get it. I was Team Linda and never liked the girl who caused it all, even when Jim married her. She was a Witch!
My brother was/is a putz. Linda was the girl he should have married.
A little over a year ago, I began scanning family photos and found some I took of Linda at Wind Creek State Park after the breakup. She drove to Alexander City to tell me rather than hearing it from Jim or someone else. That's how close we were. We stayed in touch as she finished Nursing School, but geography and life took over when she moved to Chattanooga and I started college.
As I continued to scan Dad's slides, I found more of Linda that Dad or Jim had taken at the house. What a beauty she was.
I decided to search Facebook. Sure enough, there was a profile of a nurse with the same maiden name, the appropriate age, who attended the same high school and college, and who lived in Alabama. The profile looked dormant and had no photos, but I knew it was her. I sent a message and the Wind Creek photo, hoping to hear back from her.
A year later, I noticed my unanswered note in my message box. I thought, "Well, It was a good try." I decided to look for more clues on her profile. There was a "friend" of hers, about my son's age, who looked like Linda. It was uncanny. She had to be Linda's daughter.
I wrote the girl a note and sent her the photo. That evening, I received a message from her.
"John, yes you have the right Linda. She was my aunt- I am her younger sister's (Karen's) daughter. I have often been told that I look like Aunt Linda, definitely that side of the family. Unfortunately. Aunt Linda passed away two years ago in January. She got sick and went into the hospital, developed sepsis, and passed away. It was unexpected, and I miss her so much! I'm not sure if anyone has access to her FB page, which is why you never heard back. I'm so sorry to have to share that news with you- I'm sure she would have loved catching up and reconnecting with an old friend. Thank you for sending the picture of her- it's a great picture!"
I responded:
Such sad news. Thank you for getting back to me. If I may, I would like to send you the rest of the photos my Dad took. Perhaps you could share them with your mom and the rest of the family. We all loved her very much. I will pay my respects when I am home.
In 2002, I found Linda's obituary pointing me to her gravesite. On my way home from a funeral in Alabama, I stopped at Hunt Chapel near Collinsville.
It took me a long time to find her little stone. It is on the far South-West side of the cemetery, among some other Anderson graves.
It was overgrown and covered with sand, a sad reminder of such a beautiful person.
I cleaned it the best I could, threw away the dead plant, cleaned up the miniature rose bush, and stood up the little angel someone had left there.
We had a nice chat, just like the old days.
I have never found a photo of her taken in her last years. That's OK. She will always be the beautiful nineteen-year-old quintessence of feminine charm in my memory. I hope she remembered me as the sweet kid, rail-thin, caring, and with big dreams - all the things I am no longer.
