Dear Watts, Liz and Charles,
As I sit in Seattle with my Saturday morning cup of tea, my thoughts are with you as you gather together with your family and friends.
For a glorious year, twenty-six years ago, both Jean and my paths converged.
I was Jean’s roommate in Chicago when she met Watts – What joy!
I was in Chicago to spend a year at Erikson Institute, my lovely husband would stay in Seattle. At the age of 36 I had the opportunity to be a full time student for a year, with no other responsibilities other than to immerse myself in the world of academe! – What joy!
This was a dream come true - certainly something that I as an 11-year-old girl who had failed her 11+ exam in England could not possibly have imagined.
But I needed a place to live – the folks at Erikson kindly gave me Jean’s number. After introductions and confirmation that there was still a bedroom available at the Harper Avenue apartment, our conversation went something like this….
Me: So I like to drink wine
Jean: Me too!
Me: I smoke a little
Jean: Me too! (That was 26 years ago!)
Jean: I have a cat
Me: Me too! (Not really – actually we had a dog)
Jean: Well, I think we’ll get along just fine
Me: Me too!
The apartment was empty when I arrived, but later in the day the key turned and this burst of energy and light came through the door and gave me a huge hug – I knew we would get along just fine.
We had a few other things in common, we both liked to cook – I had brought my favorite chef’s knife with me and Jean had tons of cookbooks. Can’t remember what we ate, just remember hanging out in the kitchen sitting around a rather “ratty” looking Formica table having good laughs and conversation.
Oh and mustn’t forget Monty Python and Princess Di gossip.
All right on to the good stuff – when Jean met Watts.
To be honest, it’s a bit of a blur, actually more like a whirlwind!
I remember Jean coming home a couple of weeks after I had moved in and she couldn’t stop talking about this guy from Oklahoma who was a student at the Lutheran seminary. What I also remember is that ... “she couldn’t stop talking about him!!”
Things were pretty quiet around the apartment for the next month or so as I settled in to my new adventure and saw Jean briefly as she embarked on hers. Actually it was more like her flying through the apartment with occasional landings at the kitchen table. – What joy!
Then one evening Jean asked Watts home for dinner – well what can I say –I can tell you that the kitchen was pretty hot that night, Jean was completely “over the moon” and Watts was “totally enamored”.
You all have known them more years than I; but from the beginning there was really something wonderful, wacky and perfectly balanced about this pair. I also knew things were getting serious when Watts gave Jean a Cuisenarte for Christmas.
The year was full to overflowing with cognitive and emotional dissonance for both of us – What joy!
With all these ingredients how could the end result not be absolutely delicious? – A Marriage for Jean and a Masters for Me!
Our paths have crossed briefly since then mostly with Christmas cards and the occasional phone call but the essence of that year is truly well embedded in my heart and soul.
It was an absolute joy to have Jean in my life for a year.
All my love to you.
If you’re ever in Seattle give us a call, the kettle’s always on and there’s plenty of room around the kitchen table.
Love & Peace
Jennifer
