|
Brenda,
you always were such a "deer"! Ha ha!
Photo courtesy of Jenny Ganger
So long,
Brenda… but I’ll never say goodbye!
By Amanda Olson
Editor
Earlier this week, a good friend of mine passed away after fighting a
courageous battle with cancer. Now, I’ve lost loved ones in my life,
and Brenda Sue Baker is right at the top of the list of those I miss
most. As editor of this site, it was my job to post her obituary for
all of our readers to see.
And let me tell you, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to
do.
But after reading her obituary, it left me thinking about all of the
things that aren’t in there… Funny stories and anecdotes that really
describe who she was and how I knew her. And why I loved her.
So here are a few of my own recollections, as well as some from our
co-workers, that I think paint a much bolder picture than what an
obituary can…
Oh, and just a warning: some of these memories may be crude or feature
some dirty humor… but that’s Brenda for ya! And since I’m missing her
so much right now, I’m addressing this to her.
So here goes nothing…
Dear Brendy Sue,
It hasn’t even been two whole days since you left us and already it
seems like forever. Even though you haven’t been at work for a while
now, it still seems like just yesterday that you were there, cracking
jokes, farting and belching us all into oblivion. My heart breaks more
and more each time I think about how you’ll never jump around a corner
to scare me, or make me gag after walking through one of your notorious
fart clouds. You truly were one of a kind… And you’ll never be
forgotten.
Just today we were all talking about some of our favorite ‘Brenda
moments.’ There definitely are a lot of them! You had such a dynamic
personality and crude sense of humor that we couldn’t help but love
you. Even as we were cussing you under our breath for some silly prank
or joke, we still loved you.
We all laughed as we remembered the time when you shut your boob in the
walk-in freezer door… and we still can’t figure out how you managed to
later shut it in the Q-ing oven door! You really were extra special I guess! ;)
And the time that you almost stepped on a mouse outside as we walked up
to the building for work one morning! Priceless! Jenny swears you
jumped as high as the roof when you realized what you were about to
step on. I don’t think I ever saw you move that fast before or after
that! I think if you could have run in mid-air, you would have!
Oh, and Amy was sad that she’ll never be used as a human shield again…
Remember the time the fry vats popped and then caught on fire? I really
thought you were going to throw her in as you tried to get away! We
still get a good laugh out of that one…
Your singing is another thing that I’ll miss… especially ‘Roll out the
Barrel’! I love the fact that we had all of those inside jokes that not
many others caught on to. The barrel with legs, the bull in the china
shop, and so many more.
And the things you used to say! Wow! The fact that I never knew what would
come out of your mouth next was one of the best things about you! Every
day we worked together was a surprise. We still speak in Brenda-isms…
“Bless your little pea-pickin’ heart” and “bless you… you’re welcome!”
and “don’t just stand there with your bare face hangin’ out and your
teeth stickin’ in your head”… you were always good for a laugh!
One of my favorite memories of you was for sure the day you were
supposed to bring a pumpkin roll for Tina. But instead of grabbing the
pumpkin roll, you grabbed a bag that had underwear that you needed to
return to the store! I can picture you laughing at yourself over that
one… and you have your legs crossed so you won’t pee down your leg! You
did that a lot when you laughed… I miss that.
I just plain miss your laugh in general. It was always so infectious. I
loved having you retell old stories just to hear you laugh at them. I
loved hearing you tell people about the time that Aaron threw a pickle
at you and hit Joyce’s face instead… and the time that Joyce filled her
apron pockets with cans of whipped cream and had to slowly waddle her
way to the front of the store so she didn’t drop them all. You had a
way of taking a funny story and making it better with the way you told
it. I’m sure those stories will still be told… but honestly, I don’t
think they’ll ever be as funny as when you told them.
It really makes me sad to think that I won’t be called a loser at work
anymore… And that we won’t get sing our “Freak and Loser” song on tour
like we planned. I can still hear you singing, “Loser, loser, loser!”
the way you did most days when I showed up for work. You always used to
tell people that if you listened to the way we talked to each other,
you’d think we were mortal enemies. But insults and put-downs were our
way of saying that we really loved each other. You were my favorite
freak and no one can ever take your place. Ever!
You know, it’s the little things that I’ll miss most though. Your
facial expressions, the way you talked, the way you walked… I know I’ve
already said that I’ll miss your laugh, but I have to say it again
because laughter was such a big part of our friendship. I’ll miss your
smile… especially the smile you’d get on your face when you were up to
something! You wore that smile a lot!
You know, I could probably go on and on for days about you… you were
just that great. And on a more serious note, I want to thank you for
teaching me some important life lessons. You may not realize it, but
you taught me that it’s okay to be yourself and not worry what other
people will think. I used to tease you about being ‘rude and crude with
a bad attitude’… and you were proud of that! You never apologized for
being yourself. And that really stuck with me. You showed me that if
you can’t love you for you, then why should anyone else.
And even though it took your death to make me fully realize it, you
also taught me to always tell those that you love exactly how you feel.
When we went to work together, day in and day out, I took for granted
that you’d always be there and I rarely told you how much you actually
meant to me. I’m glad that I told you that I loved you the day I
stopped at the nursing home to see you since it was the last time that
I saw you. I wish I could tell you again… but I guess me writing this
to you will just have to do.
Because to me, you knowing that I loved you is the most important
thing. And also that I’ll never forget you. You were definitely a
one-in-a-million friend. And I’m proud that you chose to claim me as
one of your work daughters… you were a good Mom to all of your
McChildren. And we’ll McLove you forever!
I’m not going to say goodbye to you though because I know that you
passing on isn’t the end. I know that I’ll see you again some day. I
can already picture you eating sugar-free candy, gassing out all of
your family and friends in heaven.
I hope the chairs in heaven have seatbelts ;) because we’ll be laughing
ourselves stupid when we finally see each other again! That I’m sure of!
Miss you lots and love you more,
Amanda
(AKA The Loser)
|
