I have known Susan for more than half her life...that would be about 25 years now. I think Mark says it best about Susan in his blog that she has such a love of life. This is what stands out the most in my mind about her. My single years hold so many special memories from our years of buddying around ("Now isn't that shhpecial", I can hear her Church Lady voice say:). We met in our church's singles group, and I guess we really got to know each other playing volleyball with the singles. We were so impressed with our athletic abilities, both being about 5 feet tall, that we nicknamed ourselves "Macho Mama"...she being "Sue Stud", and I was "Jo Jock" (with jerseys to match). This was all a joke for me, but Susan really had great athletic ability. She was good playing in the outfield on the ladies team at our church. I enjoyed playing together...until we had more than one team...I made the "low" team and she, of course, was on the "good" team. We still had fun hanging around watching all the games, both guys and girls teams, and coed teams also. Many memories abound from those years:
Hot Fudge
Magnum PI
Foil Face
Dr. Floss
Dingleberries (gifts from my cat Demetri)
PacMan
Centipede
Taco Patrols
OMA (Old Maids Association)
I recall many fun weekends spent with a bunch of singles at her parents' lakehouse (thanks Mr. and Mrs. Colvin! You were like my second parents!).
I also remember many exciting road trips...especially the trip to Petit Jean in Arkansas to "rough it" and camp out, with our good friend Lynn. The looooong drive, sleeping outside once we got there since it was so late, waking up when it began to pour rain on us and running to the car, three of us sleeping in her sedan, putting up the tent the next day (and being so proud cause us women did it), meeting Larry (so impressed with my au naturale look, I'm sure), and following Susan down the mud trail...no, sliding down the mud trail to the falls. It truly was a fun trip, now that I look back on it :).
I remember the Singles Talent Shows that she appeared in as Roseanna Danna. She was funnier than Gilda Radner herself! We began teaching in our youth group, and went to the youth camps in the summer. We had more fun than the kids. We also were roomies together for a few ladies retreats at our church. And we had a fantastic trip to Disney World one year. There was never a dull moment.I remember Susan and I helping our good friends, Mike and Linda McDaniel get engaged. It was a very covert operation, and Linda was not expecting it. Mike had asked us to pull off this elaborate scheme to get Linda to the Sante Fe ski slopes, and he would ski over at a specific date and time and place, and propose. We could not let on to her at all. I had never felt so bad about having to lie to my friend Linda. Susan came up with the great idea to tell Linda that she had won a radio contest for a ski trip, and we could all three go and have a good time. She was so good about carrying out all the details...I was a nervous wreck. I remember Susan carrying a camera to the top of this slope and telling Linda that she wanted to get pictures of all of us skiing down. Linda would go first...oh, go ski down to that gold ribbon on that tree (what was that doing there?), and then I would go next. The gold bow was what Mike told us to look for on that slope. When Linda skiied down to the bow, Mike steps out from behind the trees. Susan is snapping away with the camera. We are at the top of the slope, too far to hear anything, but not seeing any smiles or hugs, and going "oh boy...what have we done"? Then they wave us to come down. Susan is really an expert skier, having grown up on skis it seems. I, on the other hand, am not. As we ski down, I plow into everyone, saying "Linda, I'm sorry I lied...I'm sorry I lied" (couldn't they have done this on a green slope instead of a blue one?). Linda was not quite ready to say yes until they talked a little more (understandable as they had just broken up, and Mike was now ready to pop the question). We did know that Linda was still in love with Mike, though...and sure enough, they came down the last ski lift of the day...with Mike wearing a tshirt painted with the words "She said yes" on it. We were waiting on the lodge deck when we saw them. We were elated...and I was still recovering from following Susan down the rest of the trail, going over ski jumps, moguls, into tree branches, everything...me falling over and over. I still tell Susan it was my rented ski boots. Later that year, we were priviledged to be bridesmaids in a very beautiful wedding (with the gold bow and the engagement story being presented at the wedding). Linda has since forgiven her good friends for the lies, after many years of marriage to Mike and three kids.
Well, from one romance story to another: Then, Susan fell in love. I remember Mark asking me about her (he was following Susan around, not the other way around..see Mark's earlier post..I have to set the record straight). And then they started to date. I was excited to see how happy Mark made Susan. But then, Mark did something unusual one day. He called me up to go with him out to eat one night. What was this? Was he trying to run around on my good friend?? It sounded strange, but I went ahead and had dinner with him, ready to set that dude straight. He tells me over dinner that he wants to ask Susan to marry him. Although I was excited for them, I started crying and couldn't stop (I think our waitress thought Mark was breaking up with me:). I knew our buddy days were going to be limited, but I also knew how much Susan loved Mark, and that God was definitely in this. Mark asked me if I could get Susan's ring size as he wanted to pop the question and surprise her. Sure Mark!! (How in the world am I supposed to do this without her knowing???). That next day, Susan and I just happened to meet for lunch, and I thought I might try something...(another lie to a dear friend; what have I become?)..."Susan, I'm supposed to get a service award from work, a ring...don't know what size I wear though; I wonder what size I wear?" Susan replies "I wear a size 5, Jo. I tried on Cindy Brown's engagement ring last night. I bet you're about a 5". I almost choke on the bite of hamburger I had just taken. What luck! I go back to work, call Mark, and all I say is "Size 5". He says "WHAT? You didn't tell her, did you? " "No Mark". "Does she have any idea...what did you do, take a plaster cast or something?" I tell Mark I give great service...less than 24 hours turnaround time! The night they were to get engaged, I stayed up nervously awaiting them to come by and show me the ring. It was around 2 am, and I remember being so excited for them. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in this beautiful wedding also.
Since then, many years have passed. I, too, finally fall in love and get married, and Susan is a bridesmaid in my wedding, along with Linda. (Mark and Mike are also in our wedding party). I will always remember the rehearsal dinner for my wedding, with my bridesmaids presenting me with an OMA (Old Maids Assoc) flag. A whole formal presentation. I have finally been promoted to a general...one of the funniest moments of the wedding festivities!!
We now have our families. Times are busy now, with children and households and work. But we keep in touch, though it will never be enough. Always must celebrate birthdays and Christmases together. That will never change. And especially this special birthday...the big 5-0!! I better close this blog entry, before it gets too long (too late for that). I could write so much more, and shut down the internet world wide. Maybe I should write a book...and maybe I will someday. And one of the major people in that book who has been a big part of my life would be Susan. She has left an indelible impression on my life. She has taught me to love life and laugh. To be a faithful friend. And to just have fun. And the underlying thread that runs through all this, that makes her the neat person she is, is that she loves our Lord, and serves him...just as she has encouraged me to.
To my dear friend Susan. I love you, and wish for you a wonderful 50th birthday. Many decades of friendship in the past...and many more to come. Happy 50th Birthday Susan!
Hot Fudge
Magnum PI
Foil Face
Dr. Floss
Dingleberries (gifts from my cat Demetri)
PacMan
Centipede
Taco Patrols
OMA (Old Maids Association)
I recall many fun weekends spent with a bunch of singles at her parents' lakehouse (thanks Mr. and Mrs. Colvin! You were like my second parents!).
I also remember many exciting road trips...especially the trip to Petit Jean in Arkansas to "rough it" and camp out, with our good friend Lynn. The looooong drive, sleeping outside once we got there since it was so late, waking up when it began to pour rain on us and running to the car, three of us sleeping in her sedan, putting up the tent the next day (and being so proud cause us women did it), meeting Larry (so impressed with my au naturale look, I'm sure), and following Susan down the mud trail...no, sliding down the mud trail to the falls. It truly was a fun trip, now that I look back on it :).
I remember the Singles Talent Shows that she appeared in as Roseanna Danna. She was funnier than Gilda Radner herself! We began teaching in our youth group, and went to the youth camps in the summer. We had more fun than the kids. We also were roomies together for a few ladies retreats at our church. And we had a fantastic trip to Disney World one year. There was never a dull moment.I remember Susan and I helping our good friends, Mike and Linda McDaniel get engaged. It was a very covert operation, and Linda was not expecting it. Mike had asked us to pull off this elaborate scheme to get Linda to the Sante Fe ski slopes, and he would ski over at a specific date and time and place, and propose. We could not let on to her at all. I had never felt so bad about having to lie to my friend Linda. Susan came up with the great idea to tell Linda that she had won a radio contest for a ski trip, and we could all three go and have a good time. She was so good about carrying out all the details...I was a nervous wreck. I remember Susan carrying a camera to the top of this slope and telling Linda that she wanted to get pictures of all of us skiing down. Linda would go first...oh, go ski down to that gold ribbon on that tree (what was that doing there?), and then I would go next. The gold bow was what Mike told us to look for on that slope. When Linda skiied down to the bow, Mike steps out from behind the trees. Susan is snapping away with the camera. We are at the top of the slope, too far to hear anything, but not seeing any smiles or hugs, and going "oh boy...what have we done"? Then they wave us to come down. Susan is really an expert skier, having grown up on skis it seems. I, on the other hand, am not. As we ski down, I plow into everyone, saying "Linda, I'm sorry I lied...I'm sorry I lied" (couldn't they have done this on a green slope instead of a blue one?). Linda was not quite ready to say yes until they talked a little more (understandable as they had just broken up, and Mike was now ready to pop the question). We did know that Linda was still in love with Mike, though...and sure enough, they came down the last ski lift of the day...with Mike wearing a tshirt painted with the words "She said yes" on it. We were waiting on the lodge deck when we saw them. We were elated...and I was still recovering from following Susan down the rest of the trail, going over ski jumps, moguls, into tree branches, everything...me falling over and over. I still tell Susan it was my rented ski boots. Later that year, we were priviledged to be bridesmaids in a very beautiful wedding (with the gold bow and the engagement story being presented at the wedding). Linda has since forgiven her good friends for the lies, after many years of marriage to Mike and three kids.
Well, from one romance story to another: Then, Susan fell in love. I remember Mark asking me about her (he was following Susan around, not the other way around..see Mark's earlier post..I have to set the record straight). And then they started to date. I was excited to see how happy Mark made Susan. But then, Mark did something unusual one day. He called me up to go with him out to eat one night. What was this? Was he trying to run around on my good friend?? It sounded strange, but I went ahead and had dinner with him, ready to set that dude straight. He tells me over dinner that he wants to ask Susan to marry him. Although I was excited for them, I started crying and couldn't stop (I think our waitress thought Mark was breaking up with me:). I knew our buddy days were going to be limited, but I also knew how much Susan loved Mark, and that God was definitely in this. Mark asked me if I could get Susan's ring size as he wanted to pop the question and surprise her. Sure Mark!! (How in the world am I supposed to do this without her knowing???). That next day, Susan and I just happened to meet for lunch, and I thought I might try something...(another lie to a dear friend; what have I become?)..."Susan, I'm supposed to get a service award from work, a ring...don't know what size I wear though; I wonder what size I wear?" Susan replies "I wear a size 5, Jo. I tried on Cindy Brown's engagement ring last night. I bet you're about a 5". I almost choke on the bite of hamburger I had just taken. What luck! I go back to work, call Mark, and all I say is "Size 5". He says "WHAT? You didn't tell her, did you? " "No Mark". "Does she have any idea...what did you do, take a plaster cast or something?" I tell Mark I give great service...less than 24 hours turnaround time! The night they were to get engaged, I stayed up nervously awaiting them to come by and show me the ring. It was around 2 am, and I remember being so excited for them. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in this beautiful wedding also.
Since then, many years have passed. I, too, finally fall in love and get married, and Susan is a bridesmaid in my wedding, along with Linda. (Mark and Mike are also in our wedding party). I will always remember the rehearsal dinner for my wedding, with my bridesmaids presenting me with an OMA (Old Maids Assoc) flag. A whole formal presentation. I have finally been promoted to a general...one of the funniest moments of the wedding festivities!!
We now have our families. Times are busy now, with children and households and work. But we keep in touch, though it will never be enough. Always must celebrate birthdays and Christmases together. That will never change. And especially this special birthday...the big 5-0!! I better close this blog entry, before it gets too long (too late for that). I could write so much more, and shut down the internet world wide. Maybe I should write a book...and maybe I will someday. And one of the major people in that book who has been a big part of my life would be Susan. She has left an indelible impression on my life. She has taught me to love life and laugh. To be a faithful friend. And to just have fun. And the underlying thread that runs through all this, that makes her the neat person she is, is that she loves our Lord, and serves him...just as she has encouraged me to.
To my dear friend Susan. I love you, and wish for you a wonderful 50th birthday. Many decades of friendship in the past...and many more to come. Happy 50th Birthday Susan!
Love, Jojo
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