Remembering Janet

Although she lived three states away, Janet routinely made time to come see Mom and Mom's sister, Aunt Louise in Texas.

She would come over to my house across the street for a brief respite during her visit. We'd debrief over a glass of wine and maybe a watch a favorite movie, like Overboard, the original one. 

Janet was a devout Christian, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a teacher, a seamstress, a quilter, a photographer, a baker, a great cook. She loved Key West and her beloved high school there where she joined the drama team and performed in plays. 

1939 Bantam Roadster

She drove the family's 1939 Bantam Roadster to school.  It was rumored to have belonged to Mrs. Ernest Hemmingway and was stored for decades, undriven, in a garage before our dad restored it and painted it her school colors. Back then it was red and white.

Janet was a stage 4 breast cancer survivor who'd been given a 6 month life expectancy in 1999. Thankfully, the Lord had better plans for her and she lived 27 more years.

1999 was a tough year for her. She flew here to Dallas and then we flew together to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for a second opinion. We ran out of gas on the way to the airport, yet, still made our flight.We ran out of gas on the way to the airport, yet, still made our flight in time. Despite the circumstances and the poor prognosis, that trip was a special time shared with my sister. 

2012 at Mr. Wok's Asian Bistro

A favorite restaurant, now also gone, Mr. Wok's was where we celebrated birthdays, holidays and family gatherings. 

2013 March, Janet and her husband came to visit our mother in Texas.

2015 Mom's 90th

She joined the celebration of our mother's 90th birthday in 2015.My brother had a picture book made of the event so Mom could remember her family members' names. 

Later, at a much earlier age than our mother, Janet would rely on a picture book her daughter made to help remember family names and faces.

Janet with her VW bug in the mid 1960s.

She had to grow up early to help care for her younger brother and her little sister. During my mother's convalescence after a burn injury, she commanded the household in my Dad's absence while he was away on sea duty. She cooked our meals, washed and ironed clothes, performed and assigned chores to her younger siblings and kept the house running ship shape.

Janet had a whimsical side, full of humor and joy. She loved animals, particularly her twin cats, Simon and Schuster. When Aunt Louise was no longer able to care for her cat, Sugar, Janet transported him to South Carolina and cared for him the rest of his life.

There's so much more to say but words aren't enough. I miss you, sister.