I hear that April 11th (tomorrow) would have been The Swede's birthday. I think I remember the Minstrel teasing her about her Sweetish (misspelling intentional) ancestry so that's the nickname she's been given on this blog.
We used to go visit the ranch when I was little. I don't have any real specific memories to share but many good memories of times spent there. I recall lots of guitar playing, food and fun. I always looked forward to visiting. Elmont was a good pal and I might have had a kiddy little crush on the girls. Either way, the visits were always a blast. Even the time I came home with chicken pox. Even the time we slid off in the ditch on the way there and our tires fell off. Especially the time that Elmont got 4 buckets of water poured on his head. And all the others too.
If the rest of her body were as strong as her heart the Swede would still be with us today. Anyone that could raise three girls, two cowboys (yup I said two ;) and still drive a school bus is as tough as they come. And she was as sweet as she was tough.
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8 comments:
Thanks J for your memories. They help to make this day a little better! She loved having everyone come.
Great memories. Funny how both you and Jos remembered the sliding in the ditch on the way to their house and the tires falling off. I had forgotten that one! Maybe on purpose? :) She was a wonderful person...
If I remember right (and I know I do) you had more than a kiddie crush on Mo...remember how you had her sit with you at Chug the night we professed? (you would have been 9 years old)
Somehow, with all the Johnsons, Wissemans, and Soderbergs blogging together today, it feels like we are all together again. I'm glad your family has as good of memories as we do about all the time we spent together. Special friends and special times. And I remember you and Monte in matching red union suits when you were little bitty. I think there are pictures out there somewhere. Thanks for the smiles and tears.
You also have quite a way with words - I appreciated all the things you mentioned that you noticed and valued about Mom.
I loved the title of your post "short words for long memories" ~ it describes it very well. I also remember very well the night you slid off the muddy road, and the night you asked me to sit by you and Joc at Chugwater when you professed. Special times with special friends... Most recently concerning memories of Mom and you....I remember the get together at Deb & Neil's last year on a Sunday afternoon. Mom took videos on her digital camera of you and your wifey singing together, and she would smile and listen to them on the computer....commenting on how much she enjoyed hearing the two of you sing together. I'm so glad that your Grandmpa requested that get together last year for their anniversary. Who would have known that it would be our last one with Mom? Thanks again. You've helped to make this a special day.
It may be Long Memories for a Short Swede. Yes you have it more than right - tough enough not to be pushed around but tender enough to reach out to each and everyone in such a special way. I'll add my thanks to everyone else's for making this a special day. Linda
I'm still laughing at the kiddie crush and Elmont stories - those were great!
And, I'm still tearing up each time I read the comments about Mom. You put a lot of punch in those "short" words! They were very touching and I'm very glad you shared that with all of us.
I'm glad that as the years went by, it seemed the times spent together got richer and richer - I remember when Mom called me to tell me ALL about that get together where you all sang and played music. She showed us several videos, and I could tell from the way she talked about you and Jocelyn just how proud of you she was. She really enjoyed (Dad did too) seeing you both happily married and putting first things first.
She bragged about your singing and guitar playing to no end too!!
Oh, and one more thing - I remember those union suits. I can still see you and Monte dressed in those, sitting around the donald duck table and playing tough guys with Granpa's pistol shaped cologne bottles ---- we'll have to dig out those pictures sometimes!!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and warming our hearts!
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