Journal entry by Joanne Negstad — 23 hours ago
Not long after we moved to our house in Golden Valley, MN. Joanne became acquainted with the four year old girl next door. I think it was love at first sight. This girl, having no surviving grandmothers asked Joanne if she would be her "neighborhood grandmother?" Joanne thought that was a wonderful idea. Often Joanne was blessed with a visit from her "granddaughter" who often brought another girl with her. This was very special to Joanne, who had no biological grandchildren of her own at the time.
Every May Day this "granddaughter" would bring Joanne a May Basket. These annual May Baskets would appear, all through the girl's elementary and high school years. After high school she attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and still, every year, a May Basket. At some time the baskets morphed into flowers which would arrive May 1.
After graduating from the University, said granddaughter moved to Washington, D.C., to teach in the inner city, with no interruption of May 1, flowers. Imagine Joanne's delight! The next stop for this adventuresome woman was a year in Paris, France, and still the May 1st flowers arrived. This year the flowers arrived shortly after Joanne died. A fitting tribute to this adopted grandma.
The granddaughter's name? You guessed it, Rose. Rose and Jeff were married this evening surrounded by a host of family and friends. Oh, Joanne would have so loved to have been present. It was hard to go alone, knowing what it would have meant to her to be there. It was hard enough to there alone, that I almost fled. Meeting dear friends from the neighborhood, at the wedding made it possible for me to stay. I'm so glad I did.
Mark, the father of the bride, talked about "Grandma Joanne" in his speech. He said that "within three days of the delivery of the basket/flowers Rose would receive a thank you note from Joanne." Yes, she learned to write thank you notes from her father and she sent them quickly. Rose, this fine young woman, is another one touched and blessed by Joanne, even as Rose blessed Joanne for 25? years.
Blessings,
Al
Every May Day this "granddaughter" would bring Joanne a May Basket. These annual May Baskets would appear, all through the girl's elementary and high school years. After high school she attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and still, every year, a May Basket. At some time the baskets morphed into flowers which would arrive May 1.
After graduating from the University, said granddaughter moved to Washington, D.C., to teach in the inner city, with no interruption of May 1, flowers. Imagine Joanne's delight! The next stop for this adventuresome woman was a year in Paris, France, and still the May 1st flowers arrived. This year the flowers arrived shortly after Joanne died. A fitting tribute to this adopted grandma.
The granddaughter's name? You guessed it, Rose. Rose and Jeff were married this evening surrounded by a host of family and friends. Oh, Joanne would have so loved to have been present. It was hard to go alone, knowing what it would have meant to her to be there. It was hard enough to there alone, that I almost fled. Meeting dear friends from the neighborhood, at the wedding made it possible for me to stay. I'm so glad I did.
Mark, the father of the bride, talked about "Grandma Joanne" in his speech. He said that "within three days of the delivery of the basket/flowers Rose would receive a thank you note from Joanne." Yes, she learned to write thank you notes from her father and she sent them quickly. Rose, this fine young woman, is another one touched and blessed by Joanne, even as Rose blessed Joanne for 25? years.
Blessings,
Al
No comments:
Post a Comment