It’s Jan!

So – I’m pulling out of my driveway today to purchase that black tar paint stuff – you know – the kind you use to paint your driveway so that it looks like new asphalt – when I see this coo-coo woman honk at me and turn around.  I carry on my way.  She follows.  I think, “what did I do wrong?”  I stop at the street light – red.  Rats!

“What is this lady doing? Do I know her?”

I am afraid.  She has cozied her car right up next to mine.  I’m afraid she’s going to get out of the car and start hollering at me.  I purposefully don’t look at her.  You know – what you can’t see doesn’t exist!  I turn left – she follows.   She follows closely.  She is crazy!  She’s going to crash into me.  I almost flee when I look carefully at her in my mirror.  She’s waving and smiling!  It’s Jan!

Jan Duff.  She’s not a Duff – but she married one.  But not a blood-Duff.  A coincidental last name.  She was married to a cousin – so she was related… it’s complicated.  Anyhow – she used to jump rope with me when I was little.  I thought she was beautiful.  I thought she was cool.  She could do flips off our diving board.  Wow.  She was old – and she did flips.

She’s not so old anymore.  In fact, she’s like an older sister – too young for a mother.  Funny how age tends to be very relative….

In any case – she dropped in today to wish me a happy birthday on her way to visit her grandchildren – whom she adores.  It was a quick half hour visit – but funny how time tends to be as relative as age.  It was the quick fix of Jan that I needed.  She grounds me.  Jan reassures me that I’m okay.  She praises me.  She encourages me.  She loves my kids, my hubby, and my backyard.  Yes, indeed, older sister.

Jan supported Kevin while I was in surgery.  Jan supported us when we went for the verdict on whether surgery would be an option – or not.  Jan visited me in the hospital – and ensured that all systems were approved according to her “nursing standard”.

I knew she would be there – she was always there when I needed help with Dad.  She never missed a beat.

How is it possible that some people can just drop in to connect in such a profound manner?  Were we connected in a past life (if that’s even a thing)?

As quickly as Jan raced in – she raced out.  Midland bound.

I took as many photos as I could to try to capture that image of Whirlwind Jan.  She just never sits still – she and her son just rappelled down City Hall in Mississauga.  And although she’s not old – she’s like me… no spring chicken!

She leaves me always wanting more.  She is the glue for the Duff family – my connection to my heritage.  She is a memory keeper, a story-teller, a loyal friend.  Yes, she’s crazy – but sometimes a little insanity is just what the doctor ordered!