Cooking With Jean

I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about Jean and her family in this blog, and I would like to share another story from our young adulthood. I think that we all agree that when we talk about our experiences with Jean, it’s not only Jean that we talk about, but other family members as well. This is the same wonderful family connection that I saw when I first met them in 1970.

Having lived next door to the Baker’s, they always made me feel like part of their family. I felt that I had a special relationship with them as a family and with each, individually. We spent much of our adolescent years together, Jean, Trudy and I. Jean is two years younger than Trudy and I, but she was always included with everything that we did and it was quite evident that Jean and Trudy had always been the best of friends. All through high school I spent many weekends sleeping over at the Baker’s house. We would stay up late watching TV, listening to music, making prank calls to friends and just being teenagers; having a blast. Regardless of what time we went to bed, Reverend Jack would always wake us up for Sunday mass. Having been raised in the Catholic Church and not in the Episcopal, I took advantage of my parents being away, and would sleep in. On occasion I attended a service or two with Jean and Trudy, and was surprised to find that the format of the mass was very similar to the Catholic mass. When I questioned Rev Jack about the similarities, I got a very long history of both religions and was told emphatically that I was a “Roman” Catholic which is different than an Episcopalian “catholic”, and that I should never mistake the fact that they are different. He was always very passionate and proud of being an Episcopalian minister and held it in the highest esteem. Hmmmm…..well, needless to say, I picked up on his sensitivity of even the mere suggestion of the Episcopal Church being akin to the Roman Catholic, and I took every opportunity to question and tease him about it.

I tell you that story to tell you this one: When it was announced that Jean and Watts were to be married, it was a very happy time. I chuckle when I think about the day we were together talking about it. Jack, Fran, and Jean were there, and I’m not sure if Trudy was or not. Anyway, we were all talking about Jean and Watts, where is he from, how’d they meet, etc., having a wonderful time, when Rev Jack leaned over to me, had his hand up to his face as to whisper to me so that no one else could hear, (but of course everyone could) “he’s a Lutheran!” I laughed and replied “well, at least he’s not Roman Catholic!” We all roared! Jean, smiling, rolled her eyes; looked at her dad, who was smiling and looking back at her, told him “you’re incorrigible”. You could see that they shared a a special moment. Of course he meant the remark in jest because of our religious discussions. He then went on to talk about what a fine young man Watts was and that he and Jean would surely have a happy and wonderful life together. Smart man!