Monday this and That

 

When you show up ten minutes early, and there's a already a crowd, you immediately sense something's wrong.

Well, I eventually sensed a slight problem with my timing even more so a few minutes later, when people started leaving. 

Hmmm!

Soon after that, someone told me the party to honor Jan Meneely had started at 2. 

My brain and eyes had only zeroed in on 4 p.m. in the newspaper announcement. 

Nonetheless, this "day late, dollar short" situation still turned out okay. 

A lot of longtime friends were still hanging around, including Jan's family members.

So, of course, there was still time for some good visiting.

Friends and family of Jan Meneely, who passed away a few months ago, had gathered to celebrate her life. 

Everyone agreed that Jan would have been pleased with the beautiful setting in the family's back yard AND she would have loved the many passionate words that flowed about her from the microphone.

The comments reflected a potpourri of admiration and appreciation for the multi-dimensional ways Jan had touched each person's life. 

In my case, Jan stepped into my life as a guardian angel for drill team.  

Her seamstress skills and her willingness to help with just about anything provided me with a sense of calm for a number of years. 

Plus, I had the good fortune to get to know all her family members---Jim, Jacque, Jeri and Julie.  

Yes, they were the five J's. 

At yesterday's gathering Jan's husband Jim proudly displayed a photo of his wife, noting that holding the photo at any angle, Jan's eyes were always upon you. 

A perfect metaphor for a lady who meant so much to so many.  

When her granddaughter Meg Turner sang Doris Day's classic "Dream a Little Dream of Me," with ease and with tears flowing down her cheeks, Jan was surely smiling from above.

So, showing up late didn't matter one bit. The time I spent at Jan's celebration was priceless, just like her family. 

Julie, family friend Monica, Jeri, Megan and Jacque---all beautiful ladies, just like Jan. 

Below, Megan Turner singing. 

 
This young man, a great-grandson of Jan's, really liked the singing. 

Jim shows off a photo of his beloved Jan. He also gave everyone who attended an angel medallion. 

Monica and Pat Gunter; Dave and Jacque Turner. 

Also, on this Labor Day 2022, a short item on a potential change in Mary Ann's work load at the Gooby Ranch in Montana. 

Gooby Ranch Report

 

I’ve been thinking for quite a while that to make a little extra money we should set up a dude ranch business.

The biggest change would be that Mary Ann’s workload would be increased.  Instead of saddling two horses when we go horsy back riding, she would need to saddle four or five horses.  She would also have to cook more food for meals and get the lunches made.

I figure that would only take an hour more work to get everything set up for the ride.  Mary Ann knows how to do it since she has spent years getting the horses fed, saddled and ready for me when we go for a ride.  She also makes our lunches and puts dinner on the table when we get home.

I told Mary Ann we should start a dude ranch and She said I have been running our Dude Ranch ever since we bought the place.

Mary Ann said she is doing about all the work she can do.  If the current dude would step to the plate and feed the horses and saddle them, etc., she would be agreeable to enlarging the Dude Ranch.

It doesn’t look like we will be able to have a dude ranch.