Magic and Moments: August 2013

Forever Friendships

Newton, Kansas

In 1943 when Judy and I were three years old, our parents became best friends. Every time they got together, so did we. She quickly became my best friend. She was tiny and cute and everyone loved her as much as I did. (No one was surprised when she was voted 1957 Homecoming Queen at Newton High School.) She's still tiny and cute, and everyone still loves her.

Judy Nordstrom Johnson

Jannie and Ruthie were my elementary school friends. We were Girl Scouts together and went to all the same birthday parties, spent the night at each other's houses, etc. It was always fun when Jannie and Ruthie were around. It still is.

Jannie Decker Eichler and Ruthie Nichol Weatherall

I didn't know Bev until junior high, but Ruthie and Judy did because the three of them went to the Methodist church. Jannie and I went to the Christian church. Bev was the musical one--she had perfect pitch, a gorgeous voice and played both the piano and violin. What talent!

Bev Okerberg Jackson

In junior high the five of us--plus two others (Nancy Hertzler Powell and Phyllis Blosser Roche) who have since died--became close friends. For life. After college and marriage, we started a Round Robin letter that traveled thousands of miles back and forth across the United States for fifty years. Through those letters we shared our joys, sorrows, births, deaths, divorces, successes, and frustrations. We offered each other understanding, concern, support, and love. Even though we were scattered all over the United States, we always tried to make it back to our high school reunions in Newton, Kansas.

The year we turned 50, Nancy Hertzler Powell decided it was time to start our own Round Robin reunions. Every few years someone would plan a reunion. In the past 24 years we've been to B&B's in Annapolis, MD and Whidbey Island, WA; to a cottage in Galveston; on a yacht in Florida; at my home in Texas; in a condo in Sun Valley, ID; and at Jannie's in Las Vegas.

Jannie, Nancy, Ruthie, Phyl, Judy, Bev, me

This is the last time we were all together--Florida in 1999 on Nancy Hertzler Powell's yacht.

The most recent union for the five of us was last week. We went to Oregon.

Nancy, Judy, Ruthie, Bev, Jannie

We spent two days in Cannon Beach and two in Portland, and once again, it was magical. We walked and talked and shopped and ate and giggled. We also played with our phones, learning from each other, discovering new things every day.

Haystack Rock from our hotel room

Another view from our hotel room

Enjoying the ocean view

A morning walk on the beach.

We'd all recommend this place for breakfast!

Crab eggs Benedict

Pecan pancakes

Cannon Beach is a cute town.....

Art....

Cute shops and gorgeous flowers.....

Yeah, I wanted that coral jacket and lime green boots....

Definitely a good life when we are all together....

Gorgeous flowers everywhere...

Flowers and friends....

Taking a break....

Happy women, precious friends.

Goodbye, Cannon Beach. Hello, Portland!

Portland is a beautiful city. Fountains and trees.

Art.

Belgium chocolates.

Bead store.

We had a fabulous dinner at Jake's.

Great food at Jake's!

Wonderful old building.

We are all readers, so we loved this incredible bookstore. It covers a city block, three floors.

Each section is color coded.

Who wouldn't want to explore what's up there?

A bite to eat....

...and then more of Portland....

...I had deer like this in Texas...

Of course, the mall...

...for shopping...

...we made Judy buy these earrings to go with her outfit.

Naturally, we always get the giggles!

Ruthie bought some hilarious cards at the book store.

They got funnier......

and we got more tickled...

laughing so hard it hurts...

what fun!

We rarely take ourselves too seriously!

We took some time to soak up the beauty of Oregon.

And joyfully ended another remarkable reunion.

Each of these precious friends has enriched my life. As a child and a teen, I didn't experience the angst so often present in girls' friendships. We didn't argue or compete or gossip or criticize. I always felt secure and accepted. As my friends have grown and aged, they've met life's challenges with courage and wisdom. I respect and adore my fabulous forever friends. They are beautiful, pure souls who have continually blessed me with their love. What a gift!

A Tale:

from Topeka, Kansas, to Whidbey Island, WA.

1965-2013

In 1965, John, Nancy and baby Annette Stumbo moved into a house on Pembroke Lane in Topeka, Kansas. Their next door neighbors were the Guilds--Mom Joanne, Dad Fred, and their three daughters, Jenny, Leslie and Nanette. While living there, both families grew. The Stumbos added Laurie Beth and Paul. The Guilds added another daughter, Lisa, who was born on the same day in the same hospital as Paul. Annette, Nanette and Laurie Beth, all pre-schoolers, formed a delightful neighborhood friendship, often supervised by older sister Leslie. Jenny was old enough to babysit for the Stumbos and often did.

In 1969 the Hildyards--Hobart, Virginia, and children Brent, Wendy and Wes--moved in across the street for a brief time. The Hildyards and Stumbos, already friends, becamer closer friends.

(Got the picture? Stumbos and Guilds are right next door to each other and the Hildyards are directly across the street.)

Fast forward 43 years. Everyone has moved away from Topeka. The Stumbos are divorced. Nancy remarried but is widowed and lives alone in Texas. Hobart and Virginia retired to Whidbey Island in '92, but Virginia died, so Hobart is also alone. Hobart and Nancy get in touch, become an "item" and decide to spend winters in Texas and summers on Whidbey Island.

(No, I haven't forgotten the Guilds. Okay, we are brought up to the present, so I'm going to switch to first person.)

I had been on Facebook for a few years and one of my "friends" was Leslie Guild, who lived on Whidbey Island at the time!

Leslie

When Leslie found out I was going to be living here with Hobart, she wrote to say, "If your kids ever come to visit and need a place to stay, they can use Jenny's house on Whidbey Island." Jenny is a lawyer in Seattle. (In fact, ALL of the Guilds ended up in Washington State, in and around Seattle.) Her house on Whidbey Island is a second home and family retreat. And it is FABULOUS--beautiful home with a huge yard and dozens of trees on a bluff with a gorgeous view of Penn Cove! Heaven!

The view

The yard

Jenny's house sits on the bluff behind Laurie's family

Jenny's house and Paul's family

Last summer Leslie wrote to me that some of the Guild family were going to be at Jenny's house for the weekend and suggested I drop by to surprise everyone. So I did! I discovered that Jenny's house is less than five minutes from Hobart's house and it is fabulous! Hobart was thrilled to learn who owned that house which is very well known around Coupeville and Oak Harbor because of its gorgeous setting and the huge eagle nest in one of the trees. The locals have wondered who owned the house. Now we know! Our former Topeka, Kansas, neighbor!

Eagle and its nest in Jenny's tree.

So there on that summer evening we had a gathering of the Topeka Pembroke Lane neighbors--two Hildyards--Hobart and his son Brent, who was visiting us at the time, one Stumbo--me--and four Guilds--Jenny, Leslie, Fred and Joanne!

Jenny and Leslie
Fred and Joanne

The Guild sisters--Jenny, Lisa, Leslie, Nanette

Hobart and I have been blessed to be back in touch with wonderful people from our Kansas pasts right here on Whidbey Island, and our kids have loved staying at Jenny's!

Family Vacations on Whidbey Island

Summer 2013

Stumbos

The Stumbos came in June. They explored much of the island and had daily adventures as well as time playing in the yard at Jenny's house and lounging in the hammocks. They played on the beaches, explored Fort Casey, crossed Deception Pass and crawled beneath the bridge, took the ferry to Port Townsend twice, and went kayaking. Every day was a different adventure.

Georgia found a crab

Paul and LouAnn imitated crabs

The Stumbos went to church Sunday at the Coupeville United Methodist church. Here they are with our minister, Jin Ming

Jack practiced speaking Chinese with our Chinese minister, Jin Ming

Hobart joined in a game of ladder ball.

They enjoyed the sun and beach,

and time to visit,

and just hang out.

One night we just sat around and laughed.

Everything was funny.

Paul read Deep Thoughts to us and we laughed until we were breathless.

We rode the ferry.

No fair standing on your tip toes, Hobart!

To Port Towsend

where we had tea and scones,

and ice cream at the counter of an old fashioned ice cream parlor,

and took pictures in the nut.

They went kayaking--Ellis and LouAnn.

Jack was old enough to solo.

Some people worked harder than others--Georgia and Paul.

They relaxed in the hammocks,

watched eagles,

ate ice cream on the Coupeville wharf,

and posed for pictures.

The week was over and it was time to load the car,

say goodbye,

and head back home to Fort Worth.
Thank you, Jenny!

July
McPike/English Vacation

In July Laurie and family arrived on Whidbey Island in a bus that holds fourteen people, or in this case, eight people, one dog, luggage for three weeks, electronics for entertainment and boxes of snacks. They took the long way from Fort Worth to Washington State, via the Grand Canyon and other scenic sights, including detours. They finally arrived at Jenny's House, five days after leaving Fort Worth.

A remarkable family arriving in a Remarkable bus!

They unpacked the bus, ran to WalMart for Oak Harbor sweat shirts and warm clothing (I TOLD them it would be cool/cold!) and fell into bed. Some, who shall remain nameless, slept until 1:00 PM the next day, and spent the day on the porch in their pajamas.

Sadie Lou got to come along!

Immediately I figured it out. Unlike the Stumbos, who were always looking for the next adventure, these eight were looking for down time--peace and quiet in a beautiful spot with a relaxed atmosphere. They found it at Jenny's House. The kids played in the yard or walked a block down to the beach, played games, and soaked up the pleasure of a no-pressure world. Everyone was happy and content. Ahhhh......

Patrick broke his collar bone just before they left on vacation. It didn't stop him!

Building a driftwood fort

Kayden's the littlest, and the fastest.

Hi, Kinser!

However, by Saturday everyone was ready for a trip to the Coupeville Farmers' Market. We immediately bought salmon from Pam, the salmon lady, who peddles her bike from Port Townsend, via ferry, to Coupeville to sell the freshest, best salmon EVER. She explained to the kids how they caught it and immediately froze it within an hour of the catch.

Learning how salmon is caught from Pam.

Jon bought a big one and cooked it that night. Delicious!

Of course we also bought kettle corn--the BEST!

And books...

One day we took a ferry ride to Port Towsend to shop.

Kinser's first ferry ride

Boy, did we SHOP!

Wow! Look at these purses!

Daughter and Daddy

Window shopping in Port Townsend

Check out our new hats and sunglasses!

The clerk in this store was ecstatic by the time we got through here. She was so happy, she was discounting our purchases as we threw them onto the ever-growing stacks of duffle bags and purses. It took all nine of us to carry or wheel the stuff we bought in this store back to the ferry.

We ate lunch at a darling old hotel and later had ice cream in an old fashioned 50's ice cream parlor.

Chris and Kinser

Patrick and Emily

Momo/Mom and Laurie

Kinser

Kelson

Kayden

Chris, Momo and Laurie Beth

The next day, it was back to the beach for a little time in the water and some further progress on the driftwood fort.

Riding a log. That water is COLD!

One beautiful evening, we had dinner on Hobart's deck.

Jon admires Hobart's wonderful view.

Jon and Chris on Hobart's deck

Emily, Chris, Patrick, Kayden

Corn on the cob and iced tea. It must be summer!

Christopher was our official photographer for the week, until I took over for the family pictures. Chris got some wonderful shots with Grampa Jim's fabulous camera.