Jackstock 2001
I wait all year for Jackstock....plan all year for Jackstock. This year the planning
and the waiting were a little different. No!! They were a lot different!! This year,
I was hosting!!! I was amazed at how easily all the plans fell into place.....almost!!!
Everyone was still reeling from the horrendous events of September 11. Many people
were putting travel plans on hold., others opting for alternative means of getting where
they were going and still others refusing to change plans at all. For over two weeks I
had been glued to CNN. Now, for just a few days, I was not going to even turn the
television on. There was much to be done...but more important, I wanted to savor
every minute I had with some very special people, and bask in the warmth and good
feelings that only good friends can bring.
Cliff and Avril met up with Barb and arrived at Portland Jetport on the same plane.
Brian picked them up at the airport, and all 4 arrived at my home in South China Thursday.
Jack and Caroline rolled in with their motorhome on Friday night. On Saturday some
local friends, George (a carver) and his wife, Donna, joined us, along with Chris, a
newbie to carving, and Lea from the local newspaper, The Town Line
(http://www.townline.org).
I had been planning the food for months.....had the "lobstahs" ordered and lasagnas in
the freezer......all was under control. Until Friday, when someone from the fish
market called to tell me they couldn't deliver the lobsters, and someone would have to
pick them up. Oh well, that could be worked out. For the most part things went pretty
smoothly. Even the weather cooperated...a little on the cool side, but still nice.
I hope that everyone else had half as good a time as I did!!! This was the fourth time
I have spent time with Jack and Caroline and with Cliff and Avril. And it's always just
as wonderful. Barb, it was a treat to meet you....I felt like I had always known you.
We laughed ourselves silly!!! Brian...it was great to see you again......and thanks
for those apples!!! There was no way I could pass up your offer to peel apples if I
would make the apple crisp....at 7:30 in the morning!!!! Brian doesn't waste a
second...always carving or sanding!! George and Donna live across the lake from
me....but I don't see them often enough. It was great that you could join us. And,
George, thanks for cooking those steaks.
I couldn't help thinking about that first Jackstock when we all met for the first time,
and how lucky we were to have had the chance to meet our dear friend Harry. I know
that his spirit was here with us. And we thought about Bob, and how we had hoped that
he would have been able to join us. We missed you, Bob, and hope that you will be able
to make it next year. And Mary, I know you were disappointed...and so were we.
We were thinking of you, and can't wait to see you next year!!
I am looking forward to next year. How lucky I am to be able to host again. Hopefully
some of our good friends who weren't able to get here this year will be able to attend
in 2002.
One of my mother's favorite sayings comes to mind, "If there's room in the heart,
there's room in the home". I loved every second of having you all here, and there
will always be room in my home, and my heart, for my family!!!! See you next year!
...Marcia Berkall (aka Mush)
"Home"