My friend Jean is one of the most precious gifts that my husband Terry ever gave me. Terry's close relationship with Watts, while they were students at OSU, was the catalyst that brought us all together after marriage -- and what a wonderful relationship it is.
I have three great memories for Cooking with Jean.
1) When Watts and Jean still lived in Athens, they invited our family to a birthday party for their dog Brownie. Of course we brought our dog Yoshi, who was the older gentleman of the doggie set. All afternoon when the young pups would start rough-housing, Yoshi would get right in the middle of the activity and start barking. His barking sent the younger dogs off to opposing corners of the yard where they stood for several minutes with their heads cocked quizzically as if wondering why they had been banished. After several minutes the games would begin again. This activity filled the afternoon until Jean brought out the doggie cake, which happened to be a couple of pounds of dog food that she had artfully molded in a bone shape. Thankfully there was wonderful people food too.
2) When Watts and Jean left Athens for Michigan, they made a stop at our house for a couple of days before heading north. I remember how very tired they were when they arrived in Atlanta about 10:00 in the evening. As they came through the door, I think we gave them a drink and set them down to lemon pasta, salad and warm bread. It was the beginning of a wonderful weekend of fun, laughs and relaxing recovery. We spent most of the weekend lounging in our pajamas and shorts, reading, drinking, and eating, as Jean and Watts worked up the energy to hit the road to Michigan.
That was also the weekend we discovered that our younger son had drunk our liquor and refilled the bottles with water, all because Watts' gin and tonic had no punch, just a little tonic and lime flavor.
3) This past summer Terry and I visited Watts and Jean for 4-5 days of the loveliest vacation we have had in a long time. Watts had planned a Tom Sawyer adventure for Terry in cleaning and whitewashing the fence. While they worked outside, I enjoyed having Jean's big kitchen to cook in. I made loads of chicken peanut stew, and beef stroganoff to put in the freezer. I think the Rozells are probably still trying to empty the freezer of my over-zealous cooking spree.
Throughout these simple little adventures with Watts and Jean, the most wonderful and enduring bond is the relaxed friendship that we share. Jean has always embodied such peacefulness, even in the middle of illness, chaos, and moving. We have spent hours laughing over the similarities in our husbands, whom I have lovingly dubbed the Oklahoma Clones. We have giggled and fretted over our children and the choices they make in their lives. Jean with her wealth of knowledge always has the right perspective on the situation and is always correct in the outcome. My life has been truly blessed to have such great friends to love and to share with as we go through all the mountains and valleys that stand in the paths we walk.
Keep joyfully walking, my friends,
Love---Sylvia
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Your aura will prevail!
Jean,
It has been my incredible good fortune to count you as a mentor, colleague and most important of all, a friend. Your indomitable spirit and zest for living, not to mention your gifts for sharing your love of learning and of people, have inspired me to heights that would hardly have been attainable were you not there to energize, encourage and enlighten me. I am a better school psychologist and teacher, and a much better person for knowing you. Like so many others who you have positively influenced, I will remain eternally grateful for what you have so lovingly and selflessly given to us. You have elevated us by your presence, grace and humanity. You are a hero to many and your life will serve as an enduring model to all who have been blessed, as am I, to have shared your precious time.
May you and your family know constant love and peace, and may the warm and brilliant light that you have brought to this sometimes crazy and inexplicable world continue to illuminate our lives and shine through us.
With deepest admiration, affection and gratitude,
Jean,
One of my favorite memories is presenting with you at NASP one very early Saturday morning. First of all I couldn’t believe admitting to you that I had practiced my presentation the night before at a bar in Toronto – actually, I think I knew that you’d appreciate it. And, you did! Secondly, I remember being really anxious about the presentation as it was one of my first conferences and you were so reassuring and insistent that I would be fabulous. While I was probably far from fabulous, you made me feel competent and helped me believe in myself. Thank you for that. And, thank you for your reassuring words, mentorship, support, humor and kindness over the past years. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had you as a mentor – your strength, brilliance, compassion and humor have taught me many things that will guide me both professionally and personally. Perhaps, the most important lesson that you have taught me is to create balance in life and to not take it for granted.
Lots of love,
Sone
One of my favorite memories is presenting with you at NASP one very early Saturday morning. First of all I couldn’t believe admitting to you that I had practiced my presentation the night before at a bar in Toronto – actually, I think I knew that you’d appreciate it. And, you did! Secondly, I remember being really anxious about the presentation as it was one of my first conferences and you were so reassuring and insistent that I would be fabulous. While I was probably far from fabulous, you made me feel competent and helped me believe in myself. Thank you for that. And, thank you for your reassuring words, mentorship, support, humor and kindness over the past years. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had you as a mentor – your strength, brilliance, compassion and humor have taught me many things that will guide me both professionally and personally. Perhaps, the most important lesson that you have taught me is to create balance in life and to not take it for granted.
Lots of love,
Sone
The Fabulousness That Is Dr. Jean Baker
Jean,
Finally! A writing task that excites me! Topic: The Fabulousness That Is Dr. Jean Baker. Over the past few years I have heard you say “Fabulous” more than anyone else I know. So much so that you have become synonymous with the word. Honestly, whenever I hear someone say it, a smiling image of you pops into my head and I hear your voice holding the first syllable “Faaabulous” as your head and eyes gently roll back. It almost seems as though you’ve been plotting a fabulous coup to take over the fabulous adjective. If so, way to work!
Another fond memory that will stay with me is our trip up to the MASP convention in 2004; a three hour van ride in the wee morning hours with you at the wheel and me as your faithful navigator. Consider yourself lucky that we only got lost once. I think that’s the only time all year that I saw 5 a.m. without a project deadline looming over me. Anyway, I really enjoyed the opportunity to just talk. I don’t know how much you enjoyed listening, but I had a good time;) Our conversation about family, career, interests, and life in general helped me put things into perspective. Based on many of the posts in this blog, making a profound impact isn’t something new to you. Your gentle, caring, and open demeanor, combined with your knowledge and expertise, is truly inspiring. Thank you for your persistence and dedication to being so…fabulous!
My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you and your family.
Love,
Jake Mathiason
Finally! A writing task that excites me! Topic: The Fabulousness That Is Dr. Jean Baker. Over the past few years I have heard you say “Fabulous” more than anyone else I know. So much so that you have become synonymous with the word. Honestly, whenever I hear someone say it, a smiling image of you pops into my head and I hear your voice holding the first syllable “Faaabulous” as your head and eyes gently roll back. It almost seems as though you’ve been plotting a fabulous coup to take over the fabulous adjective. If so, way to work!
Another fond memory that will stay with me is our trip up to the MASP convention in 2004; a three hour van ride in the wee morning hours with you at the wheel and me as your faithful navigator. Consider yourself lucky that we only got lost once. I think that’s the only time all year that I saw 5 a.m. without a project deadline looming over me. Anyway, I really enjoyed the opportunity to just talk. I don’t know how much you enjoyed listening, but I had a good time;) Our conversation about family, career, interests, and life in general helped me put things into perspective. Based on many of the posts in this blog, making a profound impact isn’t something new to you. Your gentle, caring, and open demeanor, combined with your knowledge and expertise, is truly inspiring. Thank you for your persistence and dedication to being so…fabulous!
My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you and your family.
Love,
Jake Mathiason
Always Endearing
Jean and I were colleagues back in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. She was a few years a head of me but we shared the same advisor; thus, she spent many hours talking to me about what to do and more importantly, what not to do regarding graduate school. Jean frequently shared her wisdom over a beer or two, playing darts, or grabbing a bit to eat. Our friendship has spanned more than twenty years and she remains a trusted colleague with great wisdom, a true friend with great listening skills, and one of the most endearing people I have ever met. My personal life and professional life have been strongly touched by Jean and I am truly grateful to her for that. Her laughter and lens on life are truly unique, she is one of a kind.
Jean, your guidance and wisdom have been invaluable. I remain hopeful that our friendship will continue for many more years to come. Please take care and all the best.
Jim
Jean, your guidance and wisdom have been invaluable. I remain hopeful that our friendship will continue for many more years to come. Please take care and all the best.
Jim
I so admire the way you have lived your life and carried joy with you.
Dear Jean-
I immediately smile when I think of you, Jean. On your office door,
there is a small picture of you when you were a beautiful curly-haired
baby, sitting happily in the water with a huge smile on your face. I
can’t tell you how many times I have walked by that picture and
thought, that’s still the Jean I know now. You carry a sense of joy,
interest, and caring with you that is contagious and I thank you for
that. I feel so blessed to have had the chance to learn from you in
graduate school. My first class with you was this fall, and we had the
wonderful opportunity to learn about you philosophy of teaching and
training of psychologists. Your passion, intellect, and above all,
your humanity, struck me deeply. I so admire the way you have lived
your life and carried joy with you. I will carry your lessons with me
in my life and in my work. Thank you so much for enriching my life and
showering me, and so many others, with such blessings.
All my love,
Tasha
I immediately smile when I think of you, Jean. On your office door,
there is a small picture of you when you were a beautiful curly-haired
baby, sitting happily in the water with a huge smile on your face. I
can’t tell you how many times I have walked by that picture and
thought, that’s still the Jean I know now. You carry a sense of joy,
interest, and caring with you that is contagious and I thank you for
that. I feel so blessed to have had the chance to learn from you in
graduate school. My first class with you was this fall, and we had the
wonderful opportunity to learn about you philosophy of teaching and
training of psychologists. Your passion, intellect, and above all,
your humanity, struck me deeply. I so admire the way you have lived
your life and carried joy with you. I will carry your lessons with me
in my life and in my work. Thank you so much for enriching my life and
showering me, and so many others, with such blessings.
All my love,
Tasha
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