Friendship Gems: The Torrington trio

 

Friendships may start at the workplace, but that doesn't mean they end there!

Just shy of his 50th birthday- Richard found himself starting over....

in a new city...the sleepy little town of Torrington Wyoming

in a new role...as the program director for St. Joe's

a residential treatment facility for children 

with social-emotional disabilities

with ever loyal Audrey joining in on the adventure...

This new adventure would take them far away from their friends and their family.   And while this could have been a reason for sadness- they soon found friendship in these three young men also recently hired to work with Richard at the facility. 

There was Dave-

and his sweet wife Christine

and their two cute little guys- Joe and John

There was Kevin...

and his lovely bride...Kathy

and last but not least...would be Mark, Cindy and the kids...

These three guys (and their families) brought so much love and laughter into our parents' lives.   For it goes without saying- plenty of sadness found its' way into our parents story during this chapter of their life.

However, it was thanks to these treasured friendships...

That Grandpa Doc could trade his "game face" for a silly spooky face

and Audrey was invited  to help a bride

 pick out her wedding dress

  she was able support that wiggly joy of an infant

determined to stand on his own two feet

and hear the sweet sound as a child

 says "I love you Grandma Audrey!"

As I sifted through the countless photos of the trio- I am certain that the reason Richard held onto the photos for all these years- was the memories they imparted.  

For when 

the boys came over to play..

or the kids came home for Thanksgiving..

begging for just one more spin around the block...

or praying for the rain to stop...

Richard 

and Audrey

found respite from the worries of the day..

Until next time...

Don't be afraid to say "want to come over"

and stay for a bit...

I can get you some tickets to the Olympics...

But first...let's start 

with a beer!  

Audrey was able to hear a little one say "I love you Grandma"

  

Friendship Gems-The Bantas

Howdy Neighbor!

Somewhere in the late 70s, we found ourselves with a new set of neighbors.   George had been transferred to the Milwaukee area for work, and his very southern wife, Carolyn was not a happy camper to be headed up north. 

 They would move into the house diagonal to ours on Cambridge Avenue. 

And while Carolyn was not shy about sharing her annoyance with Wisconsin winters  ( who can blame her- that's a lot of snow we would get back in the day)

She and George would indeed end up becoming true gems in the family  friend department!

In 2011, George passed away unexpectedly following a tragic accident.   I wrote about it in my personal blog at the time- and I think  instead of writing a new chapter for this blog- I want to return to those words I crafted soon after learning about his death.  

It is impossible to say one name without the other

Really, they were THAT kind of couple. One minute, they were bickering and fussing at each other (I'm hearing his southern drawl, as he calls out her name, almost always starting with the phrase Sh*t, Carolyn, and a sigh and an eye roll....)....the next moment, there was that carefree flirting that comes from a couple truly in love with each other.

 We were neighbors for only a couple years, but somehow they always managed to stay in touch, making time to see my parents. 

They flew out to take a joint vacation with my folks...where they rented an RV and drove to Canada.

It would be the last time my mom was healthy enough to enjoy such a road trip.

When my college graduation rolled around, they flew out to share in the celebrations

And when I was pregnant with Thing Two, again, they found a reason to come and visit. 

These kind of family friends come along only a few times in our lives....

how lucky we were to call them friends. 

Rest in peace, Papa George....

Our paths would cross one more time- when Carolyn drove up from Ft. Wayne Indiana to help celebrate Richard's 80th birthday. (July 2013).   It was a great opportunity to catch up with her- and I can say with 100% certainty- she hadn't changed one bit!

Until next time- plan the party

Invite the old gang

and celebrate the milestone moments when they present themselves..

for tomorrow is no guarantee

This concludes my series of Friendship Gems.  Obviously- these are not the only family friends my parents would make in their life journey. But it is these friends that form the core of at least my childhood memories of "friends of the family"

  

I want to wrap up this series with some words of gratitude.   As an adult, when I look back at these assorted pictures, through my grown up lens- I am so grateful that my parents were blessed with three wonderful couples and Connie- friends to celebrate life's events- be it big or small.    And through these friendships, my parents showed Laura and I just how important those friends that you meet along the way will be in your life story!  

 Stay tuned- as we pack our bags and head west- meeting the 3 Amigos in the next installment series.

Friendship Gems-The Kohls

Next up in the friendship series:  The Kohls 

Unlike the Nygaards and Connie- exactly when and how they came into our family circle isn't quite as clear cut.   

In fact, in the spring of 2022, after learning that Tom had passed away- I recall asking Richard "So, where did you guys meet."  Richard paused and admitted he didn't really remember- he knew that they were both attending UW-Madison  but then scratched his head noting that Tom was completing his undergrad and Richard was working on his masters, in two very different fields of study.  "You know-now that I think about it, I don't know how our paths crossed- maybe it was Una and Audrey.  I think they were on the same softball team?"

  Ok- that's when I realized he was filling in gaps with his signature tall tales.  A  well practiced skill of our dad's that became easier to identify the older Laura and I got.   Anyways, our mom was a lot of things- but athletically inclined enough to join a softball league?  That would be a solid nope in her opinion.   I knew it was time to consider outside sources to authenticate this tale and uncover how the Kohls-Granum friendship formed.

And sure enough-yes,  it was Una and Audrey that introduced the guys.   And as we suspected, no softball team was involved- instead their mutual friend Connie connected the dots that her co-worker Una was going to Madison to see her beau and her roommate Audrey was also seeing a young man attending grad school in Madison.

And as the stories go- the two couples would go on became life long friends

 bonding over all things Wisconsin

Tailgate parties, 

football games

lazy summer days at the pool

and of course

Brandy Old Fashioned...Tom's signature drink

he even made sure to teach the next generation

 the fine art of CHEERS!

I would develop my own special bond with Tom and Una- 

as they were bestowed the honor

-more like challenge- 

of becoming my godparents

And while they themselves had two young daughters similar in age to my sister and I..

they always took time to be there for the important milestone moments in my life

confirmation...

graduation

and commissioning

they'd dance at our weddings...

oh never mind- just at Laura's wedding

as to this day, Una  with a teasing grin-

reminds me that I didn't invite her to my wedding...

clearly all was forgiven-as they visited soon after I became a mom..

The families would start to drift apart after Audrey died.   

joining us all in Wyoming for Audrey's last big hoorah..

which happened to also be my graduation weekend..

The treasured family-shared Green Bay Packer tickets would be passed on to just the Kohls- around the time the Packers moved their entire season to Green Bay and started adding giant sized NFL fees to the cost passed on to the fans.    Richard  cried foul and turned over ownership to just the Kohls.  In hindsight- I think he too felt that loss of Audrey in ways we  never really spoke about..

Richard and the Kohls would continue to connect over occasional phone calls or short visits when they found their paths crossing in FL (where dad snowbirded for a few seasons, and they retired to) or in WI (where The Kohls summered and dad retired to)

joining us for an 80th birthday bash-in 2013

In  March 2022- we learned that Tom had passed away.  

This loss, coupled with the passing of Richard just six months later, has sparked a reconnection- as younger daughter Becky and I shared words of condolences- followed up by a few trips down memory lane

neither of us clearly recall the why Becky joined us on a family vacation..

but she did recall enjoying the time she spent with our family

Earlier this month- I was fortunate to link up with Una and  Becky.   Over lunch we shared stories and reminisced on just how important the Kohls were in parts of our family story.  We made plans-ones I am determined to keep- to meet up again this summer- and enjoy a Brandy Old Fashion (or two) in celebration of Tom and Richard.

As for the Packer tickets- they are still in the family- with Becky taking ownership after her dad passed away.   

Becky and Laura- circa 1977-hard to imagine she's now the sole 

heiress to those coveted Packer Tickets!  

When her adult kids learned it was my parents that first got the tickets- they gave thanks to a couple they never met...for it appears even Florida kids enjoy a Green Bay Packer Football Game!

Until next time..

Take a lesson from their playbook...

gather a friend

or two..

and sit back in your comfy chair

and settle in to cheer for the home team

Go Pack!