Sometimes Andy just stops by for a little loving!
=(^+^)=
Today would have been my older sister Marijean’s 84th birthday. She died on 20 November 2020. She was a quiet, sweet person, a great cook, and a hard worker. When I was a little guy, she was my babysitter.
Marijean and Topsy. Marijean actually was a very generous person.
The four Thomas kids; Marijean on the far left; the neighbor’s pug (Ladybelle) and me; Grandma McKenzie’s dog (Laddy) and Kathy; and Dick with another dog I don’t recognize. Marijean was the oldest.
Marijean, brother Dick, and Grandma McKenzie in front of her home. Gram was an immigrant from East Kilbride, Scotland. We children were “wee fairts”, which I figured out in my early 40s was “little farts’! The Thomas family sense of humor definitely came (in part) through her!
Marijean had a good sense of humor, too, though sometimes she didn’t get one. For example, she came home one time with this joke she didn’t get, even when it was explained to her:
The termite went into the bar and asked, “Is the bar tender here?”
It is a joke that must be spoken. The pun is on the words “bartender” and “bar tender“. Of course, familiarity with bars – which Marijean didn’t have! – is necessary, too. I’ve tried this joke on many people, and a surprising number don’t get it!
Thanks to Kathy, I have this group of photos of the four of us as adults. Originally, it was for our mother when she was in the care center. After Mom died, I “inherited” it. That’s the best photo I have of Marijean, on the far left. She had beautiful auburn hair in her early years.
RIP, Marijean. We miss you very much.
She sounds like a wonderful person. I hate that our loved ones have to leave us.
Marijean was lots of fun to be around, though she had depression issues toward the end of her life that made visits with her a challenge. She deserved better.
Nice photos, thanks for sharing them. It took me a minute to get the termite joke. 🙂
It is one of those jokes that about 50% of the people I tell, get.
Thanks for letting us see a bit of your lovely family !
Thanks!
Lovely tribute to your sister and your family, and sweet memories, Doug. I know you miss them.
Those are precious family photos, Doug. Both Dick and Marijean are gone now. I am sorry for your losses, grieve and remember them with you.
Thanks, Lavinia. Karthy and I can’t believe we are all that remains of the family.
Great family photos, Doug. 🙏🏻
Thanks, John.
Beautiful and precious post and photographs dear Doug, Rest in Peace your sister, memories are our richness… Thank you, Love, nia
Yes, remembering Marijean and our brother Dick, too, is a happy thing to do. They both were fine people, fun to be with. (Andy and his late brother, Dougy, both remembered Dick from year to year and got really excited when he showed up. Animals loved Dick.)
Doug, what a sweet post about your sister Marijean. Did you all grow up in Nebraska?
Re the termite joke, I confess I had to think about it several times before I got it. And then I was like, “Oh! Ha!” I was more pleased that I had figured it out than was actually laughing!
Yes, we all grew up here, though all but me moved out of state.
Cute pictures and great memories.
Thanks!
A very fine tribute making use of priceless photos. I was 12 when my sister Elizabeth was born. I was her willing babysitter.
Marijean was 10 when I was born. There was 10 years and 11 days between us in age.