Me and Cuz Jean
“But friendship is the breathing rose, with sweets in every fold.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
My 1st cousin, once removed… meaning she and my father were first cousins and their fathers were brothers. The Hudson Boys, there were six of them. Uncle Herman, Jean’s father, was my father’s favorite Uncle. Her mother Corine, was about as sweet as they come. I met them for the first time when I was 15 years old and they told me how I had slept in the drawer of one of their dressers as a baby. Uncle Herman loved to golf and was quite good, and Aunt Corine sang, played the piano and was an amazing cook. She went to HS with Dinah Shore and shared a love for singing.
Dinah Shore
Jean always reminds me of my Aunt June (my father’s sister). Quiet, reserved, quick to smile. Delightfully interested in all you have to say. Thoughtful, caring, generous and kind. There is a strong physical resemblance with all of them. My father, my Aunt, and Jean, and some of the others I have met in this branch of my more interesting side of the family. Both my grandmother, Ruth McCullough Hudson and Otis Hudson trace back to the 1700’s here in the States. And both their lines fought in the American Revolution. A rich family history for Americans. My mother’s father was American Indian. I’m a Heinz 57, Classic American Mutt and quite proud of it. 🙂
I could see on FB that Jean and her husband Don, a recently retired HS music teacher were in my neck of the woods. They were on a road trip. I was so thrilled when I got a phone call from her and a FB message that they were in Yosemite and heading up my way and were hoping to stop for a quick visit. I haven’t seen Jean but a few times over the years since I first met them when I was 15. But we’ve maintained an occasional contact and I have always enjoyed her immensely. So a quick visit turned into me inviting them to please stay the night if they could and we would have dinner. Dinner turned into a quick trip to Old Towne Sacramento, which I was sure they would enjoy, and we did. I had forgotten that the Pony Express originated in Sacramento, which is what is depicted behind our photo together. But I hadn’t realized that it only lasted 18 months in service before the railroad took care of the “snail mail”.
Imagining these riders and horses traveling across the Great Salt Flats, which is about 100 miles from the Nevada line to Salt Lake City, makes my head spin. It’s hard enough driving it in a car! Makes you appreciate some of our history and the pioneers that brought about civilization to the Americas.
Sacramento to Missouri
Of course it wasn’t enough time, but it was precious time. They headed off this morning for the Sierras, Tahoe, and to Salt Lake City. Neither of them have been further West than Dallas/Ft Worth and so they have thoroughly enjoyed their month long trek to the West, though they have not seen all they hoped. Living out of a suitcase isn’t much fun either, but they are having a ball.
Tomorrow I head to Tahoe myself. Some ladies from my High School days invited me to spend the week with them as they reunion in Tahoe for a week. I’m quite honored that they have asked me to join them. I’ll be grabbing one of them on my way up so we can ride together. They want me to bring some of my scarves, of which I have scant little!!! Still inventory issues, but I’ve really been doing so many other things it has been languishing far too long. With Jean’s unexpected visit, it has sort of dashed plans to get a few done before I head up there! But I’ll take my small travel loom and see if I can’t have some fun whipping something up while I’m there. 🙂 I don’t need a vacation from it as I love it.
So I hope to put up some fantabulous photos of Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas for you when I get back. It is one of the most beautiful places and I look forward to exploring and doing some hiking while I’m there. We have talked of a boat tour on the lake as well.
I have a zillion things to do before I leave tomorrow, mid morning, and I have no idea that I’ll even come close to getting it all managed. But it will work out. It always does.
Jean lost one of her daughters recently. Ovarian cancer that morphed into Leukemia. Toby decided not to treat the Leukemia as the ovarian cancer would not be resolved. It was a courageous and difficult decision, but the right one for her. Jean has a strong faith and we enjoyed sharing our points of view on illness, caregiving, cancer, death, love, etc. She’s pretty amazing. I think I’ll just have to take a visit to Tennessee and see if I can meet up with her and some more cousins in the future. As happens with many families, once her parents and my grandparents, that generation, passed away, we all seemed to disperse into our lives and lost touch. But Jean has remained constant for me, albeit infrequent, and I’m grateful for that. Of course she loved my father dearly as the older, ‘handsome cousin’, who taught her how to swim one summer, and for that she gets major points in my book! 🙂
dear lori,
have a wonderful trip to your reunion in tahoe! so glad you carpe diemed and had the chance to visit with your cousin jean and hubby, don. i am sorry for the recent passing of jean’s daughter toby, but know she must have been very comforted by having the chance to talk about it with you.
oh, gosh – i can just see you parked at some gorgeous place, weaving to your heart’s desire, trying to get some or your gorgeous scarves whipped up. but remember – a picture can speak a thousand words, and if your fingers need a little rest – show them the photos you’ve posted here, and you are sure to spark a fire of happy anticipation for what’s to come. i’m just saying…enjoy, be happy, don’t worry!!! warm hugs, karen
Thanks Karen. Can’t wait. It will be fun no matter what right? 🙂
It was good to see Jean in a serene place. I know it must have been extremely difficult. But her calm and like minded view that our lives are all filled with loss and what remains is all that we did share with those we love. Not allowing the loss to ruin all the wonderfulness they shared with us. I was awed.