Ode to JJ

Jackie went to Targhee this weekend

to watch Howie’s freeride skiing competition

We haven’t had a day apart since first diagnosis

And the angels keep coming

Our home has become a revolving door of love

People in the Big Sky community keep showing up

to help take care of me or just to see me

Right now I am sitting with Kristin and JJ 

Kristin is typing this for me

I just noticed how pretty her necklace was and complimented her

And JJ said “are you hitting on my wife”

I said, “Of course I am, we have done handstands together.

I bet you never have done that with her”

The other day, I was taking a walk outside 

with Jackie and Kathy House

Drive Around Dan was driving by and pulled over

said to me “you are the best, you are the best, 

you are the best, you are the best”

got out of the car and walked with us

Dan and know each other for the entire time that

I have been in Big Sky, over 23 years,

but we don’t really know each other that well

There he is stopping his day and walking with me for an hour

He lent me the first wine book that I ever read

It was all about the history of Napa Valley

After reading that book, I was hooked

and I have read many wine books since.

I sometimes wonder about my place in the Big Sky community

I have often been reminded about how grumpy I could be at work

Jackie would often explain to people that I was just working hard

Some of my best friend’s first memories of me 

are about me being mean

My buddy Josh often recalls the first time we met when he asked me

where the tomatoes were

I walked over to him and said “right here in front of you”

he says he bought his tomatoes and ran

At the same time, others tell me

how their first experience on arriving to Big Sky was the Hungry Moose

how they fondly recall the days of the old Moose

when we could stand around and visit 

for over an hour without interruption

I wrote this poem for JJ after our employee party back in December

JJ joined the festivities wearing a sweatsedo and got the idea to get me one too:

Ode to J.J.

20 years ago, a young man from Pennsylvania

arrived to Big Sky

first stop Hungry Moose

his parents owned a natural food and supplements store

which he grew up in

he was coming to Big Sky

to teach elementary school

we talked and talked about teaching and retail

10 years later after J.J. had taught all 3 of my boys

in the 4^th grade

we ran into each other at the bar

and shared shot after shot

and laugh after laugh

I’ve watched him make friends,

I’ve watched him get married

I’ve watched him become a father

I’ve watched him become a man, a town leader, a mensch

During middle school basketball I ran the scoreboard  and he coached

During high school football I ran the scoreboard and he announced

he has become famous for his sweat suits

and just yesterday he sent my son Howie home

with one for me

I wear it with pride