The Women in My Life … And, a Few Men

As promised, with this article, I want to celebrate the women in my life.  And, a few more men because as I was working through these past few weeks, I realized that there are additional people (men) that must be included in the accounting of my friends, helpers, and relatives.  While thinking about all of these people, I was made aware of how many folks with whom I come in contact, sometimes every day, whose names I’ve never learned – never taken the time to simply say, “Will you please tell me your name?  It will be nice to know.”  I’m hoping you will stay with me for this long haul.  These people deserve our attention.

At the top of my list, of course, is my family.  My mother Hazel taught all of her daughters to be independent and never ask someone to do anything you were not willing to do yourself.  And, she could make something out of nothing better than anyone else in the world.

The other family women being with my eldest daughter HKB, third daughter JRBW, and two grands – RNW and LRW, named with their grandmothers in mind.  RNW, Nancy for her dad’s mom; and Lillian, for me.  RNW just had her eighteenth birthday.  Her dad wrote that he and Mom were now the proud parents of an oxymoron – an adult child.

My sister Clara and I are the last two of five sisters.  She is in Austin Texas; I am in Colorado.  We usually talk, every day.  I love those telephone calls.  Of course, she says that I never listen to her.  Or, do what she says.  Which is only natural.  After all, I am the elder sister!

I have three sets of women with the same name.  Two Ritas, two Robins, and two Lindas.  All six are wonderful women and very important to my life.  Rita M. is married to the Martin who fixed my lawn mower; she cuts my lawn every summer.  Rita D. lives across the street and permits me to take care of Katie, their border collie, on occasion; you’ll notice, also a girl.

One of my Robins checks me in at every chiropractor appointment.  She and Brittany keep the place running, the appointments made, and the treatment rooms safe for the patients.  Robin T., a neighbor who works at Children’s Hospital, is mother to young Kyle (one of the very youngest men in my life) and Greta – more about her later.

My neighborhood is diverse in that we have young people and older people.  Susie, mother of the three boys living next door, Robin T., Rita D., and I are all neighbors.  We’re losing Susie and her family to another Colorado town, shortly before Christmas.  She (they) will be sorely missed!    These two moms, Susie and Robin, have five children between them; four boys and one girl, Greta.  More about Greta, later – I keep saying that.

At my local Perkins restaurant, Collette and Jessica are two employees who serve customers when they are able to eat in the restaurant.  Currently, my state has restrictions about eating inside of a restaurant; it’s patio dining only or take out.  Liliana is a server at the best Mexican food restaurant, family-owned Los Portales.

Remember when I told you that Jim is my “go-to-guy” at the ACE hardware where Larry worked?  Penny is my “go-to-gal” at the same store.  When I need something from the hardware and when Penny (or Jim) is there, I’m sure I’ll get the best service.

My favorite Colorado book store is The Bookies.  For months, it was not possible to enter the store.  Sue Lubeck who owns The Bookies has been a friend for years.  She has a wonderful staff of women (and some men) who continued to take care of the customers, all the while the only access to books was curbside pick up after placing an order.  These folks can get anything, from anywhere, if it exists.  Here are the people who keep The Bookies moving:  Ann, Blythe, Carolyn, Charlotte, Jayne, Jeanne, Lucianne, Marianne, Melissa, Missy, Molly, Pat, Rene, Sue, Sue J., Vicki, Vivian; and, as I said, a few men – Charles, Joe, Luke, Rob, Steve.  Whew!  I hope I missed no one!

Keeping organizations going during this year has been important because the pandemic makes it so hard to physically be with friends.  Women are instrumental in their work.  Many of the women hold positions at the head of the organizations.  The women of the Arapahoe Retired Teachers (ART) keeping this organization together are super women; of course, there are men involved, as well.  Mary (President), Sue, Bonnie, Dolores – just four of the incredible women who keep this organization moving.

The Denver Gem and Mineral Guild also has a woman, Linda, as President; Deb, as Treasurer; Beth, the Editor of the newsletter.  Many other women give of their time to this organization.  Beth and her friend Sue have been working with a discovery of ancient turtle tracks, and that is why a Russian tortoise lives with me.  Look for that story in a future article. Then, there is the Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society (RMDGS) whose President is also a woman, Roberta; Martie is Secretary; other officers are women.  Again, there are men in this organization; some members and some officers.  The Highlands Ranch Lions Club has a woman President, Lion Lois; she is also part of the RMDGS, as well as the ART.

Years ago, I was tutoring children when I met Pat  She and husband Ernie are grandparents to the boy I was tutoring.  They are great, caring grandparents, people that any children would want as their grandparents.  Fortunate is the person with friends like Pat and Ernie.

For more than twenty years, I was privileged to work with Pomona at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.  She, the premier watercolorist-in-residence; me, the gopher.  What a great twenty plus years; I learned so much about drawing and painting.  She is one of my mentors who said, “You are an abstract expressionist.  Get over it!”  So, I needed to find out what an abstract expressionist is and learned that I truly am an abstract expressionist.  As long ago as 1997, I was painting in this way and didn’t even know it.

Other women have been mentors throughout my life.  Marie also taught me how to use watercolor, as well as pastels, and pen and ink.  I remember the first time I met her.  I told her that I wanted to illustrate the children’s books I was writing, and that I’d been told I wouldn’t be able to do that.  Marie’s response was, “You’ve come to the right place.”  I worked with Marie for more than ten years, at the same time I was working with Pomona.  Marie taught me to paint boldly so the colors jumped off the wall.

Julie lives in New Mexico.  Her paperwork is exquisite  And, she teaches; I’m working on creating a book (from “scratch”) using techniques that she taught.  For more than ten years, I’ve also worked with Judith.  She has become a friend,  a teacher, coach, and mentor.  Every time I am able to take workshops with her, I learn something brand new.

Also in  New Mexico lives Chris, “off the grid.”  Independent and brave.  She travels to places on the globe that most of only think about and wish for.  Her pottery is magnificent; many of my friends and family have pieces of her work.  Lots of black and white with red accents.  Gorgeous!

Writers are so important in my life; I have two mentor/friends who are also my coaches.  Mary Jane (journalist) and Denise (writing coach) are willing to provide feedback by commenting on my writing.  My stories for children.  My poetry.  This blog.  Denise is coaching me with writing for children.  Her workshops and personal coaching make me (and all of her other students) into better writers.  We are currently working on my book about Chere.  Without them giving me the credible feedback that is so critical to my growth as a writer, I’d be out in never-never land.  Oh, and Chere is a girl, too.

As a “senor citizen” (dear Lord, I hate that expression!), I value my friends, both women and men.  I’ve enjoyed companionship of many women, some co-workers; some, friends.  Cindy and I write poetry and share.  Laurie is a colleague who served as the assistant to the Chair of Pathology, and I was assistant to the Chair of Pharmacology.  After that, we became painting buddies, working with Marie – see how this all comes together?  Wendy has taken care of my hair cutting and related needs for forty years.  Right out of school, she took me on, and I’ve watched her children grow into great people.  I worked with Donna at the University.  Most of what I know about submitting grants to NIH for review was taught to me by Donna.

Another really long-term friend, Sara, is the most incredible photographer I’ve ever met.  We were show partners using her studio space to display our work.  We used her studio and liquor license.  I managed the shows.  I set up the shows and “sat” the shows while they were open to the public.  Today, she has given up wedding photography, but I was able to talk her into photographing my grands as she did ten years ago and, again, last December, making beautiful books of photographs of my beautiful granddaughters.  We find ourselves on opposite ends of the political divide, so we are practicing what I call the Jimmy Stewart/Henry Fonda approach to our friendship.  We don’t talk politics.  EVER!

I’m old, so I often have medical appointments.  Woman, of course, are central to getting those appointments completed in the most efficient manner.  Cinthia is my cardiologist.  Linda makes sure I have appointments with my PCP.  Women are on the team of my new dentist, as they are where I get my mammogram and my back surgeon’s office.

Bev is at the head of the physical therapy group where I’ve received incredible care over the past several years.  When you get to be my age, you often need an expert to help with bones and muscles.  The other woman at this group are Alyssa, Deb, Heather, Lisa, Maddie, Nora, Paulette, as well as the men (Josh, Bob, Jordan).  I see Nora in PT sessions more than anyone else, where she carefully guides me to do the best physical therapy work I can.

One of my best friends is Marion who will have a 95th birthday in January.  It is sad that we cannot have an in-person birthday party for her.  I know, however, that she knows how much she is loved.  Not just by me, but by our P.E.O. members, as well as family and other friends.

The women in my life are so important.  There are many more that I have not mentioned here.  I am hopeful that all of my friends and business associates will appreciate that I care about them.  And, now, from the oldest to the youngest.  Greta.

Greta is the very youngest of this group; in fact, she is the youngest of the women and the men!  She lives in my neighborhood; her playmates are all boys.  She holds her own in those relationships.  She skates with in-line skates.  She zooms down the street on her scooter.  She slides along on her skateboard.   She plays tough, when she needs to; yet, she’s very much a girl.  She never hesitates to make friends and ask questions.  It’s hard for her to hear, “No,”  but, she respects the word when it comes from an adult.  I see Greta as a future lawmaker – say, President of the United States.  But, Greta says, she doesn’t want to be President; she wants to be a babysitter.  Greta is in kindergarten.

Be safe and well.

The Cranky Crone

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