Welcome to the Second Annual Jackstock
October 2 & 3, 1999
Reinbeck, Iowa
Participant Testimonials
".....put in "my story" in case you want the REAL story-don't listen to MUSH!
LOL Thanks-gotta got to work...let me know when it's up and running!"
Cathy
It was alot of fun and I enjoyed meeting everyone! Jack and Caroline were great
Hosts-Jack and Caroline were always trying to do things for you....we all
wanted them to RELAX and just enjoy....Jack was always trying to get me to
eat something....LOL
One nice surprise I had-I didn't know Mary J. was going to be there....found
out about an hour before her and her mom showed up-I was so excited to
finally get to meet her-we have been chatting online for quite sometime
now...her Mom Kate-was a trooper she is! Amazing woman and I can see how
proud Mary J. is of her mom. She doesn't carve-but she enjoyed herself with all
the shop talk!
Cliff and Avril-oh truly enjoyed finally meeting you both....I love the laughter
that they share among themselves-and with others.
Now Joe and Mush....lol ahhh ICQ will NEVER be the same with them....I love
the way she "talks"-it is amazing they way I say "tomato" and she says...well
NOT like I do! LOL Enjoyed the conversations with her...:-) And Joe....I can
see why they make a good pair! Very nice man and enjoyed his company as
well.
Now Caroline-she is a sweet heart! What a brave women to let strangers...well I
was I know...into her home...and enjoyed her lovely home and her company as
well.. you're a Great Lady Caroline!
Now Jack-well....he was outstanding in sharing his many ideas...and his
workshop would make you drool.....you can see how excited he was to show and
tell....I loved every minute of it! Jack is a great story teller....he loves to joke
around too! Oh really? lol
Thanks for a great gathering Jack-and I Thank You all for such a warm
Welcome into your home-And ICQ will never be the same now that I finally
meet my online fellow carvers-and now REAL friends! Ahhhh Jackstock-next
year-don't miss it!
Cathy Krumrei
"My thoughts about Jackstock"
I felt pretty good about going, even though it took me 12 hours to get there.
The traffic on 80/90 was horrible and there was a lot of construction. Did I
mention that I hate driving? I suffered a few moments early on thinking things
like " what the heck am I doing, anyway - I can still turn around" but the closer
I got, the more excited I was.
It was dark when we got to the house but I knew it was the right place because
there was an Oregon license in the driveway. I pulled up behind it and got out
knowing Cliff and Avril were there. Ok! I've talked to Cliff almost every night
for a long time. I knew him, right? Oh, jitters! Well, here goes nothing.
I knocked on the door. It was opened by a lady with a pretty, smiling face who
said, "Mary? I'm Avril. Cliff's wife." So far, so good. Jack's wife was
introduced and I introduced my mom, who had braved 12 hours in a car with
me in heavy traffic. What a trooper! Then a little bit of a thing came from the
other room and I knew I had finally met Cathy. We've been talking for about a
year and a half, now, and it was high time I got a real hug from her. Cyber hugs
just seem to be missing something.
The guys weren't around so we went in and sat down, making small talk about
the trip. It wasn't long before I saw Cliff's smiling face coming in from the other
room, so I had to go get another "real" hug and then a big bear hug from Jack.
All my cyber friends were turning out to be as nice in person as they were in
that box, which is how I refer to my computer. In fact, as I discovered over the
course of the weekend, these people are absolutely GREAT!
We had to wait awhile because of Mush and Joe's airport incident, but
eventually they arrived and this time I was the one on the inside seeing the
stranger walk through the door. Yup, she really does have purple hair. Just a
little bit of it is purple, though. Another hug. We talked for awhile, then we all
went in different directions to settle in for the night.
Considering the importance of hugs to me, it might seem funny that I didn't
comment on getting a hug from Avril as I arrived, but at that point, I was still
in shock and I'm not really sure whether or not I got one. I think so. I sure
didn't miss anyone on my way out, though. By the time we left Sunday
afternoon, these people were all good friends and I didn't want to leave.
Future Jackstock hosts might equal the hospitality shown us by Jack and
Caroline, but it will sure never be bested. Thank you Caroline and Jack for the
best weekend I have ever had in my life.
MJ Smith October, 1999
Drunks on airplanes!!!!! There oughta be a law!!!! That's what made us (my
husband, Joe, and I) late for Jackstock!!! It took Delta personnel an hour to get
the guy and his luggage off the plane--Just long enough to cause us to miss our
flight to Des Moines and wait 3 hours for the next one!!! We finally got to
Jack's......at 10:30 PM after 3 flights, lots of waiting around airports and a
2-hour drive from Des Moines. Were we exhausted?? NOT ME!!! I was too
psyched about seeing some of the people who were there last year, and about
getting to meet some who weren't......and about getting to introduce Joe to my
woodcarving family. I recognized Jack and Caroline's house even in the dark.
Good memories last!!!!!
It was Mary who answered the door......I had no idea who she was since she was
nothing like what I had envisioned. Mary brought her mother, Kate, along for
the ride. I love the way Kate agreed go with Mary, THEN asked WHY they were
going to Iowa!!! Mary, I am so glad that you decided to make the trip.....it was
wonderful meeting you!!! And your mother, of course........she is a gem!!!
Avril came to greet us.......Ohhhhhh I had so much been looking forward to
seeing you and Cliff again!!! Wow.....Thanks for staying up way past your bed
time to greet us. I was afraid we would miss you. As soon as the date is set for
next year's Jackstock, I'll be counting down the days on my Oregon 2000
calendar. This year I started on March 7 when there were 208 days 'til
Jackstock. Amazing how quickly time passes .....but I won't go there now!!!
Who was that over there on the couch???? Hmmmmm . That just HAD to be
Cathy. You don't look anything like the picture on your web page!!!!! No
"small" jokes... I promise!!! Ohhhh now when I see your words in print, I will
hear you!!!
Jack and Caroline...hosts extraordinnaire!!! You made everyone feel so
welcome!!! You two started what is going to be a lasting tradition!!! Thank you
for your hospitality........and your bravery!!!
So what's it like to be at Jackstock???? Excellent food, great company.....lots of
laughs...and laughs and laughs. There's something really special about sitting
and carving with a bunch of carvers .......sharing stories and laughs and
experiences. Getting to see "up close and personal" a few samples of their
carving. An unspoken bond. Ohhh !!! I can't forget the HUGS!! Lots of
HUGS!!! Getting to understand the expressions in a person's face and voice and
mannerisms after only seeing their words in print. Forming friendships....special
ones!!!
It's impossible to explain!! If you really want to know what it's like.......go to the
next one.....Jackstock 2000 at Bette's in Michigan. Watch for the date to be
announced.......and I'll see you there!!!
Marcia Berkall (aka Mush)
South China, Maine (future home of the Jackstock, 2002)
"Home"