Friday, August 23, 2013
I remember the first time I met Janet. She was, almost, like some character out of a Tolkien story...a small wizened woman, with bright eyes, a quick smile, and a big heart.
She taught me a lot. As a boy, she and my father, taught me to shoot a bow well. Something I love to this day. She taught me ping pong...and I rarely beat her, primarily I think, because she was a master at psychological gamesmanship. She introduced me to folk dancing which was just plain fun.
As I grew older and watched her, she taught me about going through life, even through pain and hardship, and she taught me about loyalty.
Janet was ubiquitous, she was there at camp, always, she was at one of my first dates with Shelley, she was at important events in our lives, and she shared our holidays. She would just pop up, in Norman, occasionally, ready to go out to eat. She helped my aunt a lot after my grandmother died, she was always there, always ready to be a part of what was going on. She loved movies, she loved eating out, and she loved being in the middle of what was going on.
Janet could be frustrating at times, but, her wit, and her love ALWAYS kept my frustration levels with her pretty low. I watched her, with great joy, treat my son, the same way she had treated me when I was a child, with love.
She cared deeply about others, she was always there to help when needed, and she lived her life with a grace that was mostly unseen. Despite her pain, despite the way others probably usually saw her, she was always true to herself, and true to the people important in her life.
Janet, you will forever be a part of who I am, and I am very grateful that I got to know you, as a teacher, as a friend, and as a member of my family. I will miss you, but I know one day, you'll come running up to tickle me, and to challenge me to a game of ping pong, or to lesson me on how to take the wind into consideration when aiming at a target, but mostly to show that love does indeed conquer all. I do not know what God does with animals that are important in our lives, but it is possible, maybe, that their is a little black dog in plaid that was pleased as all get out to see you again. I look VERY much forward to seeing you out of pain, and to see the love you so richly deserve just radiating in you, and through you, as our Father looks at you and smiles. That will be a GREAT day.
We will miss you dear friend, for a while, but we will see you again!
Thank you for all that you brought to our lives.
Steve
