Janae
Today is the birthday of my dad’s wife and my lovely friend, Janae!
Janae grew up in a small town, raising farm animals and enjoying the benefits of being a card carrying member of the 4-H club. One of my dad’s favorite pictures of her as a kid is her standing on her family’s lawn, in a black leotard and a straw hat astride her head. This is one of the first intimate images of Janae, and there’s a part of me that still carries that image of her in my heart. It showed to me that she may be a girl with a shy smile, but she wears straw hats, which means there is a little dancer in there too.
Janae deserves a birthday tribute for just being born, yes, but specifically because she is a mother of two incredibly crazy, funny, HIGH ENERGY kids, otherwise known as, my little brother and sister. Watching her patience and her use of direct and clear communication with these kids has been AMAZING to witness. Luke, my little brother, has a physical strength, and a voice that would crumble buildings if put in the right direction. He has been known throw a tantrum that would equal the pitch of a CYCLONE. My instinct is to head for the basement, but Janae has taught him to say such miraculous things as, “I feel MAD.” When he gets upset, or my favorite, “I need to go upstairs TO MY ROOM.” To which, I have watched, with my mouth agape, as he has stomped off to his room, to BE ALONE. Janae is a GENIUS!
Janae is a highly personable person, with a wide range of friends. Her strengths are her incredible abilities to relate, to empathize, and to really care about the people in her life. When she married my dad, a reclusive artist, she couldn’t believe it when she discovered his favorite Saturday past time was to stay inside and READ. How can you read when there are so many people out there to RELATE TO and CONNECT WITH? Can I tell you now that, ten years later, one of Janae’s new found passions is READING? As of 8 months ago, she has been reading like a BANCHEE. Last time I went to visit, she stole any time she could to close herself up with her latest book. She has become, what the world calls, A BOOKWORM. To which I say, welcome aboard!
I treasure Janae’s honest interest in the world and her depth and her kindness. I also think she has the one of the best LAUGHS on the planet—a whole body, mouth wide open, laugh. It is a pleasure for US ALL when she laughs. I like to tease my dad for her benefit, and I also like to spend time talking with her, and talking about the REAL STUFF that goes on inside. I thank her for all that she has brought to me and my dad’s life—not just my brother and my sister, but her good and wise heart.
Happy Birthday!
Janae grew up in a small town, raising farm animals and enjoying the benefits of being a card carrying member of the 4-H club. One of my dad’s favorite pictures of her as a kid is her standing on her family’s lawn, in a black leotard and a straw hat astride her head. This is one of the first intimate images of Janae, and there’s a part of me that still carries that image of her in my heart. It showed to me that she may be a girl with a shy smile, but she wears straw hats, which means there is a little dancer in there too.
Janae deserves a birthday tribute for just being born, yes, but specifically because she is a mother of two incredibly crazy, funny, HIGH ENERGY kids, otherwise known as, my little brother and sister. Watching her patience and her use of direct and clear communication with these kids has been AMAZING to witness. Luke, my little brother, has a physical strength, and a voice that would crumble buildings if put in the right direction. He has been known throw a tantrum that would equal the pitch of a CYCLONE. My instinct is to head for the basement, but Janae has taught him to say such miraculous things as, “I feel MAD.” When he gets upset, or my favorite, “I need to go upstairs TO MY ROOM.” To which, I have watched, with my mouth agape, as he has stomped off to his room, to BE ALONE. Janae is a GENIUS!
Janae is a highly personable person, with a wide range of friends. Her strengths are her incredible abilities to relate, to empathize, and to really care about the people in her life. When she married my dad, a reclusive artist, she couldn’t believe it when she discovered his favorite Saturday past time was to stay inside and READ. How can you read when there are so many people out there to RELATE TO and CONNECT WITH? Can I tell you now that, ten years later, one of Janae’s new found passions is READING? As of 8 months ago, she has been reading like a BANCHEE. Last time I went to visit, she stole any time she could to close herself up with her latest book. She has become, what the world calls, A BOOKWORM. To which I say, welcome aboard!
I treasure Janae’s honest interest in the world and her depth and her kindness. I also think she has the one of the best LAUGHS on the planet—a whole body, mouth wide open, laugh. It is a pleasure for US ALL when she laughs. I like to tease my dad for her benefit, and I also like to spend time talking with her, and talking about the REAL STUFF that goes on inside. I thank her for all that she has brought to me and my dad’s life—not just my brother and my sister, but her good and wise heart.
Happy Birthday!
posted by Summer Pierre at
2:32 AM
2 Comments:
Summer, I couldn't agree with you more about Janae. However, as you would expect I'm not neutral on the subject. I know Janae thinks the world of you. Her laugh is contagious. We recall going to the movie, The Gods must be crazy, with her. During the entire movie she laughed. It was embarrassing, Summer. Anyway by the middle of the movie we ended up laughing at her laughter. What a Blessing she and Jake are, you too. I ‘m gratified and enlightened by reading YOUR BLOG each day, keep up the good work. Also, congrats to you and Graham.
Summer, I couldn't agree with you more about Janae. However, as you would expect I'm not neutral on the subject. I know Janae thinks the world of you. Her laugh is contagious. We recall going to the movie, The Gods must be crazy, with her. During the entire movie she laughed. It was embarrassing, Summer. Anyway by the middle of the movie we ended up laughing at her laughter. What a Blessing she and Jake are, you too. I ‘m gratified and enlightened by reading YOUR BLOG each day, keep up the good work. Also, congrats to you and Graham.
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