Moving to the United States from India at age 19, Elaine was married, a mother and unsure just what direction her life was headed! The government of India only allowed her and husband Oscar to have
$7.00 when leaving the country. Arriving in 1970, Elaine had to wait 3 months after Oscar to enter the U.S. through San Francisco. Oscar is 12 years Elaine's senior and college educated as an engineer. He was able to find work and they eventually purchased a home. Living in Portland for five years, they spotted some pasture land in Corbett and decided to build. Working hard to do the majority of work themselves, they moved in one week after the birth of their fourth child. Elaine did not even have a kitchen sink yet! It was a "work in progress" as they moved in and raised their children. All of the kids attended Corbett Schools grades K-8 and then transferred to Central Catholic High. Elaine was involved with all of the children's activities, even dressing in a sari and cooking food to bring in to the school to teach the Corbett kids about India. At one point, all four kids made a trip to India with their parents to learn more about their heritage. Elaine's mother came from India at age 80 and lived with the family in Corbett until she passed at age 91. Throughout the years, Elaine was thrilled to find out that in the States, that one could check out books for FREE at the public libraries! Elaine studied diligently over the years about gardening, eventually joining the Corbett Gardening Club. Turning her 3 acres of pasture and a bit of woodlands into landscaped eye candy, she has been featured in national magazines such as "Sunset" and "Better Homes and Gardens." Elaine has chosen to give back to the community by landscaping numerous public areas in our community gratis. She also started her own business and hires herself out to design landscaping for others. And to think, it all started at the public library!
