Jan the Firecracker, St. Louis, MO
(NOT posted in the Veritaz Blog)
So a few nights ago (08/28/06) I found myself, again, in an place I was not familiar with. I have been to St. Louis before but never in South County. When we entered St. Louis we didn't go through the usual St. Louis tourist track, near the arch or any EMU Pizzarias, but, instead, we drove for a bit and ended up at a big old gate entering a secret passcode and eventually were granted entry into a very nice senior community. Here we were, four people all 21 and 22 entering a gated senior community. Needless to say I was kind of curious to see how the night was going to play out. The only thing we knew about our hostess for the night was that her internet email alias was something along the lines of JanTheFirecracker. I was excited to meet this woman.
As it turns out Jan was just one of the coolest women that I have met on this trip. Her beloved husband died a while ago and she has since moved from the house that they lived in to this beautiful senior community outside of St. Louis, MO. Her sister knew somebody involved in Rally and told Jan about us possibly needing places to stay and she was right on top of it. She was so excited to have us and she made us feel like royalty. She even made us homemade lasagna and homemade lemon merangue pie! No joke.
What I loved about Jan was her honesty and her ability to make conversation. Her conversation was so real compared to some folks. Some people mean well, I'm sure, but what they choose to talk about or ask about is just so generic. Don't get me wrong, I have apprecited every single person that I have met along this tour and am very greatfull for everything that everyone has done for us. It's just that Jan, when she talked to me, she didn't try to hide her struggles in life and how she has been dealing with them. She has had to get over her husband's death, moving to a new place, a stroke, a surgery, a leg that doesn't cooperate, and all sorts of things. She didn't think a thing of talking about them with us when we asked and being honest about her pain and how she is trying to positivly deal with it.
She was so seriously wonderful that I just couldn't believe it. This woman had this beautiful house with an amazing basement that had a full surround sound speaker system in it and a neon light-up beer sign. On the way down to the basement, above the stairs is a big old sign that said "It's a Wonderful Life" and seriously, that pretty much sums Jan up. She is a very life-filled person that has every single priority straight. Just knowing her and talking to her for the short time that I did really encouraged me and enlightened me. The woman, born in 1940, seems to have more vigor for life and thirst for goodness than most that I meet and, well, it's just good to know that there are more of us out there! haha
I kept thinking of my friend Lauren Weeks and her family (check out their BLOG here) and about how much Jan reminds me of Lauren. Lauren is my closest and most trusted girlfriend right now and man it's tough sometimes not living near her. I am always so greatful when I meet someone who I think has a heart like Lauren, honest and valliant, searching for the goodness out of every part of life. Jan was so very generous and made us feel so welcome. I'm glad to have met her! I hope that later in life I'll still be able to be just as "me" as I am right now. I want to be young forever and meeting Jan helped me get a little closer to that fountain.
Oh, did I mention that she helped us get to know St. Louis better by taking us out to eat concrete frozen sherbert? It was awesome.
You're certainly not alone, Jan. You are the stuff goodness and smiles are made of. Please continue to be a light to everyone around you. The world has a lot to learn from people like you and a lot to be greatfull for. You have been a wonderful friend.
The absolute willingness of perfect strangers to open their homes and lives to us never ceases to amaze me. The entire experience is amazing and listening to these people while also sharing with them those things that are important to them and entering the smallest slice, one single day or night, of their lives and feeling so enriched afterward is an experience I wish that everyone could have.
So a few nights ago (08/28/06) I found myself, again, in an place I was not familiar with. I have been to St. Louis before but never in South County. When we entered St. Louis we didn't go through the usual St. Louis tourist track, near the arch or any EMU Pizzarias, but, instead, we drove for a bit and ended up at a big old gate entering a secret passcode and eventually were granted entry into a very nice senior community. Here we were, four people all 21 and 22 entering a gated senior community. Needless to say I was kind of curious to see how the night was going to play out. The only thing we knew about our hostess for the night was that her internet email alias was something along the lines of JanTheFirecracker. I was excited to meet this woman.
As it turns out Jan was just one of the coolest women that I have met on this trip. Her beloved husband died a while ago and she has since moved from the house that they lived in to this beautiful senior community outside of St. Louis, MO. Her sister knew somebody involved in Rally and told Jan about us possibly needing places to stay and she was right on top of it. She was so excited to have us and she made us feel like royalty. She even made us homemade lasagna and homemade lemon merangue pie! No joke.
What I loved about Jan was her honesty and her ability to make conversation. Her conversation was so real compared to some folks. Some people mean well, I'm sure, but what they choose to talk about or ask about is just so generic. Don't get me wrong, I have apprecited every single person that I have met along this tour and am very greatfull for everything that everyone has done for us. It's just that Jan, when she talked to me, she didn't try to hide her struggles in life and how she has been dealing with them. She has had to get over her husband's death, moving to a new place, a stroke, a surgery, a leg that doesn't cooperate, and all sorts of things. She didn't think a thing of talking about them with us when we asked and being honest about her pain and how she is trying to positivly deal with it.
She was so seriously wonderful that I just couldn't believe it. This woman had this beautiful house with an amazing basement that had a full surround sound speaker system in it and a neon light-up beer sign. On the way down to the basement, above the stairs is a big old sign that said "It's a Wonderful Life" and seriously, that pretty much sums Jan up. She is a very life-filled person that has every single priority straight. Just knowing her and talking to her for the short time that I did really encouraged me and enlightened me. The woman, born in 1940, seems to have more vigor for life and thirst for goodness than most that I meet and, well, it's just good to know that there are more of us out there! haha
I kept thinking of my friend Lauren Weeks and her family (check out their BLOG here) and about how much Jan reminds me of Lauren. Lauren is my closest and most trusted girlfriend right now and man it's tough sometimes not living near her. I am always so greatful when I meet someone who I think has a heart like Lauren, honest and valliant, searching for the goodness out of every part of life. Jan was so very generous and made us feel so welcome. I'm glad to have met her! I hope that later in life I'll still be able to be just as "me" as I am right now. I want to be young forever and meeting Jan helped me get a little closer to that fountain.
Oh, did I mention that she helped us get to know St. Louis better by taking us out to eat concrete frozen sherbert? It was awesome.
You're certainly not alone, Jan. You are the stuff goodness and smiles are made of. Please continue to be a light to everyone around you. The world has a lot to learn from people like you and a lot to be greatfull for. You have been a wonderful friend.
The absolute willingness of perfect strangers to open their homes and lives to us never ceases to amaze me. The entire experience is amazing and listening to these people while also sharing with them those things that are important to them and entering the smallest slice, one single day or night, of their lives and feeling so enriched afterward is an experience I wish that everyone could have.
posted by Chelsea at 10:00 AM
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