Guest Test Driver: Annemarie Olsen

Annemarie Olsen is my BFF.

Let me explain…

According to Facebook, we interact often enough about similar enough things, that we’d qualify as best friends. Which is actually okay with me, since Anne is a very nice person.

She works as a teacher at Lissa’s Learning Ladder on Cloverdale Road in Boise, overseeing the learning of 24 little ones. The kids call her “Miss Anne”, and adore her. According to owner Melissa Peterson, Anne has been the heart of the preschool, adding her particular brand of warmth with her arrival.

Quick to give hugs and encouragement, Anne has been a favorite with the preschool moms, too, offering sage advice, and not being afraid to show her spiritual side.

Anne wanted to ride in the Audi TT convertible, a current favorite at Maverick Car Company. She didn't want to drive it, though. 

"I chauffeur people enough. I just want to sit there and get driven around," she told me.

This was followed by a comical scene as we tried to figure out how to take the top down, attach the seat belts (they're different than other cars), how to turn on the ignition (there's a special button that we laughingly called the "magic" button), and even how to roll down the windows. Unfortunately, portions of this were witnessed by Maverick's photographer, Jed Davis.

When asked where her deep warmth and wisdom came from, Anne reflects on a time in her life where she fully expected hostility, but instead, got reassurance and love. The attitude of that person changed her views, and set her on a path that’s blessed hundreds of others, with more to come.

Something else that cemented her commitment to living a life of kindness was her friend, Irene, who had contracted AIDS from a family member, and was terminal. Irene advised Anne to live life in love, and to live it to the fullest. Anne took that advice to heart, and is now influencing countless young souls to treat those around them with the love and light she exemplifies.