| Remembering when... A Wonderful Lady From John Aleo- Lora and I met Linda and Ann along the horse trail in our neighborhood. It was a causal meeting that turned into a great friendship. After our initial meeting, I was out helping a friend round up calves in the desert north of Rio Verde Rd. As I was loping along, I heard a sound as though my horse was loosing a shoe, I stopped, looked down, and saw a rusted hoofpick made out of a horseshoe. I picked it up and noticed that it had the initials L. D. on it. When I returned home, I showed the hoofpick to Lora. I said: Do you think that this could possibly be Linda Dean�s? The next time that I saw Linda, I asked her if she ever lost a hoofpick with her initials on it. She said that she had one stolen that a friend made for her; but to bring it over and she would look at it. I brought it over to her. As soon as she saw it, she said: Yes, it is mine. How did you find it? She was so grateful that you would think that I gave her a million bucks. Out of graditude, she had an idenitical one made for me out of brass which has been on my saddle ever since. Over the years, we became great friends. I found Linda to be honest, kind, thoughtful, respectful, and intelligent. She had a wonderful wit. And, you would be happy to have her on your side in any controversy. Linda was a winner; she didn�t like being second at anything. She would research information to improve her knowledge and give it all she had. She was a fighter; she would try to beat every obstacle. The only thing that she wasn�t able to beat was CANCER. But, she gave it her all the brave lady that she is. Lora and I will always love and be thinking of Linda. She had a great impact on our lives. We will do whatever it takes to comfort J. T. and Krissy, because we know how important those two kids are to her. John Aleo Remembering when... return to the main page |