Jenny Jane

Yesterday was my beautiful mother-in-law, Jenny Jane's birthday and I had actually been planning on doing a BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE (trademark pending), but I TOTALLY FORGOT and now I am a bad daughter-in-law, which is not as bad as a bad son who also FORGOT (I am not naming names), so hopefully she will forgive us both after I sing her praises in public.

The first time I met Jenny was before Graham and I were even a couple. I went into the bookstore where Graham was working and he said, "You won't believe it, but my mom is here." I almost LEAPT up and down, because when you have it bad for someone, you want to know every BIT of where they come from. Moms are a good place to start and man, I didn't even know the HALF OF IT. The three of us ended up going to see a movie together, and I was immediately struck by how WARM and FUN Jenny could be. When you have it bad for someone you can also be TOTALLY INTIMIDATED by the idea of spending an evening with their parent, but Jenny has a knack for making you feel good and welcome and interesting.

I always like to go visit Graham's parents because usually it's a visit of warm sun, lots of chocolate chip cookies, and lots of good talking. Jenny and John were the first of my parents generation that openly discussed their conservatism to me. It was a SHOCK to this little product of flower children that anyone had actually voted for Nixon--TWICE. I couldn't stop saying it over and over again--they voted for Nixon! They voted for Nixon! Also, I don't think I had ever met anyone born in the 40's that hadn't been SWEPT UP by Elvis and the Beatles. When I asked Jenny about this, she said, "Oh, Summer, I was SO UPTIGHT." But this is one of the things I REALLY APPRECIATE about Jenny: She can field the wide-eyed crazy questions of her son's hippie-born girlfriend with absolute grace, humor, and TOTAL HONESTY. It was a real eye opener for this little liberal that could to not only talk to dyed in the wool conservatives, but to be LISTENED to, and to UNDERSTAND where they were coming from.

Jenny is a great lover of people and has a big heart. I love that she gets our favorite coffee for us when we come to visit. I love that she makes her mom's cornbread stuffing recipe for Christmas dinner. Take a look around her home and you will see beautiful photographs of not only her family, but of her wide tribe of friends, including her group of girlfriends. She is an active member of her church, and always had stories about either her turn to faith or the work her groups at church are doing. Graham and I once went to a Christmas Eve service and got to hear her sing. She has a lovely voice, and like everything, she comes to her church with great love and enthusiasm.

I also love her style. There aren't many women who can pull off the color GOLD, but she always does. She has a wide, generous smile, and a laugh to match. When I asked John what was it that REALLY made him take Jenny home to meet his mother, he said, "Jenny was just so much FUN." It's totally true.


A week before my wedding I called Jenny and left her message telling I feel like I won the lottery of in-laws. Now I KNOW I have.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Jenny Jane! I am so glad you were born.