® 12/1/04 (updated 1/2/2005) - Mary and John moved from California to the Gulf coast of Florida - near Tampa.
Mary Jane and John stand with a giant (plastic) Blue Marlin John stole from the wall of a local bar
Mary Jane poses in the driver's seat of a classic car belonging to a friend of John.
Mary Jane with the automobile, a 1988 MERCURY COUGAR ... "TIFFANY EDITION"
Here's John in the driver's seat. He loves to blow those air horns and move old ladies along through the crosswalks.
OUR HONEY
On a bright sunny d®ay in mid October about twelve years ago, I was listening to the radio while driving down the Peninsula hi-way between San Francisco and San Mateo. As I approached Redwood City, the radio announcer mentioned that the Burlingame animal shelter was featuring a lovely year and a half old calico Persian cat... and that this cat was available for adoption.
I looked up and noticed that a sign ahead said Burlingame. Well, I veered off 101 at the next exit and drove to the shelter. Inside.., sure enough... they had this calico cat in their showcase location. After a half hour get acquainted session, I headed back down the hi-way toward home with a new friend at my side.
During the first few days of our new little buddy being in our home, we studied her and her refreshing coy manner. She demonstrated a mild, docile, well disciplined manner. Someone had trained her well; she would not get on furniture without being coaxed - even then she usually stayed on the floor. We also noticed that she was a bit of a munchkin with short legs, large paws and a very tiny body which was highly disguised by her long colorful coat of hair. Mary Jane observed her for about a week and then said, “there can only be one name for this little girl - and that is Honey”.
About four months after Honey’s arrival, we purchased a computer and set it up in our office room. Unlike the family and living rooms, Honey was not timid about prancing around this room. If I were in the office - so was Honey. She would often lie on a dictionary, the key board... or some other book / magazine that happened to be sitting near the computer. This went on for weeks, months - even years. MJ would stick her head in the room and ask, “Is that Honey studying again”. I would respond; “Yes - she’s preparing for her tests - she wants to graduate.
About three years ago we moved from the Bay area to Elk Grove near Sacramento. The new office I computer room continued to be Honey’s favorite area. She always seemed to have her head in the dictionary, the meeting minutes of my retirement group, Time, The New Yorker - or some other such item. MJ would continue to stick her head in the doorway - look at us - and just shake her head.
On Christmas Eve MJ presented me with a gift.
So, after the many hours, weeks and months that turned into semesters, Honey finally graduated. MJ said that Honey didn’t want to say anything about it - she wanted it to be a surprise. She then asked Honey what she was now going to do - and Honey said; “Well, I think, perhaps, that I’ll go for my doctorate in literature. Dad’s always writing articles, letters, meeting minutes - or sending Emails - or some such thing - and I believe this will be the way I can help him most.”
Honey also wanted us to say that she wishes everyone a most Happy, Healthy and Wonderful New Year.
JJ Schweickert (52)
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Mary Jane and John Schweickert